APPLICATION PROCESS
APPLY ONLINE
Interested applicants must submit an application online using the GovernmentJobs system. You can access the application by selecting the appropriate link below. Applicants need to be prepared to begin processing within 1-2 months of submitting their application. The entire process can take as little as 3 months. Applicants who are not available for employment within the next 5-8 months should wait to apply.
Apply as On-Island Applicant (Oahu Resident)
Apply as Off-Island Applicant
ENTRY LEVEL POLICE EXAMINATION
Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be notified by HPD via email to self-schedule for the entrance exam. Applicants will need to schedule the entrance exam within one month of submitting their application. Multiple exam days/times will be available for applicants to choose from. Applicants who arrive late, or do not have the required items will be denied entry.
Applicants will have two (2) hours to complete the entrance exam which contains 169 multiple-choice questions throughout the following sections:
PHYSICAL READINESS ASSESSMENT (PRA)
Applicants who pass the entrance exam will be notified via email to self-schedule for the PRA. Applicants must schedule the PRA within one month after being invited. All events must be passed in order to continue in the selection process. For a detailed overview of the PRA requirements and protocol, click here.
Should an applicant not successfully pass every event, they will be required to attend a PRA session and re-test only the events which they did not pass. If an applicant attempts the re-test and fails, or does not take advantage of the re-test opportunity, they will no longer be considered for the position and will need to submit a new application and restart the application process.
PERSONAL HISTORY STATEMENT (PHS) / FINGERPRINTING
Applicants who pass the PRA will be given access to their online PHS the same day. Applicants will have ten (10) days to submit an accurate and complete PHS. Applicants will also need to report to the HPD Career Center (by appointment only) for fingerprinting and to notarize an Authorization for Release of Information prior to submitting their PHS.
We highly recommend compiling the following information prior to taking the PRA:
Please review our Background Investigation guide, by clicking here.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION / CLARIFICATION INTERVIEW
Applicants who successfully submit their PHS will be assigned to one of our background investigators. Applicants will need to submit required documents to their background investigator after entering the background investigation phase. A list of required documents can be found here.
The background investigator will contact applicants within 30-45 days to schedule a clarification interview. During this interview, the responses to the PHS will be reviewed in detail along with other information obtained during the background investigation.
CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT
The Human Resources Division's Selection Committee (Lieutenant, Captain and Major) will review each candidate's background summary to determine if they meet departmental hiring standards and if so, applicants will be issued a Conditional Offer of Employment (COE).
The COE will be sent via email and applicants will only have 48 hours to accept the COE by calling the HPD Career Center.
POLYGRAPH EXAM
Applicants who accept the COE will be immediately scheduled for a polygraph exam to verify the accuracy of all information provided at previous steps. Applicants should expect the exam to last approximately 2-4 hours and should refrain from wearing a tie or long sleeve shirts.
PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM
Applicants will be scheduled to take a psychological exam which will last approximately 3-7 hours.
PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVIEW
Applicants who take the psychological exam will be scheduled for an interview with a licensed police psychologist to discuss the results of the psychological exam, previous mental health treatment, diagnosis and any other areas of concern.
MEDICAL EXAM
Applicants who are deemed qualified by the police psychologist will be scheduled to take a medical exam conducted by the City's Health Services Department.
FINAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT
After HPD receives notification that an applicant has cleared the medical exam, a police recruiter will call the applicant to extend a final offer of employment for the next available recruit class. Recruit classes are tentatively scheduled every January, April, July and October.
After an applicant accepts the final offer of employment, they will be sent new hire paperwork via email, which will need to be completed and turned in to the HPD Career Center within two (2) weeks.
Interested applicants must submit an application online using the GovernmentJobs system. You can access the application by selecting the appropriate link below. Applicants need to be prepared to begin processing within 1-2 months of submitting their application. The entire process can take as little as 3 months. Applicants who are not available for employment within the next 5-8 months should wait to apply.
Apply as On-Island Applicant (Oahu Resident)
Apply as Off-Island Applicant
ENTRY LEVEL POLICE EXAMINATION
Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be notified by HPD via email to self-schedule for the entrance exam. Applicants will need to schedule the entrance exam within one month of submitting their application. Multiple exam days/times will be available for applicants to choose from. Applicants who arrive late, or do not have the required items will be denied entry.
Applicants will have two (2) hours to complete the entrance exam which contains 169 multiple-choice questions throughout the following sections:
- Observation and Memory
- Written Communication
- Reading/Understanding
- Reasoning/Analytical Ability
- Bio-Data
PHYSICAL READINESS ASSESSMENT (PRA)
Applicants who pass the entrance exam will be notified via email to self-schedule for the PRA. Applicants must schedule the PRA within one month after being invited. All events must be passed in order to continue in the selection process. For a detailed overview of the PRA requirements and protocol, click here.
- Agility Run - 21.6 seconds
- 300-Meter Run - 82.8 seconds
- Push Ups - 24
- Sit Ups - 24 in 1 minute
- 1.5-Mile Run - 21 minutes
Should an applicant not successfully pass every event, they will be required to attend a PRA session and re-test only the events which they did not pass. If an applicant attempts the re-test and fails, or does not take advantage of the re-test opportunity, they will no longer be considered for the position and will need to submit a new application and restart the application process.
PERSONAL HISTORY STATEMENT (PHS) / FINGERPRINTING
Applicants who pass the PRA will be given access to their online PHS the same day. Applicants will have ten (10) days to submit an accurate and complete PHS. Applicants will also need to report to the HPD Career Center (by appointment only) for fingerprinting and to notarize an Authorization for Release of Information prior to submitting their PHS.
We highly recommend compiling the following information prior to taking the PRA:
- Name, phone number, email address and/or physical address for:
- All immediate family members (including ex-spouses and domestic partners)
- 10-12 personal references (no previous supervisors or active HPD personnel)
- All previous supervisors
- All previous landlords
- Employment information since first job
- Business name, accurate dates of employment, position last held and duties.
- Residential history since age 15
- Complete addresses with accurate dates of residency.
Please review our Background Investigation guide, by clicking here.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION / CLARIFICATION INTERVIEW
Applicants who successfully submit their PHS will be assigned to one of our background investigators. Applicants will need to submit required documents to their background investigator after entering the background investigation phase. A list of required documents can be found here.
The background investigator will contact applicants within 30-45 days to schedule a clarification interview. During this interview, the responses to the PHS will be reviewed in detail along with other information obtained during the background investigation.
CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT
The Human Resources Division's Selection Committee (Lieutenant, Captain and Major) will review each candidate's background summary to determine if they meet departmental hiring standards and if so, applicants will be issued a Conditional Offer of Employment (COE).
The COE will be sent via email and applicants will only have 48 hours to accept the COE by calling the HPD Career Center.
POLYGRAPH EXAM
Applicants who accept the COE will be immediately scheduled for a polygraph exam to verify the accuracy of all information provided at previous steps. Applicants should expect the exam to last approximately 2-4 hours and should refrain from wearing a tie or long sleeve shirts.
PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM
Applicants will be scheduled to take a psychological exam which will last approximately 3-7 hours.
PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVIEW
Applicants who take the psychological exam will be scheduled for an interview with a licensed police psychologist to discuss the results of the psychological exam, previous mental health treatment, diagnosis and any other areas of concern.
MEDICAL EXAM
Applicants who are deemed qualified by the police psychologist will be scheduled to take a medical exam conducted by the City's Health Services Department.
FINAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT
After HPD receives notification that an applicant has cleared the medical exam, a police recruiter will call the applicant to extend a final offer of employment for the next available recruit class. Recruit classes are tentatively scheduled every January, April, July and October.
After an applicant accepts the final offer of employment, they will be sent new hire paperwork via email, which will need to be completed and turned in to the HPD Career Center within two (2) weeks.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?The entire process can be completed in as little as 3 months, however, can take as long as 8 months for those with a longer history, or if an applicant isn't prepared. |
DON'T LIVE ON O'AHU?The Honolulu Police Department offers consolidated testing to limit the amount of trips to O'ahu. Click the button below for more information!
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