The Position

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.

Examples of Duties

Minimum Requirements for Application

Minimum Qualifications

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 or permanent residents who are eligible for and have applied for U.S. citizenship.

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.

Application and Selection Procedures

Step 1: Submit Application – Online Application Only
Our online application system is provided by NEOGOV.
Police Officer Trainee (197B) Application

You must apply online prior to the close of the job announcement. If you do not have access to a computer, computer stations are available at any City of Oakland Public Library. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NEOGOV's Live Candidate Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 am and 5:00 pm Pacific Time, Monday – Friday.

Once a candidate has submitted an online application via NEOGOV, any changes to contact information (name, address, phone number, etc.) should be updated immediately. To update contact information, send a detailed email to opdjobs@oaklandca.gov. List your full name and all new information that needs to be updated. Failure to maintain current contact information may result in loss of eligibility.

Step 2: Self-Schedule Virtual Written Exam

Self-Scheduled Virtual or In-Person National Testing Network (NTN) Written Exam
The exam must be completed no later than July 26, 2024.

The In-Person National Testing Network (NTN) Frontline Written Examination is scheduled to be administered on various days and locations.
To sign up for the test, visit the National Testing Network (NTN) website at: https://www.nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs/index.cfm?mode=page/faq-virtual-testing. Written test scores must be submitted to the OPD Recruiting and Background Unit by July 26, 2024.

You can also complete National Testing Network (NTN) Frontline Written Examination virtually. Please review the Virtual Testing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page at: https://www.nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs/index.cfm?mode=page/faq-virtual-testing. If your computer system will not support virtual testing, please notify our office via e-mail at opdjobs@oaklandca.gov.

Step 3A: OPD Physical Ability Test. The written exam must be submitted or scheduled no later than July 26, 2024, to participate in the Physical Ability Test.
When: Saturday, August 10, 2024
Where: Merritt College, 12500 Campus Drive, Parking Lot C, Oakland, CA 94619 (Location Subject to Change based on weather conditions)

Supplemental Information

Candidates who have previously taken the NTN Frontline written exam and wish to waive the written test portion must request that NTN provide their written test score to the OPD Recruiting and Background Unit by July 26, 2024, to be considered for this testing group. Minimum Passing NTN Written T-Score: Human Relations Video Score: 65%; Writing Score: 70%; Reading Score: 70%. Test dates older than July 26, 2023, will not be accepted.

Candidates who have previously taken the PELLETB written exam, and received a score of 45 or higher, are eligible to waive the written test portion of the examination process. To obtain a waiver, the candidate must submit a letter (on agency letterhead) that states that the candidate has taken the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) written exam. The letter must be submitted by uploading it with the online application or bringing it to the OPD Recruiting and Background Unit by July 26, 2024, to be considered for this testing group. The test results must contain the total T-Score AND the date of the test; test dates older than July 26, 2023, will not be accepted. POST T-Scores and test dates will be verified with POST.

Candidates who wish to take the PELLETB written exam before July 26, 2024, may find a schedule of upcoming dates at https://theacademy.ca.gov/tests. As mentioned above, written test results must be uploaded with the online application or brought to the OPD Recruiting and Background Unit no later than July 26, 2024, to be considered for this test group. All results will be verified.

Candidates who have previously taken the Work Sample Test Battery (WSTB) at the South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium and wish to waive the physical test portion of the examination process, must submit the official Verification Letter, either by uploading with the online application or bringing it to the OPD Recruiting and Background Unit by July 26, 2024, to be considered for this testing group. The minimum passing score is 320. Test dates older than July 26, 2023, will not be accepted. All scores and test dates will be verified with South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium.

Additional Information

Candidates should keep copies of all documents submitted, as these will not be returned. The Oakland Police Department reserves the right to modify the selection process as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessities.

Oakland Residency and Veteran's Preference Points
Candidates claiming residency preference points will be required to show proof of Oakland residency at the Oral Exam. Acceptable forms of residency verification include a California Driver's License, California Identification Card, or a utility bill.

Candidates claiming veteran's preference points must submit a copy of Form DD-214 at the Oral Exam.

Selective Certification
Some positions may require specific bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Candidates for those positions would have to demonstrate the required skill to be selectively certified to the positions.

Fee Waiver
NTN charges a nominal fee for its test. Candidates with demonstrated financial hardship may submit a request to have the fee waived by NTN prior to registering for the exam. Fee waiver requests must be submitted by Friday, July 26, 2024, for this testing group. Late requests will not be accepted. To complete the Fee Waiver Request Form visit www.nationaltestingnetwork.com.

Candidates will be required to mail the waiver to the address on the form. It will be forwarded to the OPD Recruiting and Background Unit for final decision. The process may take several weeks. It is the candidate's responsibility to allow sufficient time for waiver request review and processing. Submitting a fee waiver does not exempt the candidate from meeting testing deadlines. Candidates will be notified by email of the decision. See "Candidate FAQ #25" on the NTN website (www.nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs/faqs.cfm) to learn more about how to apply for a fee waiver.