Recruitment process for police officers

You will submit your application online.

It will be thoroughly assessed and some may be rejected if deemed not suitable.

Make sure you use correct spelling and grammar and that you answer all questions in full.

The application form consists of:

• personal details
• employment history
• education history
• history of prior offences and police dealings.

After your initial application

Once you complete your online application, you may be contacted by our Recruiting Services Branch. They will then email you to ask you to complete the Victoria Police Entrance Examination.

All costs associated with travel to and from the assessment venues/stages will be the responsibility of the applicant. This includes:

• costs to sit the entrance exam
• medical appointments
• and first aid certification.

Before you submit your application make sure you are familiar with the recruitment process.

To learn more, watch the Victoria Police recruitment process videos below.

Recruitment process videos

Learn about what’s involved in the Victoria Police recruitment process:

Recruitment process: Tips for success video

This video shares tips for success with your Victoria Police application.

Uniform and appearance

All employees must adhere to the Victoria Police code of conduct and certain policies and appearance standards. Learn more on our Code of conduct, uniform and appearance page.

All Victoria Police applicants must meet certain entry requirements before applying.

The eligibility checks stage of the recruitment process ensures these requirements are met. This is done as our recruitment team review your application.

They determine your eligibility and suitability to join Victoria Police as a police officer. This includes assessing your:

• basic driving history
• criminal history
• responses to motivational and behavioural based questions.

The role of a police officer is a highly sought after position. The recruitment process is highly competitive.

Not all applications will progress past this initial stage of the process.

There will be an entrance exam.

Applicants must successfully pass all components of the entrance examination prior to progressing to the next phase of the selection process.

Exemptions

All exemptions are approved at the discretion of the Recruiting Services Branch.

Those who have obtained a relevant Australian university bachelor degree within the past five years prior to their application may be exempt from sitting the exam.

Relevant degrees are:

• Arts
• Science
• Humanities (business)
• Law.

Applicants with Prior Policing Experience in the past five years in Australian, New Zealand or United Kingdom policing jurisdictions, or who are currently employed in those jurisdictions, may also be exempt from the exam.

Entrance exam preparation resources

Prepare for the Victoria Police entrance exam with written and video resources.

Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)

The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) is the examination authority for Victoria Police.

Use ACER’s resources to prepare for the exam:

• Police recruit information booklet - free download(opens in a new window)
• Entrance exam Practise Now! resources(opens in a new window)
• Entrance exam online practise tests (available after exam registration).

Video tutorials

Explore video tutorials about each of the eight exam components.

Verbal reasoning tutorial

This tutorial:

• explains what’s involved in the verbal reasoning test, and
• gives advice about how to solve verbal reasoning questions.

Numeracy tutorial

This tutorial:

• explains what’s involved in the numeracy skills tasks, and
• gives advice about the types of questions you will find on the exam.

Abstract reasoning tutorial 

This tutorial:

• explains what’s involved in the abstract reasoning test, and
• gives advice about how to solve abstract reasoning questions.

Literacy skills tutorial

This tutorial:

• explains what’s involved in the literacy test, and
• gives advice about how to answer literacy skills questions.

Summary writing tutorial

This tutorial:

• explains what’s involved in the summary writing task, and
• gives advice about how to write a summary text.

Extended writing tutorial

This tutorial:

• explains what’s involved in the extended writing task, and
• gives advice about how to write an extended piece of writing.

Oral communication tutorial

This tutorial:

• explains what’s involved in the oral communication test, and
• gives advice about how to answer the questions.

Digital literacy tutorial

This tutorial:

• explains what’s involved in the digital literacy test, and
• gives advice about to answer digital literacy questions.

Sitting the exam

Applicants will be responsible for all examination costs, including the initial exam ($220) and any subsequent re-sits.

Applicants will have 2 months to sit their exam and if unsuccessful on any component, will be able to re-sit.

If unsuccessful on the re-sit, an exclusion period will apply. This is why you need to be ready to pass the entrance examination before you apply.

After you book your exam, you will receive email instructions to download an electronic ticket seven days prior to sitting date.

You will not be able to change the session date and time beyond this point.

You must bring a printed copy of your electronic ticket to your exam sitting; failure to do so will result in you being denied entry into the exam.

If you do not arrive at the venue at the time stated on your ticket and/or if you are not able to present a printed ticket, you will not be permitted to sit the exam.

However, you may apply to ACER for an exemption to re-book for a future date.

The dress code for the entrance exam is tidy casual attire.

If you successfully complete the Victoria Police entrance examination, Recruiting Services will conduct a preliminary check.

This check will cover your previous history to determine your eligibility and suitability for the role.

To help with the background checks you will be sent a document pack that you must complete in detail.

This detail includes various aspects of your background including but not limited to:

• your employment
• your family associations
• your education
• and your travel.

Accurately completing this document package is an assessed component of the recruitment process.

Missing or incomplete information will result in your application being delayed.

Failure to disclose information can result in your application being cancelled.

Fingerprinting

As part of the identity check process, all police officer applicants must have a set of fingerprints taken. There is no fee for this as it is part of the recruitment process.

Applicants must contact their local police station to make a booking to have their fingerprints taken.

You must bring a photo ID and other identification documentation to confirm your identity.

The Victoria Police Recruiting Applicant Pack explains the documentation required under the Police Applicant Schedule of Requirements.

A member of the station will take your fingerprints and sight your documents. 

Do not make an online appointment directly with a Victoria Police Fingerprint Facility. 

Interstate applicants

Interstate applicants need a fingerprint card to take with them to their appointment. The staff there will have your ink prints sent to our Victorian Fingerprint Unit. 

To get your fingerprint card, email us at rsb-springboard-mgr@police.vic.gov.au.

Code of conduct and prior behaviour 

All Victoria Police employees follow a code of conduct, regardless of rank, position or title. Victoria Police conducts extensive background checks on police officer applicants during the selection process. 

All applicants need to align with the code of conduct expected of our employees. That means the application process involves a thorough assessment to identify any: 

• prior misconduct 
• corruption 
• or any form of improper conduct. 

The ongoing expectation is that you understand and avoid misconduct, and immediately report it should you become aware of it in others.  

This helps keep Victoria Police an ethical organisation for our employees and the community we serve. 

Prior offences and Voluntary Disclosure Form (VDF)

Check the prior history guidelines to assess if a prior offence will affect your application to Victoria Police.

Check the prior history guidelines

If you have a previous offence, we recommend that you submit a Voluntary Disclosure Form (VDF) prior to submitting your application.

If you have any contact with police during the selection process, you must inform the Recruiting Services Branch immediately on recruitingservices@police.vic.gov.au.

As a police officer, you must maintain a healthy level of fitness. The application process requires you to take a fitness test designed to test your level of cardio fitness and physical strength.

Following the successful completion of your background checks, you may be invited to attend the fitness testing.

The fitness tests are normally conducted out of the Victoria Police Academy on a Sunday, followed by a psychometric assessment.

Please allow for a five-hour period on this day of testing.

The fitness test includes the following components:

• beep test (5.01)
• grip test (30kg in each hand)
• Illinois agility run (20 seconds)
• push-ups (five successive push-ups on toes)
• prone bridge (hold for 60 seconds)
• swim (100 metres in four minutes).

POLICE FIT app

Prepare for the fitness test with the POLICE FIT app.

The app includes instructive videos, fitness tips and training programs.

Victoria Police fitness test video

This video explains in detail what’s involved in the Victoria Police fitness test.

Policing can be psychologically demanding. This means all applicants must complete psychological testing during the recruitment process. 

Victoria Police utilise a suite of psychological tests to assess candidates' psychological suitability.

The results of the tests are interpreted by psychologists from the Victoria Police Psychology Unit. They then provide recommendations to the Recruitment Services Branch. 

We will provide you with your medical booklet at fitness testing day. This document is designed to assess your current health status as well as your medical and surgical history.

As part of this medical assessment process, you will be required:

• to complete a self-assessment questionnaire
• undergo an examination by a GP
• have your hearing tested by an audiologist or audiometrist
• and your vision tested by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.

All costs associated with this stage you will pay for.

If you have any concerns about your eligibility due to a medical condition, please consult our Medical guidelines.

As your application progresses you will be constantly assessed against Victoria Police’s values and code of ethics.

It is during the comprehensive checks stage of the process we look further into your:

• employment history
• associations
• social media
• and any police involvements.

Make sure you disclose all information to Victoria Police at all times throughout the recruitment process.

This means declaring all your associations, past and present, that you suspect to have a criminal conviction. It also includes those Victoria Police would consider being of poor character and reputation.

Such associations include:

• family members
• those living with you
• any person you associate with
• or have associated within the past.

This allows us to assess the risk of different associations to yourself, your colleagues and the organisation.

Failure to declare this information will raise concerns regarding your integrity, character and suitability for the role.

The interview is usually the final step in your recruitment process.

This is a panel interview, and is usually conducted at the Victoria Police Centre, Spencer Street, Docklands. Two trained members of Victoria Police will attend.

It will consist of behavioural and scenario based questions.

The interview deems which candidates are suitable for induction into the Victoria Police Academy.

If you are successful, you will go into the candidate pool awaiting invitation to start your training at the Victoria Police Academy.