Step 1: The Personal Qualifications Essay (PQE) requires you to write three essays in response to questions regarding demonstration of your personal qualifications for a law enforcement position. Essays will be evaluated based on your written communication skill and demonstrated effectiveness in judgment and decision making and behavioral flexibility. Passing the PQE requires a score of 75% or higher. The results will be emailed to you from the City of Los Angeles Personnel Dept within approx. two weeks AFTER taking the test. Your score is good for 18 months you can retake the test after 6 months.

Step 2: Personal History Statement (PHS) link will be sent by email if you have passed the PQE ( written test above) which requires compilation of extensive biographical information and completion of additional questionnaires. Make sure to include all information that applies to you, omission of information or being dishonest will be a disqualification.

Step 3: PFQ ( Physical Fitness Qualification) conducted the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. See Fitness tab for more information. Must complete PFQ with a 50% or higher to continue to the next step.

Step 4: The Department Interview will be conducted by a panel to assess your accomplishments, job motivation, instrumentality, interpersonal skills and oral communication skills. If you fail, you may retake the interview after 3 months. If you subsequently attend an Orientation/Oral Prep Seminar offered by Los Angeles Airport Recruitment Unit, you will not be required to wait 3 months for another interview.

Step 5: Polygraph and fingerprinting check. A Polygraph Examination is conducted to confirm information obtained during the selection process.

Step 6: Background Investigation will conducted after Steps 1-4 are passed. An extensive background check of employment, police, financial, education and military records and interviews with family members, neighbors, supervisors, co-workers and friends.

Step 7: The medical examination is thorough and it is essential that you be in excellent physical, emotional, and mental health with no conditions that restrict the ability to safely perform the essential functions of the police officer job. Good physical condition is necessary, as training in the Academy is rigorous. Failure to be in excellent physical condition may delay or disrupt training and result in a dismissal from the Academy. Medical examination results are valid for up to 12 months, at the discretion of the City's medical staff. Written psychological tests (valid for up to 18 months) and the second portion of the PAT will be administered at this time.

1. VISION
   Vision must be at least 20/30 in each eye with the following exceptions. If glasses are worn, vision must be at least 20/30 in each eye while wearing the glasses and uncorrected distance vision must not exceed 20/70 in either eye and the better eye must be at least 20/40. If soft contact lenses are worn, they must have been worn for at least three months and vision must be at least 20/30 in each eye tested with the contacts in. If a LASIK procedure (refractive surgery) was performed, vision must be at least 20/30 in each eye. In addition, candidates must be able to accurately and quickly name colors, and must be free from other visual impairments that would restrict the ability to perform law enforcement duties.
   
   
2. HEARING
   Candidates must be able to understand speech in noisy areas, understand whispered speech, and localize sounds. Specialized testing methods are used to determine hearing capability. Although hearing aid use is not automatically disqualifying, additional specialized tests will be administered to determine if the use of hearing aids will be permitted.

Step 8: The Psychological Evaluation consists of an individual oral interview and evaluation by a City psychologist on factors related to successful performance in the difficult and stressful job of Airport Police Officer. The information evaluated includes the written psychological tests completed during the medical evaluation along with information obtained in the background investigation process. The results are valid for 12 months.

• Candidates with a history or prior diagnosis of a psychological or psychiatric condition, including learning disabilities or Attention Deficit Disorder, or who have been treated with psychotropic medication or therapy, will be asked to provide relevant medical records before a final psychological determination can be made.
  
  
• Certain conditions that have been suspected or diagnosed such as most learning disabilities or Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without hyperactivity, may require additional testing and review of relevant medical records. In many cases these conditions/diagnoses result in a disqualification due to a lack of adequate treatment and persisting symptoms.
  
  
• Other conditions such as bipolar disorder, recurring major depression, with or without psychotic features or suicidal ideation, recurring anxiety disorders, with or without panic attacks, obsessive/compulsive disorder, and most diagnoses leading to a psychiatric hospitalization are highly disqualifying. Although the candidate will be asked to provide relevant medical records documenting the conditions and treatment received, these conditions often provide a basis for disqualification for a police officer position