Out-of-State Applicants

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, have acceptable employment records, and meet Municipal standards related to driving guidelines and criminal conviction history may be invited to participate in the Police Officer Testing process.

Applicants invited to test will be notified of the testing dates, times, and locations via email and/or phone. Ensure the email and phone number provided on the application are valid and current.  Testing notifications will only be sent to the email address listed on the application.

An APD Police Officer is a professional and highly sought after position. Applicants should consider every step in the process as part of a professional job interview. Appearance and conduct during the process should exude professionalism. Applicants with unprofessional attire, such as jeans, shorts, t-shirts, or tennis shoes, may be turned away from testing or disqualified. This does not apply to the physical ability testing; appropriate workout clothing is required for this test.

If during any portion of the application, entry level testing or background process it is discovered that the applicant falsified any material fact, or intentionally omitted or modified material facts, the applicant will not be eligible to re-apply or be considered for any position with the Anchorage Police Department.

All applicants must pass the entry level Police test by I/O Solutions. The written test is the National Criminal Justice Officer Selection Inventory Integrity 2 (NCJOSI2). For information regarding the written test, study guides and practice tests, go to National Criminal Justice Officer Selection Inventory – (NCJOSI2) Test.  Any cost related to this information is at the expense of the applicant.

Applicants must meet the minimum passing score to be advanced to the Physical Ability Test. NCJOSI2 test results are valid for two (2) years. Unsuccessful applicants are not eligible to re-apply for six (6) months from the date of testing.

For detailed information regarding these tests, refer to the APD recruitment website at: https://joinapd.org/entry-level-applicants/Sit-ups: This test measures muscular endurance of the abdominal musculature and will count the number of correct sit-ups completed in a one-minute duration. Applicants must complete 27 sit-ups in one (1) minute to pass.

Push-ups: This test measures muscular endurance of the upper body and will count the number of correct push-ups completed.  Applicants must complete 15 push-ups to pass.

300 Meter Run:  This test measures anaerobic power and will measure the time required to sprint 300 meters.  Applicants must complete the course in 65.2 seconds to pass.

1 ½ Mile Run:   This test provides an estimate of the cardio- respiratory fitness level and will measure the time required to run 1.5 miles.  Applicants must complete the run in 15 minutes and 17 seconds to pass.

Applicants must successfully complete the Physical Ability Test in order to continue in the selection process. Unsuccessful applicants may retake the test after 30 days.  Unsuccessful applicants can only test a total of three (3) times within a one (1) year period.
Video demonstration of the physical ability test ** Note that the vertical jump has been eliminated from the PAT test.

Applicants who successfully complete the Physical Ability Test will be given a “Conditional Offer of Employment”. The six (6) Steps and conditions of employment are listed below.

Step 1: Preliminary Interview:

The preliminary interview is a structured interview focused on behavior relevant to the essential job elements required for the position of Police Officer.  The applicant’s interview skills, employment history, driving history, illegal substance abuse history and other relevant information will be assessed to determine if the applicant meets Anchorage Police Department standards.

The Background Investigation is a critical examination of an applicant’s past work and personal history. The Background Investigation phase takes the majority of time in the application process.

Applicants who are not successful during the Background Investigation phase are eligible to re-apply two (2) years from the date of the conditional offer unless otherwise indicated.

If during any portion of the process/background investigation it is discovered the applicant committed an act or acts which would constitute felonious conduct under Statutes, except the specific exclusions regarding simple possession and/or use of a controlled substance, the applicant will not be eligible to re-apply or be considered for any position with the Anchorage Police Department.

The investigation consists of:

Interviews with:

Eliminating Factors are listed below.  Includes but is not limited to:

Conviction of a felony crime by a civilian court of a US State, Federal Court, Territory, or Military Court or any other Country for an offense which would be classified as a felony under Alaska Statue.

Illegally manufactured, transported or possessed with intent to sell or distribute, or who has sold a controlled substance and/or an imitation controlled substance, unless under 21 years of age and the act occurred more than 10 years before the date of hire.

Illegally used any controlled substance, other than marijuana, including scheduled prescription medications not prescribed to you within five (5) years of the date of application (unless under the age of 21 at the time).

Used marijuana to any degree within one (1) year of the date of application, regardless of marijuana’s legal status at the time.

To any degree, used an illegal controlled substance while employed as a certified Municipal, State, or Federal peace officer, or correctional officer.

The Psychological Assessment is a two-part process, and is used to determine suitability for the position.  The first part is a written exam, and the second part is an interview with a State of Alaska licensed Psychologist. The written exam can take approximately 4 – 6 hours to complete.

Applicants must successfully complete the Psychological Assessment in order to continue in the selection process. Unsuccessful applicants may re-apply after two (2) years.

Successful applicants will be required to submit to a Polygraph Examination.

Applicants must successfully complete the Polygraph Examination in order to continue in the selection process. Unsuccessful applicants may re-apply after two (2) years.

After passing all previous steps and phases, applicant files will be forwarded to a command review, where a panel of no less than three command level officers will review applicant files before they are forwarded to the Chief for final selection. Unsuccessful applicants may re-apply after two (2) years.

The Municipal Employment Office will contact the selected applicants to make a final conditional offer of employment. The final conditional offer of employment is based upon successful completion of the remaining conditions of employment: