California State Minimum Selection Standards (Per P.O.S.T)

• The minimum peace officer selection standards are set forth in Government Code Sections 1029, 1031, and 1031.4. Every California peace officer must be:
• Free from any disqualifications for employment, including felony convictions (GC 1029) 
• Be legally authorized to work in the United States under Federal law.
• At least 21 years of age for specified peace officers (GC 1031.4)
• Fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record
• Of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation
• A high school graduate, pass the General Education Development test or other high school equivalency test approved by CDE, or have attained a two-year, four-year, or advanced degree from an accredited or approved institution
• Found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition, including bias against race or ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, disability, or sexual orientation, which might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer

• Three (3) or more moving violations within three (3) years prior to the date of application
• Involvement as a driver in two or more chargeable (at fault) collisions within three (3) years to date of application 
• Integrity: Any material misstatement of fact during any stage of the hiring process
• Any prior felony conviction
• Any misdemeanor conviction within three (3) years prior to the date of application 
• Two (2) or more misdemeanor convictions as an adult 
• Use of a hallucinogenic drug within 7 years of application
• Use of any other illegal drug use as an adult not mentioned above within 3 years of application 
• Having any outstanding warrant of arrest at time of application 
• Admission(s) of any act of domestic violence
• Admission(s) of any criminal act against children

Note: The hiring and background requirements are quite stringent. This is not an all-inclusive list of disqualifying factors, (see BPD Policy 1000 v.2/2/17).

• Application
• Written test
• Physical Agility test
• Oral board interview
• Background Investigation (including polygraph) 
• Chief’s Interview
• Conditional Job Offer (From Human Resources)
• Medical exam
• Psychological exam (Police Officers and Police Dispatchers only)
• Final Job Offer (From Human Resources)

• Do an online search for “POST Pellet B practice test”

• Research the department online
• Do a ride-a-long (call 510-464-7681 to set up after application has been submitted)
• Research oral board sample questions online

• The process takes approximately 3-6 months

• The Physical Agility Test is a timed test consisting of the following four exercises:

  • Solid-Fence Climb: Climb 5 foot solid wall with no running start. 15 second time limit.
  • Cone Maze: Run a  160-foot obstacle course consisting of weaving through cone patterns and several sharp turns.  30 second time limit.
  • Ditch and Dummy Drag: Complete a 150-foot obstacle course consisting of a 4-foot ditch obstacle and a 32-foot drag of a 165-pound human shaped dummy.  40 second time limit.
  • 500-Yard Run. 2 minute and 25 second time limit

• Primarily the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Academy full-time police academies (5-6 months long)

• If BART PD hires a police recruit, we will pay for the academy and pay the recruit a salary while going through the academy
  • 75% of step 1 in academy, 85% of step 1 in FTO
• BART PD will pay for uniforms

• Once your probationary period is complete, you will be able to select your shift/location based on your seniority. Shift bids are in March and September per the contract. 

• One year after training has been completed.

• The majority are 4/10 hours shift and 3/12 – 4/12 hours shift, with a few 5/8 hour shifts.

• K9, Regional SWAT, Detective, JTTF Background Investigator, Training Officer, Field Training Officer, Evidence Tech, CAP Team.

• 25-30 (June 2023)

• There is no maximum age to become a BART police officer.

• No. The signing bonus is for experienced officers, for those who have graduated from a California POST approved academy and are not required to attend an academy.