Becoming a Police Officer

Apply to be a Police Officer Now!

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Who should apply

To be a Police Officer in Columbus, you must first meet the following minimum qualifications:

1. Possession of a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalence (GED)
2. At least twenty (20) years of age when applying, and at least twenty-one (21) years of age at the time of being sworn in
3. Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator’s license at time of appointment
4. A citizen of the United States of America

You must also be able to answer "no" to these two questions:

1. After reaching 18 years of age, were you convicted of domestic violence?
2. After reaching 18 years of age, were you convicted of a federal offense?

A thorough background check will be conducted in step 3. The complete background removal standards can be found here.(PDF, 197KB)Learn more about being a Police Officer in the City.

If you already have a state peace officer basic training certificate, you may bypass the Police Officer Exam. For the quickest review, attach a copy of you state peace officer basic training certificate to your Police Officer - Certified Lateral application. Read more about this opportunity below. 

How to apply

Once your profile is created, you're ready to apply!

1. Apply to be a Police Officer Now!         _{This will take you to a trusted third party website that handles City of Columbus job applications.} 
2. Are you new to policing? Select Police Officer - EXAM. If you have an Ohio Basic Peace Officer Certification or comparable state peace officer certification, select Police Officer-Certified Lateral.
3. Click the green Apply button in the upper right-hand corner of your screen (computer users) or the bottom of your screen (smart phone users)
4. Complete and submit your application

Police Officer Certified / Lateral Application

If you have an Ohio Basic Peace Officer Certification or comparable state peace officer certification, you may bypass the Police Officer Exam. First, apply to the Police Officer-Certified Lateral posting. Since certified lateral police officer applicants may bypass the exam, we'll verify your qualifying certification and if you qualify, we'll send you a personal history statement for you to complete and submit. For the quickest review, attach a copy of your peace officer certification to your application. See Milestone 2 to learn about the PHS submission.

For some lateral applicants, if you apply by May 23, 2025, you may qualify to attend our inside Ohio lateral academy. This academy is a 5-week training program followed by a 12-week field training period. Those who may be selected to attend this lateral class must be a current police officer with one of the following experiences:

• 3 or more years of continuous law enforcement experience in a listed jurisdiction. Learn more about qualifying experience.(PDF, 266KB)
• or, less than 3 years of service but previously graduated from the Columbus Police Academy and currently working in a law enforcement agency with another Ohio jurisdiction.

When to apply

Applications for City of Columbus Police Officer are being accepted now! 

What to expect

Once you've applied, your application will be reviewed to make sure you meet the minimum qualifications and pass the background questions. If everything checks out, you'll be invited to take the Police Officer Exam.

Since certified lateral police officer applicants may bypass the exam, we'll verify your qualifying certification and if you qualify, we'll send you a personal history statement. See Milestone 2: Police Officer Exam and PHS Submission. 

Invitations are mostly sent through email and sometimes text. Keep notifications turned on in your governmentjobs.com profile settings!

Additional Resources

Get tips about completing a City of Columbus job application! 

The Police Officer test consists of two phases.

Certified lateral applicants with a qualifying certification may bypass the Police Officer test.

All police officer applicants will need to submit a personal history statement (PHS) to be placed on the eligible list for consideration. More information about the PHS is provided below. 

Phase One: Multiple Choice

The multiple-choice exam assesses knowledge needed to be a successful in the Police Training Academy. This tests your ability to spell and properly use common words used in the English language, your ability to comprehend written text, and your ability to understand cardinal (north, south, east, and west) directions and read maps.

The multiple-choice exam consists of up to 100 test questions in four main sections.

1. Spelling: The first type of question in this section asks you to identify the word that is spelled correctly. The second type asks you to identify the word that is spelled incorrectly.

 2. Vocabulary: The first type of question in this section asks you to identify the word that is most similar in meaning to a given word. The second type asks you to identify the word that is most opposite in meaning to a given word.

• Every word tested in the Spelling and Vocabulary Sections is listed in the Police Officer Preparation Test Guide 😉!

3. Reading Comprehension: This section has written passages followed by questions about each passage.

4. Map Reading: This section has several maps followed by questions about each map.

Download the Police Officer MC Prep Guide (PDF)(PDF, 772KB) or have one mailed to you by emailing our offices at policefiretesting@columbus.gov.

Phase Two: Situational Response Assessment

The Situational Response Assessment (SRA) is designed to assess your ability to handle situations that require interacting with other people such as citizens, supervisors, subordinates, co-workers, etc.

The SRA is a video-based exam consisting of six test scenarios. Each scenario features a situation commonly encountered by police officers.

Watch this video to see a practice scenario.

Your video-recorded responses will be evaluated on your situational awareness, social intelligence and problem resolution skills demonstrated in your responses to each situation.

Download the Police Officer SRA Prep Booklet (PDF)(PDF, 507KB) or have one mailed to you by emailing our offices at policefiretesting@columbus.gov.

Police Officer Exam Information Session

This video is the information session held by the City of Columbus Civil Service Commission’s Public Safety Testing Team for candidates interested in the entry-level police officer exam on Thursday, June 13th, 2024 at 6:00 PM. It helps you learn and understand more what to expect on the exam and how to prepare for success. 

Earned Preference Points

Secondary Language Fluency Earned Points

Additional credit on the SRA may be available for proficiency in one or more pre-designated languages.
 Learn More (PDF)(PDF, 205KB) 

Veterans' Preference

If you served in the United States Military and can provide acceptable documentation of your service, you may be eligible for the addition of extra points to your passing exam score.

Learn More About Veteran's Preference Here!

Accommodations

Testing accommodations may be approved due to various situations, including English as a second language. The appropriate test accommodation request form should be submitted when you apply. 

Learn More About Test Accommodations and the Test Accommodation Forms Here!

Personal History Statement

After you pass the first phase of the exam or if you are a qualified certified lateral applicant, you will be contacted via email about completing a Personal History Statement (PHS). Instructions regarding the PHS will be provided with the email. 

The PHS is a vital piece of your background investigation. The PHS asks for your current and previous addresses and telephone numbers for you and your family members. The PHS asks for employment, military and any criminal history. Include complete names, addresses and dates. The completeness and accuracy of the information you provide will be verified by means of a polygraph examination. 

The documents listed below must be brought when you meet your investigator:

• driver's license, birth certificate, marriage license, divorce decrees or annulment decree, etc.
• high school diploma and transcript of grades, G.E.D. certificate and college diploma and transcripts, copies of state of Ohio certifications
• military documents, DD-214, discharge certificate, copies of awards, etc.
• proof of automobile insurance

Retest Policy

You can test up to two times for Columbus Police Officer in a calendar year. 

When you pass the Police Officer Test and submit your PHS, you will be placed on a list of eligible candidates for hire by the Division of Police. However, you need to pass the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) physical fitness test (PFT) and successfully pass the background investigation. 

OPOTC PFT

The Police Academy and Recruitment Department for the Columbus Division of Police have created the following video to explain the OPOTC benchmarks..

To attend the 31-week Columbus Police Officer Training Academy, you must satisfy Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission requirements. To enter a basic training peace officer academy in Ohio, you must meet physical fitness benchmarks within 150 days before the academy start date. Fitness requirements are based on age and gender.

Learn More (PDF)(PDF, 1MB)

If you qualify for the 5-week lateral training academy, you will not need to take the OPOTC physical test. 

Background Investigation

During the background investigation, you will meet your background investigator and participate in a polygraph exam.

Background Investigator

You will meet your background investigator. They will review your PHS and ensure everything is accurate and complete. You will participate in a pre-interview with your background investigator, where fingerprints and pictures including exposed tattoos will be taken; waivers will be completed to assist in an extensive background investigation.

Polygraph Exam

You will be given a polygraph examination to verify the accuracy and completeness of all the information (e.g. PHS, References, and Employment) provided to your Background Investigator.

Background Removal Standards

The background removal standards are an objective list of disqualifying background characteristics for which police officer candidates will be removed from consideration. 

Learn More (PDF)(PDF, 197KB)

The CSC conducted a comprehensive review of the City’s background standards for police officers and gained community input to set these standards.

The background investigation is designed to identify candidates who meet a removal standard. When a candidate meets a removal standard, the background investigator formally requests the CSC remove the candidate from the eligible list.

Tattoo Policy

You are expected to meet the Division of Police's tattoo policy at the time of hire. Typically, the Division will not recommend an offer of employment unless you meet the following professional appearance directives.

Directive 11.01- Professional Appearance

• Shall have no visible tattoos on the head, neck, or hands.
• Shall have no tattoos (visible or not visible) that depict obscene or gang-related images or extremist or otherwise offensive images which may bring the Division into disrepute.
• No visible body modifications or gauges shall be permitted.
• No visible piercings with jewelry (other than the ears) shall be permitted.

After you pass the OPOTC PFT and the background investigation, then you may be considered for hire by the Public Safety Director (PSD). The CSC places you on a referral list and your background investigation packet is reviewed through the chain of command. The chain of command makes recommendations for hire to the Public Safety Director. The Public Safety Director sends selected candidates a conditional offer of employment.

When you receive a conditional offer, you will be scheduled for a medical and psychological exam with the City’s medical providers.

Medical Exam

You must meet the medical standards. The City’s medical provider will assess your overall physical health. They will verify that you have the physical health to perform the requirements of the job.  

The "Learn More" button provides a list of common medical‐related issues that cause removal from consideration or require you to wait until the medical‐related issue is resolved.

Learn More - Entry Level Police Officer Medical Exam Guide(PDF)(PDF, 697KB)

The medical exam includes a treadmill stress test. Know what to expect during the stress test by watching this video.

Stress Test Example (Video)

Get tips on how to prepare for the stress test to improve your VO2.

Learn More (PDF)(PDF, 182KB)

Psychological Exam

The City’s licensed provider conducts the psychological exams. This psychological exam consists of three independent exams interpreted by licensed professionals. The exams are written or completed on a computer. Sometimes these written exams are administered in a group setting. Later, you will meet one-on-one with a licensed psychologist. The written exams and the one-on-one meeting can be conducted on the same day, but typically are handled in two sessions.

Once you clear your medical exams, you will be given a final offer of employment with an academy start date. You will complete your new-hire paperwork. Before your first day, you and your family will have an opportunity to learn more about the training program, the training academy and the job.

Columbus Police Officer Training Academy

The City of Columbus hosts three entry-level police officer training academies each year. During this training, you will receive over 1,200 hours of training over 31-weeks.  You will learn patrol operations, law and legal procedures, applied behavioral science, criminal investigation, and more. Your training will include human relations, physical fitness, defensive tactics, driving maneuvers and firearms. The program equips you with the tools needed to become an exceptional law enforcement officer.

Columbus Police Officer Lateral Class

If you apply by May 23, 2025, you may qualify to attend our inside Ohio lateral academy. This academy is a 5-week program followed by a 12-week field training period. Those who MAY be selected to attend this lateral class must be a current police officer with one of the following:

• 3 or more years of continuous law enforcement experience in a listed jurisdiction. Learn more about qualifying experience.(PDF, 266KB)
• or, less than 3 years of service but previously graduated from the Columbus Police Academy and currently working in a law enforcement agency with another Ohio jurisdiction.

After success in the Training Academy, you will be sworn in as a peace officer in the State of Ohio with the City of Columbus Division of Police.

You will then participate in field training. During this time, you will be assigned to various Police Officers, known as Field Training Officers (FTOs). The FTOs will coach you through routine and non-routine encounters through the course of your shifts.

You will serve a one-year probationary period after being sworn in.