Police Department

Written Test

Applicants must be able to read and write at the levels necessary to perform the job of a peace officer as determined by passing the POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) or other professionally developed and validated test of reading and writing ability. The UCLA Police Department uses the PELLETB test.

The written examination will test applicants’ skills in vocabulary, spelling and reading comprehension. The exam also tests the applicant’s general knowledge and may have some reference to general law enforcement principles. POST has an Applicant Preparation Guide for the POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PDF).

Other information can be found at Entry-Level Test Battery FAQs.

Applicants that have successfully passed a POST level examination within a year of the current test date can be exempted from the written test if they provide written documentation of a T-Score of 50 and above prior to a scheduled testing date. A written test is not required for Lateral or Pre-Service applicants.

POST requires that you wait for a period of one month (30 calendar days) before taking the exam again. This applies even if the exam is taken through a different department or agency than the original exam.

Please see the POST website for additional information.

Physical Ability Test (PAT)

This examination consists of five timed events that are designed to measure physical condition, strength and endurance. Each event, except the 500-yard run, are attempted twice. Each of the five events is timed.

The applicant's best performance time for each event is converted to points and the points totaled. Applicants must pass each event and accumulate a total score of 384 points or more to pass.

• Obstacle Course
  Run a 99-yard obstacle course consisting of several sharp turns, a number of curb-height obstacles and a 34-inch high obstacle that must be vaulted
• Body Drag
  Lift and drag a 165-pound lifelike dummy 32-feet
• Chain Link Fence
  Run 5 yards to a 6-foot chain link fence, climb over fence, continue running another 25 yards
• Solid Fence Climb
  Run 5 yards to a 6 foot solid fence, climb over fence, continue running another 25 yards
• 500-Yard Run
  Run 500 yards
• 1.5-Mile Run
  Run 1.5 miles in under 15 minutes

After reviewing this information, if you have any additional questions regarding Police Officer recruitment, testing, hiring or training, contact the Personnel and Training Division at jobs@ucpd.ucla.edu.