BCoPD Application and Testing Process

1. Application - Those persons wishing to apply for the position of Police Cadet or Police Officer must submit an application online.
    
   - Read the Police Cadet job posting and apply online
   
   - Read the Police Officer job posting and apply online 
     
2. Written Test - The written test is an English based examination consisting of 100 questions. Candidates are given 2 1/2 hours to complete the test, which is comprised of five sections. Download a Study Guide (PDF)  
   
   Spelling - this section of the examination is individually timed
   Grammar
   Vocabulary
   Reading Comprehension
   Chronological Order 
   
   Note - the following
   
   Seating for Tuesday walk-in testing is limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants must call the Baltimore County Police Department Recruitment Unit at (410) 887-5521 to reserve a seat prior to the Tuesday on which they wish to test. Only those persons who have reserved a seat are guaranteed a seat. 
   
   Walk-in written testing will take place at the
       
   Baltimore County Office of Human Resources
   308 Allegheny Avenue
   Towson, Maryland 21204
   Map this location 
   
   If you pass the written test, you will be required to take the physical ability test at a later date. Physical ability test dates will be provided only to those persons who pass this written test. 
       
3. Physical Agility Test - The agility exam is comprised of five parts and all police and cadet applicants will be required to complete the minimum requirements in order to continue processing.
   
   Trigger Squeeze/ Slide Pull - measures hand strength
   Trigger Squeeze is measured in seconds for strong and weak hands (45 seconds per hand with a minimum of 30 squeezes for the strong hand and 20 squeezes for the weak hand). The Slide Pull minimum is 5 pulls in 20 seconds.  Scoring is the same for males and females of all ages. 
   
   Flex test - measures flexibility
   The "sit and reach" test measures the range of motion of the lower back and hamstrings.  The test involves stretching out to touch the toes and beyond with extended arms from the sitting position. The score is in inches reached on a yardstick with the 15" mark being at the toe.
   
   Sit-up Test -  measures muscular endurance
   The score is the number of bent-leg sit-ups performed in one minute. Candidates will have their feet/ankles held for support. Hands must be placed behind the candidate's head, without interlocking fingers. If either one or both hands come off the head during testing, the sit-up will not be counted.
   
   Bench Press - measures absolute strength
   One repetition maximum bench press using a Universal Weight System. Candidates will be required to lift a specified percentage of their body weight (see below). Candidates will only be required to lift the minimum weight one time.
   
   1.5 Mile Run - measures cardiovascular capacity
   Candidates must run 1.5 miles on flat, paved surface. The score is in minutes: seconds.
   
   
   Minimum Scores for Employment as a Law Enforcement Officer and Cadet in Baltimore County
   
   

   Age / Sex	Tests
   Male	Sit-Up	Flex	Bench	1.5 Mile Run
   18-29	36	15.7	94%	13:30
   30-39	33	14.7	84%	14:17
   40-49	28	13.6	76%	15:12
   50-59	23	12.6	67%	16:12
   Female
   18-29	30	18.3	56%	16:12
   30-39	24	17.4	50%	16:45
   40-49	19	16.4	47%	17:49
   50-59	13	16.0	42%	18:48

   
       
      
4. Background Investigation - Candidates will be subject to a comprehensive background investigation. Several areas of the background investigation are: Employment History, Criminal Record and Arrest History, Driving Record, Credit History, Military History, Education, Personal References, and Residential History.
   
       
5. Polygraph Examination - Candidates will be interviewed regarding their integrity and personal history.
   
       
6. Psychological Examination - Candidates will undergo a comprehensive psychological examination which includes a personality screening and an interview with a psychologist.
   
   
7. Medical/ Physical Examination  - Candidates will undergo a full medical screening and examination, by a certified physician designated by the Baltimore County Police Department. Candidates will undergo vision and hearing tests as well as periodic drug screening.
   
   Visual Standards: All candidates must have binocular vision.  Corrected vision shall be at least 20/30 in the weaker eye and shall be for both eyes together. The uncorrected standard shall not be worse than 20/100 in the weaker eye (20/180 if soft contacts are worn regularly and consistently for vision correction).

Revised October 6, 2008