HIRING PROCESS
The Department’s recruitment and selection process supports the Prince William County Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action plans.
The selection process takes approximately four to six months after the initial Police Officer application has been received. Applicants must successfully complete the following phases:
- Online application submission
- Personal history statement (PHS)
- Conditional offer of employment
- Pre-screen interview
- Physical fitness test
- Polygraph examination
- Background interview and investigation
- Medical and physical examinations
- Psychological examination
- Police ride-a-long
- Interview with the Chief of Police or designee
- Final approval by the Chief of Police
The selection process for civilian positions takes approximately two to four months, and includes some, but not all of the phases listed above.
Application Process
We use an online application — rather than a resume — in our employment process for both sworn and civilian positions. Apply online.
Minimum Qualifications
Police officer candidates must meet the following minimum qualifications:
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Must be 21 years of age upon completion of the Prince William County Criminal Justice Academy
- Must be a high school graduate or equivalent
- Must be able to complete the physical fitness requirements
- Vision must be 20/200 uncorrected correctable with the aid of glasses or contacts to 20/40 in the worst eye and 20/20 in the best eye
- Hearing must comply with medical standards
- Valid driver’s license at the time of appointment; applicants with six demerits or more are ineligible
- Must not have been convicted of any felony or serious misdemeanor
- No tobacco usage agreement
Applicant Physical Fitness Test Elements
The Prince William County Police Department requires all police officer applicants to successfully complete a Physical Fitness Test as part of the application process. Prince William County Police Department personnel will administer this test only after you have provided a completed medical examination form that includes a recent blood pressure measurement.
WEIGHT: You will be weighed before starting the test. This will be used for determining minimum acceptable standards for testing elements, as noted below.
STEP TEST: The first requirement for successful completion of the physical fitness test will be the successful completion of a 3-minute step test. The 3-minute step test is a preliminary cardiovascular screening technique that measures the heart rate in the recovery period following 3 minutes of stepping up and down on a 12-inch bench/step. The rate of stepping is 96 steps per minute, which must be maintained for the full 3 minutes. A 60-second heart rate will be taken beginning 5 seconds after the final step. The following rates are the minimum accepted rates:
- Males: less than 148 beats per minute
- Females: less than 172 beats per minute
The following elements comprise the Physical Fitness Test:
- 1.5-MILE RUN: Complete a 1.5-mile run within 17 minutes
- BENCH PRESS: Bench press at least 60% of body weight (as measured above)
- PUSH-UP: Complete at least 13 push-ups in 1 minute
- SIT-UP: Complete at least 24 sit-ups in 1 minute
- 300 METER (Approx. 328 yds.) SPRINT: Complete 300 meter run within 76 seconds
- VERTICAL JUMP: Jump at least 12 inches from a standing position
*IMPORTANT*
Please refrain from drinking coffee, soda, and energy drinks on the morning of the physical training test. These drinks contain a high content of caffeine and sodium that may elevate blood pressure and increase the risk of dehydration. Properly hydrate with water during the 24 hour time frame prior to the assessment. Avoid consuming too much water immediately before the assessment as this will cause nausea and bloating. It is recommended that you eat a light to moderate meal consisting of foods such as whole grain breads and cereals, rice, pasta, potatoes, and other vegetables an hour or two before your scheduled assessment. Click here to watch the Physical Fitness Test instructional video.