Police Officer - Civil Service Examination

City of San Marcos – Police Officer Civil Service Examination Announcement

The City of San Marcos will conduct a Civil Service Examination to establish an eligibility list for hiring Police Officers. This eligibility list will be in effect for a period of one year from the test date or until the list has been exhausted, whichever occurs first.

Final date to receive applications for the examination is Sunday, January 11, 2026.

Test date: Friday, January 16, 2026

Time: Doors open at 7:00 AM. No admission after 8:00 AM. Test starts at 8:30 AM.

Place: San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E Hopkins St, San Marcos, TX 78666.

• Candidates not TCOLE certified – Cadet: $61,734 annually
• TCOLE Sworn Officer: $70,223.65 annually
• Lateral Entry Program:
  Testing is not required for TCOLE-certified officers. An experienced TCOLE-certified candidate may earn up to $88,883 annually.

Hiring Incentive: Certified TCOLE Officers hired from this list will be eligible for a $5,000 hiring incentive: $2,500 at hire, and $2,500 upon successful completion of training.

Candidates should be prepared to take the Physical Fitness Assessment.

• Date:
  January 16, 2026
• Time: 1:00 PM
• Place:
  San Marcos Police Department, 2300 I-35 S, San Marcos, Texas 78666

Row test details can be found at SMPD Jobs.

Applicants not passing the Physical Fitness Assessment may retest on:

• Tuesday, January 20 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (By Appointment Only)
• Thursday, January 22 from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM (By Appointment Only)

• Application & t: Applicants must apply online by January 9 and bring a valid photo  (e.g., driver's license, ) to the test site. Roll call begins promptly at 8:00 AM. Late arrivals will not be admitted.
• Personal History Statement: Due date is January 30, 2026. Begin gathering required documents now. Waiting until January 16 may not allow enough time to collect everything needed.
• Testing Room Rules: Personal items (e.g., hats, purses, briefcases, phones, food, drinks) are not allowed. Once the test begins, no one may leave the building until their test is submitted.
• Scoring:
  • A score of 70 or higher is required to pass.
  • Applicants who qualify for additional points may receive up to 8 bonus points.
  • The eligibility list will be ranked by final score. In case of a tie, the application submission timestamp will determine order.
• Eligibility List Posting: The final list will be posted on the City's website by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

• Applicants may order the "Police Aptitude and Character Test (PACT) Candidate Orientation Guide" here:
• The PACT Candidate Orientation Guide is a helpful tool to prepare for the exam. It can be downloaded as a PDF and saved or printed. Payment can be made via Pay Pal or credit/debit card on FPSI's site. After payment, the download link will appear on the order details/checkout status page. Be sure to follow all instructions on both the FPSI and Pay Pal websites to access the download successfully!

For additional questions, call  or  for a Human Resources representative to assist you.

Under general supervision, Police Officers provide professional, responsive, and community-oriented police services to protect life and property, maintain public order, and uphold the rights of all individuals. This role supports the mission of public safety by preserving peace, preventing crime, and fostering a safe and engaged community through lawful enforcement, proactive engagement, and service delivery.

• Enforces local, state, and federal laws and ordinances in accordance with department policies and procedures.
• Responds to emergency and non-emergency calls for service, including crimes in progress, accidents, disturbances, and requests for assistance.
• Participates in crime prevention, criminal investigations, recovery of stolen or missing property, and the arrest and prosecution of offenders.
• Aids the sick and injured and supports other emergency services personnel.
• Prepares organized, detailed, and concise written reports and documentation using proper grammar and spelling.
• Engages in community policing efforts, including public education, mediation, and…