To be considered as a Police Cadet, Lateral Officer or Reserve Officer with the Albuquerque Police Department, applicants must successfully complete the selection process. A new selection process in initiated for each anticipated cadet class. Listed below are the steps in the selection process and the sequence in which they are administered. At times, this sequence may be changed for the convenience of the department. Any and all components of the selection process can be changed by the Police Department without prior notice. The entire process takes from two to three months. Based on Academy starting dates, this time period may be extended.

Any candidate who does not meet the minimum requirements will be dropped from the process. Any candidate who wishes to re-apply for the next Academy class must complete each and every step of the application process. If you have any questions regarding the selection process, please contact the Recruiting and Selection Unit.

The Recruiting Unit is located at 5412 2nd Street NW (2nd and Montano), Albuquerque, NM 87107.

Step # 1 Interest Card

The Interest Card is composed of personal information questions (name, social security number, date of birth, home address, etc…) and basic eligibility requirement questions. The applicant will also list on the Interest Card when he/she would like to come to the Police Academy to complete the weekend testing process. The weekend testing process includes the Physical Fitness Test, the Nelson-Denny Reading and Comprehension Test, Personal Integrity Questionnaire and the Written Psychological Test.

Step # 2 City Police Entrance Exam Test

This written test is composed of 100 multiple choice questions and consists of five sections: observation and recall, cognitive abilities, personal maturity and integrity, technical skills and written and oral communication.(Sample test available upon request)

All applicants must successfully complete the City Police Entrance Exam prior to participating in the physical fitness test. Upon completing the initial interest card the applicant will be contacted by recruiting personnel to schedule their test date.

** This test is administerd every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30am and 1:00pm

Step # 3 Personal Integrity Questionnaire

This questionnaire is composed of 132 questions and will be reviewed by a Recruiting or Background Detective with the applicant upon completion. A determination of the applicant’s eligibility to continue on in the selection process will be made based on the information provided by the applicant. If the applicant passes this step, he/she will be given the Personal History Statement and other relevant documents by the Recruiting and Selection Staff. The applicant will be directed as to when the Personal History Statement and the other documents will need to be completed and returned to the Recruiting and Selection Unit.

The new process mandates that all applicants must bring a completed Personal History Statement and Personal Integrity Questionnaire with them on their weekend testing date. This is new in the process and will be a permanent change.

Personal History Statement and Instructions

Personal Integrity Questionnaire

Step # 4 Physical Fitness Test

The Physical Fitness test is composed of a 1 ½ mile run, a 300 meter run, a flexibility test, a one minute push-up test, and a one minute sit-up test. A minimum score of 40 % for each test is required. There is no physical requirement for State certified officers and one year exemption for out-of-state laterals. Laterals proceed straight to written examination.

Step # 5 Nelson-Denny Reading and Comprehension Test

This written test is composed of 116 multiple choice questions on vocabulary and reading and comprehension type questions.

Step # 6 Personal History Statement

The Personal History Statement is approximately a 10-page document that requires the applicant to provide personal information. Personal references, employment history, prior residences, military service records are just an example of what the Personal History Statement will require the applicant to provide to the Selection Unit. The Selection Unit secretary will review the Personal History Statement with the applicant for completeness and legibility. The Personal History Statement will then be given to the Selection Unit Sergeant who will then give it to a Background Detective to start that applicant’s background process.

Step # 7 Psychological Written Test

Upon successful completion of the physical fitness test applicants will complete a written psychological test on the following Sunday (this is mandatory).

Step # 8 Background Investigation

A thorough and complete investigation into the background of the candidate will be completed. This investigation is composed of, but not limited to:

Criminal and Arrest History
Employment History
Military History
Driving History
Educational History
Credit (Financial) History
Verification of at least five references
Social History

Step # 9 Polygraph Examination

All candidates will be required to submit to a polygraph examination by a licensed polygrapher. This examination is to verify information provided by the candidate in all papers, documents and statements submitted as part of the background investigation.

Step # 10 Psychological Interview

The psychological interview consists of the scoring and interpretation of the written psychological tests and an interview with one of the Albuquerque Police Department Psychologists. The New Mexico Department of Public Safety requires that candidates pass the psychological test by a licensed Psychologist prior to certification.

Step # 11 Chief’s Selection

The Chief’s Selection committee will interview the Background Detective about their applicant. The applicant will then have an opportunity to be interviewed by the Chief’s Selection committee as well. The committee will decide whether or not to give a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. This conditional offer is based on the understanding that the candidate will successfully complete the remaining Selection Process Steps.

Step # 12 Medical Examination

Candidates will be sent to the City Health Center for a vision, hearing, medical and physical test as part of their medical examination.

Step # 13 Drug Screening Test

Candidates will provide a urinalysis sample to screen for illegal drug usage.

Step # 14 and Step # 15 Recruiting Pre-Orientation and Academy Orientation

Those candidates who have been selected to the Police Academy will be scheduled to attend a Pre-Orientation session conducted by the Recruiting and Selection Unit staff at the Police Academy to go through necessary paperwork to be completed for the Police Academy. In addition, candidates will have to attend an Orientation session by the Academy Unit staff at the Police Academy. At this session, candidates will be briefed on the Academy Rules and Regulations, uniforms, haircuts and all other matters pertaining to the upcoming Academy class. The Physical Fitness Test will be administered again at this Orientation session.