Applications are accepted and screened for minimum qualifications.  Applicants who pass this stage will be invited to advance to the next step in the process.

(Not applicable for Police Officer - Lateral.)

We do not use the POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PETTETB) or accept scores from other agencies/POST.

Applicants must successfully complete a position-specific exam.  Applicants with the highest passing scores (above 70%) will be invited to advance to the next step in the process.

(Only applies to Police Officer and Custody Officer positions.)

Police Officer applicants must pass the complete Physical Agility Test.

Custody Officers applicants are required to pass a modified Physical Agility Test.

Top-scoring applicants who successfully complete this test will be invited to advance to the next step in the process.

Applicants will meet with an interview panel to answer job-related questions, which are designed to assess the applicant's knowledge and skills.

Successful applicants will be placed on an eligibility list and may be invited to advance to the next step in the process.

All prospective applicants for positions with the Newport Beach Police Department must undergo a comprehensive pre-employment background process.  This investigation satisfies two goals:

1. It assures compliance with all applicable minimum standards for appointment.
2. It screens out candidates who, based on their past history or other relevant information, are found to unsuitable for their desired position with the NBPD.

Applicants who reach this step are required to sign a no feedback waiver, an authorization to release information waiver, and a credit history waiver.  Other documents detailing the applicant's responsibility, dependability, honesty, and integrity will be evaluated during the background process.

Applicants are also required to complete a personal background questionnaire, a personal history statement, and a four- to six-page handwritten autobiography.  Applicants are encouraged to review the background questions in advance.  The list of questions can be found here. 

There is no established timeline to begin a background investigation.  Once initiated, a background investigation may take up to 16 weeks to complete.

Those applicants determined to be eligible and most qualified may be invited to advance to the next step in the process.

A polygraph examination is used to confirm the entirety of the information that the applicant has provided to the Newport Beach Police Department.

After the polygraph examination, successful applicants may be invited to advance to the next step in the process.

At this stage, the applicant's background investigation is forwarded to the Department's command staff and the chief of police for review.

Successful applicants may be invited to advance to the next step in the process.

Applicants will be invited to interview with the chief of police, or the chief's designee.

Successful applicants will be given a conditional job offer.  This offer becomes an offer of employment only if the applicant successfully completes the final examination(s), as required by their position.

(Only applies to applicants for Police Officer, Custody Officer, and Dispatcher positions.)

These applicants must successfully complete a psychological screening examination by a police psychologist.

For a list of minimum qualifications to become a police officer in the State of California, please see the POST Peace Officer Selection Guide.

Police Officer - Recruit

After being hired, recruits must successfully complete the rigorous Orange County Sheriff's Basic Training Academy.  For more information on this process, visit the OCSD Academy page.

Police Officer - Lateral (Out-of-State)

For information on the California POST waiver process, please visit the POST website.

Applicants must successfully complete a BSCC Standards and Training for Corrections Standard Training Course and POST's Arrest and Firearms course PC 832.

Applicants must successfully complete a POST Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Course.