Starting the Río Hondo Police Academy
The Intensive Basic Police Academy is a full-time, 915-hour course that satisfies the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training minimum training requirements for California entry-level peace officers.
The program lasts approximately six months. The class typically meets 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Peace officer recruits must be ready to dedicate their full attention to the program. The Intensive Basic Police Academy is a full-time program and requires a strong commitment. The cost to attend is approximately $6,500, which includes the cost of tuition and equipment. The cost is subject to change.
Graduates will receive a certificate of completion that qualifies them for employment at any police department in California. Many police agencies recruit from each Police Academy class. Many pre-service cadets are hired while still attending the Police Academy.
Take a look at the eligibility requirements to get started.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to attend the Intensive Basic Police Academy, you must meet these requirements.
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1. Police Academy Information Meeting
The Police Academy Information Meeting is the first step towards applying to the Police Academy. If you plan to apply for an upcoming Police Academy class, attending a meeting is mandatory.
The information Meetings are open to everyone. No registration or early sign-ups are required.
Meetings are held in person on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month.
The meeting on the 1st Wednesday of the month is held at 12:00 p.m.
The meeting on the 3rd Wednesday of the month is held at 7:00 p.m.
Meetings are held on the 2nd floor of the Río Hondo College’s Administration of Justice Building. Signs will help direct you to the exact location.
3600 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601
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2. Pass the POST PELLETB Test (Written Test)
The PELLETB is a multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank written examination designed to measure reading and writing ability. Applicants are given 2 1/2 hours to complete the PELLETB.
The PELLETB contains five (5) sections:
- Spelling: Applicants select the correct spelling of a word from a list of options,
- Vocabulary: Applicants select the correct meaning of a word from a list of options.
- Clarity: Applicants select the sentence that is most clearly written from a pair of options.
- Reading Comprehension: Applicants read a passage and answer questions about the passage’s content.
- CLOZE: Applicants use contextual clues to complete a passage that contains blanks/missing words.
The Police Academy requires a T-score of 42 or higher to apply.
No walk-ins on testing dates are allowed. Please contact Ms. Lorraine Duran at (562) 463-7724 to sign up for the next upcoming test date and ensure that you attend the “Police Academy Information Meeting” (step 1).
To prepare, you can review the exam guide and practice test.
If you have questions, refer to the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training’s PELLETB FAQ.
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3. Pass the Physical Agility Test (Fitness Test)
Must be able to complete the following:
- 99-yard obstacle course
- 32-foot 165-pound drag
- 6-foot chain link fence climb
- 6-foot solid wall climb
- 500-yard sprint
No walk-ins on testing dates are allowed. When you sign up for the PELLETB (step 2) test, you will also be signed up for the “Physical Agility Test (Fitness Test)”. Please ensure that you attend the “Police Academy Information Meeting” (step 1) first.
POST regulations prohibit you from taking this exam more than one time in any 30-day period from any exam site in California. If you attempt to take the exam multiple times in 30 days, POST will invalidate your exam.
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4. Complete Psychological Evaluation
California POST regulations, Cal. Code Regs. Title 11, section 1955 and California Government Code 1031 mandate peace officer candidate psychological evaluations and requires peace officer candidates to be found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition, including bias against race or ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, disability, or sexual orientation, that might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer.
After successful completion of the PELLET B written test and the Physical Agility test all pre-service candidates must make arrangements to take a psychological test from Counseling Team International. Candidates can call their office Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm at 800-222-9691 and follow the prompts to connect with Counseling Team International to schedule an appointment. Each applicant will be charged $230.00, which will be collected at the time of the written psychological exam. All instructions will be given to the applicant at the time the exam is scheduled.
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5. Complete the Application Process
If you receive a letter of acceptance into the academy, you have to then complete the Police Academy application process. This includes:
- Applicant interview
- Medical clearance
- Proof of medical insurance
- DMV driving history
- DOJ Firearms Clearance
Standards for Employment as a California Peace Officer
To act as a California peace officer after graduating from the Río Hondo Police Academy, you must meet these standards.
The minimum selection standards for peace officers in California are outlined in Government Code Sections 1029 and 1031. Every California peace officer must:
- Be free of any felony convictions
- Be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship (CHP officers must be US citizens at the time of appointment)
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Be fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record
- Be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation
- Be a high school graduate, pass the General Education Development test, or have attained a two-year or four-year degree from an accredited institution
- Be found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition which might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer
For more information, read the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training’s Peace Officer Candidate Information.