Test Information

NOTE: Our testing process has changed to a two-part exam/applicant screening process. The first part of the process are exams administered by the National Testing Network. These exams can be completed virtually or in person at a National Testing Network Center. The second part of the process is administered in Seattle by the Seattle Police Department. Please carefully read the information below to ensure the proper completion of the screening process.

Entry Level Upcoming Tests

APPLICATION PROCESS: 

Applicants must complete all parts of the Public Safety Civil Service Testing Process (steps 1 & 2) that are listed below by April 19, 2023. If that is not possible, candidates should wait to apply in the next exam cycle that will open a week after this one closes.  

1.  Register and Complete 2 Exam Components: The law enforcement exam components must be self-scheduled through the National Testing Network (NTN). Examinations are offered virtually or at physical locations across the United States. Applications must be received by April 17, 2023 and all exam components must be completed by April 19, 2023. These components include:

• • Frontline National (Law Enforcement) Exam 
  • Public Safety Self-Assessment (Parts 1 & 2) 

(Financial hardship vouchers are available for the NTN Testing fee. See additional information below.)

2.  Submit Application: Upon scheduling your NTN exam, all candidates must submit a formal application to the City of Seattle as soon as possible.  To submit an application, click “Apply” at the top of this job bulletin.

Candidates who meet eligibility criteria and pass all portions of the exam will be placed on an eligible list according to their exam scores. Candidates will be informed of their application status on or before April 21, 2023. If they pass, candidates must then complete and pass all the below pre-employment steps to become a Seattle police officer.  

3. Physical Agility Test:  Candidates must successfully complete the Washington Physical Agility Test (WAPAT) before they can be hired. This test can be scheduled at any time during the examination or pre-employment process: 

• • If you are a Washington-state resident:You must complete your Physical Agility Test (WAPAT) through National Testing Network. Contact NTN candidate support at (206) 428-3265 to schedule a WAPAT as soon as you have successfully passed your NTN Frontline and PSSA tests. 

• • If you live in any state other than Washington AND you passed your initial exams: Your WAPAT will be administered in Seattle at the conclusion of the pre-employment screening process.

4. Oral Board Interview: Candidate will need to complete an oral board interview with the Seattle Police Department tentatively scheduled for April 29, 2023. This will be done virtually.  
5. Backgrounding:  Candidates who pass the exam and oral board will receive a link via email from the Seattle Police Background unit to fill out their personal history information (PHI) packet.  SPD will then conduct a thorough investigation into the candidate’s history. Ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications.
   
   
6. Medical Evaluation, Psychological Exam, and Polygraph Exam:  Candidate will need to complete a medical evaluation that includes drug screening, medical history, vision & hearing test, and a stress EKG test. A psychological exam will be completed via ZOOM. The medical tests can only be completed in-person at specific Seattle locations currently. 
   
   
7. Final Offer of Employment: If the candidate completes and passes all the above steps, they will be given an official offer of employment with the Seattle Police Department.  

Preference Points: If applicable, candidates may have preference points added to their passing exam scores for military experience, multilingual abilities, prior work experience with the City of Seattle, and prior service as a Police Reserve in the Seattle Police Department. Applicants who are proficient in more than one language may request to be tested for multilingual proficiency (after passing initial exams). All requests for preference points will be evaluated in accordance with Rules 9.17-9.20 of the City of Seattle’s Public Safety Civil Service Commission.

Lateral Candidate Upcoming Tests

EXAM APPLICATION INFORMATION:

Once a completed application is received by the City of Seattle's Fire & Police Exam Unit, the Fire & Police Exam Unit will send a scheduling letter to each applicant via e-mail with a link and instructions for how to schedule participation in the NTN Frontline exam process at no cost.  

Before you apply and test, please be sure that you are available to participate in the post-exam assessments advertised below.  If you are unavailable to participate in any of the screening steps listed below, you will need to wait to participate in a subsequent exam cycle. 

Candidates must be available to participate in all parts of the exam process (including post-exam screening) as listed below:

EXAM APPLICATION INFORMATION:  
Applications for this exam cycle will be accepted during the period of January 13 - February 17, 2023.   Once a completed application is received by the City of Seattle's Fire & Police Exam Unit, the Fire & Police Exam Unit will send the applicant's name and e-mail address to NTN.  NTN will then send each applicant (via e-mail address provided in the application) a link and instructions for how to schedule participation in the NTN Frontline exam process at no cost.  Before you apply and test, please be sure that you are available to participate in the oral board interview as advertised below.  If you are unavailable to participate in the oral board interview on March 11, 2023, you will need to wait to participate in a subsequent exam cycle.

Candidates must be available to participate in all portions of the exam process within the dates assigned to this exam cycle:

EXAM DATES:  
Applicants must be available to participate in all parts of the pre-employment screening process that are listed below.  If you apply between January 13 and February 17, 2023 and successfully complete the first stage of the assessment process (NTN video exam and online Public Safety Self Assessment) by February 22, 2023, you will be scheduled by the Fire & Police Exam Unit to participate in an online formal oral board interview to be conducted on March 11, 2023.  Candidates who successfully pass the oral board interview will be scheduled for an interview with a background detective to be conducted via MS Teams.

Exam Step 1 - Video Exam and Online Job Survey (Please Note:  There are two options to complete the video exam.  Seattle will only accept one of the test result options listed below.)
 

• Option 1:  Between January 13, 2023 - February 22, 2023, written/video exams will be conducted by the National Testing Network (NTN).  Applicants will be able to participate in the exam process in one of two ways:  (1) from their own home computer with a virtual proctor, or (2) at an NTN center location convenient to them.  The City of Seattle will pay the fee for exam administration.
• Test results earned at these exam administrations will be sent to Seattle and are not transferable to any other department.  All candidates will receive their scores on or about February 23, 2023 via e-mail from Seattle's Fire & Police Exam Unit.  If you select Option 1 you forfeit the ability to transfer a current NTN exam score (see Option 2 below).                       
• Option 2:  Applicants can transfer any current NTN Frontline score earned between August 22, 2022 - February 22, 2023, as long as that score was not applied toward a Seattle exam in the previous six months.  Applicants who elect to transfer scores will be able to add Seattle as a department (at no cost) following NTN's standard "department add" process. The City of Seattle will pay the fee for a score transfer.  An application must be on file with the City of Seattle so that a link may to be sent to an applicant for the "department add" score transfer process to occur at no cost.
• Candidates who pass the NTN Frontline video exam will be scheduled by Seattle's Fire and Police Exam Unit to participate in the oral board interview and Background Investigation Unit interview.

Please Note:  Applicants who pass the NTN test will be invited to participate in an online oral board interview on March 11, 2023 to complete Step 2 of the test.

Exam Step 2 - Lateral Entry Oral Board Interview
      March 11, 2023

Exam Step 3 - Interview with a Background Detective

Candidates will be scheduled individually by a background detective, subsequent to passing Step 1 and Step 2 of the exam process.