Police Officer Trainee

The City of Oakland is an equal-opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the City's historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone.

Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.

The Oakland Police Department is hiring Police Officer Trainees. The ideal candidate will have the education and experience that demonstrate personal motivation, interest in others, and the ability to deal effectively and fairly with residents and co-workers. The ideal candidate will be able to identify problems and resolve them quickly while under pressure, and want to work in a fast-paced, urban environment.

After successful completion of the academy, Police Officers receive step increases on an annual basis and may reach the top step after five years. Immediate benefits include city-paid health and dental insurance for employees and dependents. Upon graduation from the academy, the benefits package includes a pension provided by the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS); vacation leave, sick leave, and holidays;

education tuition reimbursement; life insurance; employee assistance program; and deferred compensation plan.

• Education: Diploma from an accredited U.S. high school or G.E.D. certificate.
• Age: Candidates must be 21 years of age upon graduation from the academy, which is six months in duration.
• Driver's License: Candidates must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License to operate an automobile at the time of application.
• Criminal Record: Candidates may not have any felony convictions or other misdemeanor convictions that would prevent carrying a firearm.
• Citizenship: Candidates must be U.S. citizens.

Candidates may be screened out at any point in the process based on the position requirements.
The Oakland Police Department reserves the right to waive selection components of individuals based on prior experience or certification.

Step 1:
Submit Application – Online Application Only Our online application system is provided by NEOGOV. Once a candidate has submitted an online application via NEOGOV, any changes to contact information (name, address, phone number, etc.) should be updated immediately.

Step 2:
Self-Schedule Virtual Written Exam Self-Scheduled Virtual or In-Person National Testing Network (NTN) Written Exam must be scheduled by September 18, 2026. The In-Person National Testing Network (NTN) Frontline Written Examination is scheduled to be administered on various days and locations.

You can also complete National Testing Network (NTN) Frontline Written Examination virtually. Please review the Virtual Testing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page at

Step 3A: OPD Physical Ability Test. The written exam must be submitted or scheduled no later than September 18, 2026, to participate in the Physical Ability Test. When:
Saturday, October 3, 2026. Where: TBD.

Step 3B:
Oral Exam Successful candidates will be invited to participate in an exam that is designed to evaluate job-related skills and abilities such as oral communication, interpersonal skills, and judgment. In addition to general questions, candidates will be presented with hypothetical scenarios and asked to explain how they would respond to each situation. The Oral…