If your question does not appear in our FAQ list, please feel free to contact us directly by phone at (512) 974-4211 or by email at APDRecruiting@austintexas.gov.
Helpful Links:
Click the links below to learn more information about our department and related law enforcement officer associations.
Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)
Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas (CLEAT)
Austin Police Women’s Association
Applicants must be at least 20.5 and less than 46 years of age at the time of application.
Three to four. All applicants must take the Civil Service Exam in January. Following the exam, applicants who passed with at least a 70 percent will be invited back to complete Phase I Testing (row test and psychological questionnaire). Those who pass Phase I Testing will move into the background stage of the hiring process during which they will fill out an electronic Background History Statement online. Phase II Testing follows the background stage and consists of a medical assessment, psychological evaluation, polygraph test, and oral board. Lastly, for those who have been extended an offer for hire, a mandatory orientation is held 3-5 weeks prior to the start of the Academy.
No. Required documentation must be the original or a certified copy. However, if you bring the originals to the Recruiting office we will make certified copies and return your originals.
Yes. All documents must be submitted electronically with your Background History Statement once you are scheduled for Phase I Testing. Applications that are incomplete or that do not have all the required documentation submitted may be disqualified. The required documents will need to be uploaded electronically and brought with you to Phase I Testing. If you have any questions, please call the Recruiting Office at (512) 974-4211.
If withdrawing, please email the Recruiting Unit (APDRecruiting@austintexas.gov) with your name and reason for withdrawing. Failure to contact the Recruiting Unit may subject your application to disqualification.
If you need to reschedule your test dates, please call the Recruiting Unit at (512) 974-4211. If you reschedule within less than 15 days of your testing dates you may be subject to disqualification.
Approximately 6-12 months. The timeframe depends on several factors including available test dates, how quickly your background investigation is completed, and the Academy start date. We highly encourage applicants to begin gathering the information needed for the electronic Background History Statement ahead of time and to remain proactive throughout the hiring process. The more you communicate with your background investigator, the faster your investigation will be completed. Visit the Hiring Process page of our website for more information about each step in the hiring process and what is needed to complete your Background History Statement.
Depends. The Department has a specific disqualification process and time frames vary depending on the reason for disqualification. Anytime an applicant is temporarily disqualified from our hiring process, he/she is provided with an eligibility date to reapply. Permanent disqualifications remain permanent.
You should dress appropriately to all interviews or meetings with Recruiting staff. However, a suit or business attire is not necessary until your oral board interview. The wearing of cut-off shirts, shorts, torn or faded clothing, gym attire, flip flops, or sandals does not display the professional appearance we look for in our applicants. Athletic attire should only be worn to Phase I Testing because this is when the row test is conducted.
Honesty and integrity are important values found in Austin police officers. If you are found omitting important information or are found to be deceptive at any point throughout the hiring process, you will be permanently disqualified. All applicants must successfully complete a background investigation and polygraph in order to continue in the hiring process.
No. Cadets do not live at our Training Academy. Work hours are typically Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. There are several training sessions throughout the Academy, however, that will require evenings and/or weekends depending on the lesson plan or project being completed. Regardless of your schedule, you typically do not work more than 40 hours in a given week while in the Academy.
The Regular Academy is approximately 32 weeks long. Upon graduation you will receive 1,280 hours of instruction. A Modified Academy class (for prior law enforcement) is shorter, at approximately 16 weeks.
Varies. The number of academy classes held each year depends on how many vacancies the department needs to fill. Typically we hold between 1-3 classes per year.
Varies. The number of cadets hired will depend on the amount of vacancies within the police department. Past class sizes have ranged anywhere from 25 to over 100 cadets.
No. Waivers are not allowed at any time.
Yes. Military personnel and veterans who have, or are anticipated to have, an honorable discharge are eligible and encouraged to apply. General discharge and uncharacterized discharge are also accepted but reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants who are currently in the military must provide a letter from their Commanding Officer stating the expected discharge status and date.
Active status military personnel can apply as long as they are available when the cadet class is scheduled to begin.
Applicants who are discharged must submit their DD-214 (Member 4 copy) for discharge status verification.
Applicants in the Military Reserves should advise their command of the police academy training schedule and attempt to work out a schedule that will allow regular attendance of the academy. Remember, the regular police academy is approximately 8 months long.
Yes. However, it depends on the reason for the discharge. It must be under honorable conditions. The Austin Police Department will review each general or uncharacterized discharge on a case-by-case basis.
No. No one who was issued a dishonorable discharge, bad conduct, or other characterization of bad character will be accepted.
Medical disqualifiers are reviewed on a case-by-case basis after careful consideration of each applicant’s particular medical situation. However, the following is a list of minimum medical requirements that must be met to become an Austin police officer:
Applicants will be disqualified from the hiring process for any of the following reasons:
Military applicants having been discharged from any military service under less than honorable conditions will be disqualified. These include:
Applicants who have received a general discharge under honorable conditions or an uncharacterized discharge will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
An applicant’s entire driving record is reviewed, with the last five years being the most critical. However, the following are automatic disqualifiers:
Credit history is reviewed to determine continuing eligibility in the hiring process. Unstable credit history can lead to a disqualification. The following may prohibit you from continuing in the hiring process:
Drug use is not automatically a permanent disqualifier. Disqualification timeframes depend on many factors including the substance used, age at time of use, and frequency of use. For specific questions, please contact the Recruiting Unit. Below are a list of some of the disqualifiers for drug use:
The following is a list of potential disqualifiers for current or prior law enforcement:
The following is a list of potential disqualifiers that do not fit in any particular category:
No. Austin police officers do not have residency requirements.
No. Applicants are responsible for all moving costs. However, your uniforms and equipment are paid for by the Austin Police Department and you are paid a salary while attending the Academy.
Yes. However, you may not attend school outside of the APD academy during your training.
The Austin Police Department does not accept lateral transfers but will occasionally schedule special modified academy classes for experienced police officers. Please visit the Modified Academy page of our website for specific information about qualifications and the hiring process.
Yes. Many officers supplement their income with department overtime assignments from special events or patrol functions. Off-duty overtime (overtime outside the department) is also available for many officers at different locations within the city. Generally, officers who graduate the academy are not allowed to work overtime during their initial 15-month probationary period.
Yes. Officers may have tattoos except for areas on the neck or face/head. Tattoos that are deemed offensive in nature must be covered up by clothing or arm bands while on duty. Any tattoos that are related to gangs or hate groups, whether they are visible while in uniform or not, are not permitted and will not result in the candidate being hired. Applicants must submit photos of their tattoos during the background portion of the hiring process.
Current Department policy prohibits dreadlocks as well as hairstyles that are partially shaved to create a design, colored an unnatural shade, or sprayed with substances such as glitter, neon or fluorescent colors.
Yes. The APD Ride Along Program is designed to give citizens a first-hand view of police work in Austin, Texas. After completing an application, you will be paired with a patrol officer in a marked vehicle and will observe as he or she responds to calls for service. This is one of the best ways to learn if police work is right for you.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to participate in the program prior to applying, if possible. All police officer candidates must complete a ride along with an officer toward the end of the hiring process. Any citizen or applicant wishing to participate in the program can obtain information by contacting the Public Information Office at 512-974-5017 or by viewing the printable or electronic application forms online. Please follow these instructions after filling out either version of the application form.
Police officer duties include but are not limited to the following:
•Assigned to patrol in one of the nine geographic sectors (four regions) of the City of Austin
•Responding to calls for service from the community
•Conducting preliminary investigations at crime scenes
•Familiar with Texas Penal Code, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Texas Transportation Code and Texas Family Code
•Investigating traffic related incidents
•Driving and safe operation of police vehicles
•Documenting incidents in police reports and gathering of evidence
•Familiar with Austin Police Department rules and regulations as well as City of Austin Ordinances
•Searching, pursuing and detaining suspects
•Responding to burglar and robbery alarms
•Making arrests
•Enforcing traffic and parking laws
•Participating in Community Policing activities
•Working with other police department units as well as other local, state, and federal entities
•Preparing for and attending court appearances
•Participating in mandatory and elective training
•Keeping proficient with firearms and self-defense
Please visit our Careers page for more information about the rank structure, pay scales, a list of specialized units, and information regarding the promotional process.
Newly graduated officers will enter a Field Training Program for 3-4 months of one-on-one training with a Field Training Officer. Generally you are assigned to a patrol shift in one of nine sectors within the city. Your work schedule will be four 10-hour days with three consecutive days off. Your days off will rotate every 28 days.
Applicants must be at least 20.5 and less than 46 years of age at the time of application.
Three to four. All applicants must take the Civil Service Exam in January. Following the exam, applicants who passed with at least a 70 percent will be invited back to complete Phase I Testing (row test and psychological questionnaire). Those who pass Phase I Testing will move into the background stage of the hiring process during which they will fill out an electronic Background History Statement online. Phase II Testing follows the background stage and consists of a medical assessment, psychological evaluation, polygraph test, and oral board. Lastly, for those who have been extended an offer for hire, a mandatory orientation is held 3-5 weeks prior to the start of the Academy.
No. Required documentation must be the original or a certified copy. However, if you bring the originals to the Recruiting office we will make certified copies and return your originals.
Yes. All documents must be submitted electronically with your Background History Statement once you are scheduled for Phase I Testing. Applications that are incomplete or that do not have all the required documentation submitted may be disqualified. The required documents will need to be uploaded electronically and brought with you to Phase I Testing. If you have any questions, please call the Recruiting Office at (512) 974-4211.
If withdrawing, please email the Recruiting Unit (APDRecruiting@austintexas.gov) with your name and reason for withdrawing. Failure to contact the Recruiting Unit may subject your application to disqualification.
If you need to reschedule your test dates, please call the Recruiting Unit at (512) 974-4211. If you reschedule within less than 15 days of your testing dates you may be subject to disqualification.
Approximately 6-12 months. The timeframe depends on several factors including available test dates, how quickly your background investigation is completed, and the Academy start date. We highly encourage applicants to begin gathering the information needed for the electronic Background History Statement ahead of time and to remain proactive throughout the hiring process. The more you communicate with your background investigator, the faster your investigation will be completed. Visit the Hiring Process page of our website for more information about each step in the hiring process and what is needed to complete your Background History Statement.
Depends. The Department has a specific disqualification process and time frames vary depending on the reason for disqualification. Anytime an applicant is temporarily disqualified from our hiring process, he/she is provided with an eligibility date to reapply. Permanent disqualifications remain permanent.
You should dress appropriately to all interviews or meetings with Recruiting staff. However, a suit or business attire is not necessary until your oral board interview. The wearing of cut-off shirts, shorts, torn or faded clothing, gym attire, flip flops, or sandals does not display the professional appearance we look for in our applicants. Athletic attire should only be worn to Phase I Testing because this is when the row test is conducted.
Honesty and integrity are important values found in Austin police officers. If you are found omitting important information or are found to be deceptive at any point throughout the hiring process, you will be permanently disqualified. All applicants must successfully complete a background investigation and polygraph in order to continue in the hiring process.
No. Cadets do not live at our Training Academy. Work hours are typically Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. There are several training sessions throughout the Academy, however, that will require evenings and/or weekends depending on the lesson plan or project being completed. Regardless of your schedule, you typically do not work more than 40 hours in a given week while in the Academy.
The Regular Academy is approximately 32 weeks long. Upon graduation you will receive 1,280 hours of instruction. A Modified Academy class (for prior law enforcement) is shorter, at approximately 16 weeks.
Varies. The number of academy classes held each year depends on how many vacancies the department needs to fill. Typically we hold between 1-3 classes per year.
Varies. The number of cadets hired will depend on the amount of vacancies within the police department. Past class sizes have ranged anywhere from 25 to over 100 cadets.
No. Waivers are not allowed at any time.
Yes. Military personnel and veterans who have, or are anticipated to have, an honorable discharge are eligible and encouraged to apply. General discharge and uncharacterized discharge are also accepted but reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants who are currently in the military must provide a letter from their Commanding Officer stating the expected discharge status and date.
Active status military personnel can apply as long as they are available when the cadet class is scheduled to begin.
Applicants who are discharged must submit their DD-214 (Member 4 copy) for discharge status verification.
Applicants in the Military Reserves should advise their command of the police academy training schedule and attempt to work out a schedule that will allow regular attendance of the academy. Remember, the regular police academy is approximately 8 months long.
Yes. However, it depends on the reason for the discharge. It must be under honorable conditions. The Austin Police Department will review each general or uncharacterized discharge on a case-by-case basis.
No. No one who was issued a dishonorable discharge, bad conduct, or other characterization of bad character will be accepted.
Medical disqualifiers are reviewed on a case-by-case basis after careful consideration of each applicant’s particular medical situation. However, the following is a list of minimum medical requirements that must be met to become an Austin police officer:
Applicants will be disqualified from the hiring process for any of the following reasons:
Military applicants having been discharged from any military service under less than honorable conditions will be disqualified. These include:
Applicants who have received a general discharge under honorable conditions or an uncharacterized discharge will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
An applicant’s entire driving record is reviewed, with the last five years being the most critical. However, the following are automatic disqualifiers:
Credit history is reviewed to determine continuing eligibility in the hiring process. Unstable credit history can lead to a disqualification. The following may prohibit you from continuing in the hiring process:
Drug use is not automatically a permanent disqualifier. Disqualification timeframes depend on many factors including the substance used, age at time of use, and frequency of use. For specific questions, please contact the Recruiting Unit. Below are a list of some of the disqualifiers for drug use:
The following is a list of potential disqualifiers for current or prior law enforcement:
The following is a list of potential disqualifiers that do not fit in any particular category:
No. Austin police officers do not have residency requirements.
No. Applicants are responsible for all moving costs. However, your uniforms and equipment are paid for by the Austin Police Department and you are paid a salary while attending the Academy.
Yes. However, you may not attend school outside of the APD academy during your training.
The Austin Police Department does not accept lateral transfers but will occasionally schedule special modified academy classes for experienced police officers. Please visit the Modified Academy page of our website for specific information about qualifications and the hiring process.
Yes. Many officers supplement their income with department overtime assignments from special events or patrol functions. Off-duty overtime (overtime outside the department) is also available for many officers at different locations within the city. Generally, officers who graduate the academy are not allowed to work overtime during their initial 15-month probationary period.
Yes. Officers may have tattoos except for areas on the neck or face/head. Tattoos that are deemed offensive in nature must be covered up by clothing or arm bands while on duty. Any tattoos that are related to gangs or hate groups, whether they are visible while in uniform or not, are not permitted and will not result in the candidate being hired. Applicants must submit photos of their tattoos during the background portion of the hiring process.
Current Department policy prohibits dreadlocks as well as hairstyles that are partially shaved to create a design, colored an unnatural shade, or sprayed with substances such as glitter, neon or fluorescent colors.
Yes. The APD Ride Along Program is designed to give citizens a first-hand view of police work in Austin, Texas. After completing an application, you will be paired with a patrol officer in a marked vehicle and will observe as he or she responds to calls for service. This is one of the best ways to learn if police work is right for you.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to participate in the program prior to applying, if possible. All police officer candidates must complete a ride along with an officer toward the end of the hiring process. Any citizen or applicant wishing to participate in the program can obtain information by contacting the Public Information Office at 512-974-5017 or by viewing the printable or electronic application forms online. Please follow these instructions after filling out either version of the application form.
Police officer duties include but are not limited to the following:
•Assigned to patrol in one of the nine geographic sectors (four regions) of the City of Austin
•Responding to calls for service from the community
•Conducting preliminary investigations at crime scenes
•Familiar with Texas Penal Code, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Texas Transportation Code and Texas Family Code
•Investigating traffic related incidents
•Driving and safe operation of police vehicles
•Documenting incidents in police reports and gathering of evidence
•Familiar with Austin Police Department rules and regulations as well as City of Austin Ordinances
•Searching, pursuing and detaining suspects
•Responding to burglar and robbery alarms
•Making arrests
•Enforcing traffic and parking laws
•Participating in Community Policing activities
•Working with other police department units as well as other local, state, and federal entities
•Preparing for and attending court appearances
•Participating in mandatory and elective training
•Keeping proficient with firearms and self-defense
Please visit our Careers page for more information about the rank structure, pay scales, a list of specialized units, and information regarding the promotional process.
Newly graduated officers will enter a Field Training Program for 3-4 months of one-on-one training with a Field Training Officer. Generally you are assigned to a patrol shift in one of nine sectors within the city. Your work schedule will be four 10-hour days with three consecutive days off. Your days off will rotate every 28 days.