Minimum Requirements
♦ 21 years of age or older at the time of hire
♦ Be eligible to work in the United States
♦ High School Diploma or equivalent
♦ Valid California Driver’s License
♦ No Felony Convictions
♦ Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including any shift and day of the week,
holidays, and weekends.
Online Application
The first step of the process is to complete an online employment application. Applicants need to apply at Careers.LAUSD.org. Once there, scroll down to the bottom of the webpage and on the right side of the screen click on “jobs open to the public”, located under the category “quick links”. This will open a separate web page showing all job postings.
If this is your first time applying for a position with LAUSD, you will first need to “create an account”. If you need further assistance with how to create an account, click on the “how to apply” video tutorial which can be found at the bottom Careers.LAUSD.org.
***It is important to be thorough when filling out your online employment application. Any missing or incomplete information may delay the hiring process***
Written Exam
Once your application is reviewed, you will receive an e-mail invitation to take the written exam. Applicants will receive details on the test date(s), time(s) and designated location(s) where the written test will be administered. The e-mail will also include any required documents that you must bring to the test. It is recommended that applicants arrive early and with the required documents to the testing site. Failure to do so may be grounds for disqualification from the hiring process.
Applicants should allow 2-3 hours to complete the written exam. The written exam contains only multiple-choice questions which cover the topics of reading, vocabulary, writing and reasoning.
We are now offering a Written Test Exemption:
We accept California PELLET B written exam "T-scores" with a "T-score of 42 or higher, if the test has been taken within a year of the date we administer our written test, as an exemption to the written test. To receive consideration for exemption from the LAUSD Police Officer written test, attach a valid and legible copy of your T-Score letter to your online application. Per P.O.S.T regulations, the T-Score letter must be issued on Agency letterhead and must list the type of test, test date and the test result, and the score section breakdown (written, reading and total T-Score). It is the applicant's responsibility to attach proof of the written exam results to your online application. Once your PELLETB T-Score letter has been verified, you will receive an email approving the waiver of the written test and you will be invited to the Physical Agility Test (PAT).
Physical Agility Test
Applicants who pass the written test will then be invited to the Physical Agility Test (P.A.T.). The P.A.T. will be assessed based on the applicant's ability to perform job-related tasks. The requirements are the same for both males and females.
The P.A.T. exercises that will be assessed are the following:
1. Push-ups
2. Sit-ups
3. 300-meter sprint
4. 1 ½ mile run
***It is highly recommended that applicants begin a physical training program as soon as possible, preferably CrossFit training. The police academy is physically demanding and follows a paramilitary training program. ***
Oral Interview/Writing Exercise
Once an applicant successfully passes the written and physical agility test, they will be invited to an oral interview. The interview panel will consist of two sworn members of the Los Angeles School Police Department. The panel will ask a series of questions with regards to the applicant's work experience, life experience, job preparation, judgment, stress tolerance, communication skills, and interpersonal skills. Applicants will also need to complete a short computer typed exercise. The purpose of this exercise is to get an understanding of the applicants' writing ability and critical thinking skills.
Background Intake
Upon successful completion of the oral interview, applicants will be invited to a background intake. Applicants will receive through e-mail a Personal History Statement Background Form and a list of required documents needed on the day of the background intake. The PHS shall be completed and the required documents ready to be given to background detectives. Applicants will be required to complete an additional Background Questionnaire during the background intake. Background detectives will then review the forms and documents with the applicant and go over any questions or concerns they may have. An applicant’s background packet will then be submitted to the background unit supervisor where a recommendation will be made if the applicant proceeds in the hiring process.
Polygraph/Background Investigation
A polygraph examination will be conducted on applicants who are successful in the background intake. If the applicant is successful in the polygraph examination, a background investigator will be assigned to them and the background investigation will begin.
CA Peace Officers Standards and Training (CA POST) sets the minimum standards for peace officers in the State of California. POST guidelines provide the following five (5) major categories that we consider during the hiring process:
♦ Moral Character:
Integrity, impulse control/attention to safety, substance abuse and other risk-taking behavior
♦ Handling Stress and Adversity:
Stress tolerance as well as confronting and overcoming problems, obstacles and adversity
♦ Work Habits:
Conscientiousness, dependability and attention to detail
♦ Interactions with Others:
Interpersonal skills and teamwork
♦ Intellectually-Based Abilities:
Decision making and judgment, learning ability and communication skills
Medical Evaluation
Applicants must undergo a medical evaluation prior to being hired as a police officer. A district designated doctor will conduct a thorough examination to determine the applicant's physical condition and suitability for performing the duties of a police officer.
Psychological Evaluation
Applicants who successfully complete the background investigation and medical evaluation will move on to the next step of the hiring process, which is a psychological evaluation. This step of the hiring process consists of a psychological written test and an oral interview conducted by a certificated police psychologist. A psychological evaluation assists in determining an applicant’s suitability to become a police officer.
Once an applicant successfully completes the background investigation, medical and psychological evaluations, a conditional offer of employment pending the successful completion of the chief's oral interview.
Chief’s Oral Interview
Once an applicant is successful with the above steps of the hiring process, they will be invited to an interview with the Chief of Police. The chief reviews the applicants' hiring process paperwork and their preparation for becoming a police officer with the Los Angeles School Police Department. The chief makes the final decision about the hiring of applicants.
