Hiring new officers, checked Nov 13, 2026
Closed right now
Laterals: open now. Official jobs page.
The 10 steps, in order
- 1
ApplicationApply through the city's governmentjobs.com page when the entry-level posting is open.
- 2
Written examPOST PELLETB with a T-score of 46 or higher. Waived with an associate's degree or higher.Prep for this step - 3
Physical Agility TestFour pass/fail events: push-ups, sit-ups, body drag and a 1.5-mile run.Prep for this step - 4
Preliminary Investigative QuestionnaireAn extensive questionnaire covering all aspects of your life.
- 5
Certification listCandidates who pass all three are placed on a list for at least six months.
- 6
Background investigationBackground packet due in 10 working days, then interview, polygraph, pre-placement exam, Livescan and reference checks.
- 7
Hiring interviewSelected applicants meet the hiring authority for the Police Department.
- 8
Conditional offerThe offer depends on passing a medical exam, drug screening and psychological exam.
- 9
Police academyRecruits attend the 25-week San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Academy at Miramar College.
- 10
Field trainingNew officers must complete the Field Training Program and field probation.
How long hiring takes
Each agency's own stated figure. They do not all measure the same span, so check the note on each bar.
Minimum requirements
- High school diploma, GED or equivalent
- At least 20 years and 6 months old at application
- 21 years old by academy graduation
- U.S. citizen, or permanent resident who has applied for citizenship
- Valid Class C California driver's license at appointment
- No felony conviction and not serving probation
- Pass background investigation, CVSA or polygraph, and pre-placement exam
- Pass psychological evaluation and medical exam with drug screening
Not published by this agency
- Total hiring timeline
- Field training length
- Probation length
- Tattoo and grooming policy on the careers pages
- Retirement formula
- Entry-level hiring bonus
- PELLETB retake rules
- Academy fitness standard
- Current police recruit pay on an open city posting
- Square miles served
Field training
Not published
No entry-level posting was open on Nov 13, 2026. Recruit pay and the $91,021 to $123,677 officer range come from job board copies of closed postings.
Sworn strength differs by source. The department site says 219. Open city postings say 226 and 228.
Sources, checked Nov 13, 2026: OPD About page (mission, population, staffing, calls) · OPD Careers · OPD Hiring Process · OPD Minimum Qualifications · OPD Police Academy Information · OPD Recruitment FAQ · OPD Serve With Us (schedules, extra pay) · OPD Lateral Police Officer Candidates (incentive) · OPD Meet the Chief and Staff · City posting: Police Officer Lateral, job 25-10 (bonus, benefits) · City posting: Police Officer Graduated Police Academy, job 24-85 (benefit summary) · Entry-level posting dated Oct 2025, job board copy (recruit pay, PELLETB cutoff, waivers) · Entry-level posting job 25-48, job board copy (earlier pay, same test rules) · Archived copies of oceansidepolice.com pages (live site blocks automated access) · California DOJ stop data, 2024
Agency colors not applied yet. They are only used once pulled from the agency's own site.
Photo: Oceanside Pier. Oceanside-Pier-San-Diego-Drone-Photography.jpg by Redideo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and tinted.
