• The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has divided up the state of California into eight (8) Divisions.
• Each CHP Division conducts the Cadet, CHP, examination four times each year for a total of at least 32 Cadet examinations each year.
• WHERE TO TAKE THE WRITTEN TEST? Testing locations are decided by the county code the applicant chooses on the application form. Generally, applicants who live in California enter the county in which they live and are scheduled to the test site closest to where they live. Applicants are assigned an 'exam code' which is based on the next written test in the Division that includes the county they selected (see the county/Division map). Applicants must take the written test, Physical Ability Test (PAT), and Qualifications Appraisal Panel (QAP) interview in the county/Division they first applied in. They cannot switch Divisions for the PAT or QAP testing phases, even if they move from one part of the state to another.
  
  If applicants need assistance with deciding which county code to mark on the application, they may contact a recruiter at 1-888-4A-CHP-JOB.
  
  Although the state of California is made up of about 60 different counties, the written test has generally only been given in the following counties.
  
  Northern Division: Humboldt and Shasta counties
  Valley Division: Butte, Sacramento, and San Joaquin counties
  Golden Gate Division: Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara North, Solano, Sonoma, and San Francisco counties
  Central Division: Fresno, Kern, Madera, Stanislaus, and Tulare counties
  Southern Division: Los Angeles county
  Border Division: Orange, San Diego, East Riverside and Imperial counties
  Coastal Division: Monterey, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties
  Inland Division: Riverside West and San Bernardino County
  
  Applicants may check specific Division Testing and Seminar pages for testing information about specific test administrations.
• Applications must be RECEIVED at CHP Headquarters before 5:00 PM or from the CHP website prior to midnight (Pacific Standard Time) on the application submission deadline date to be scheduled in the current exam code for the selected Division. Applications received after the deadline will be scheduled in the next available exam code for the selected Division.
• Applicants may only have one active application in progress at one time. Multiple applications will be rejected. This means that if an applicant is scheduled to take the test in CHP’s Northern Division, s/he cannot put in a new application in Northern or another Division until s/he is no longer active in the testing process. “No longer active” means one of the following:
  
       - The applicant has failed the written test, failed the PAT, or failed the QAP portion of the process.
       - The applicant has passed the QAP interview with a score of 70 or above.
       - The applicant does not appear to the written test, PAT, or QAP interview.
  
  Once an applicant is no longer active, s/he may reapply to any Division if s/he still meets the minimum qualifications for entry.
• Click here for specific instructions on completing the online application.

• There are seven steps in the testing & selection process before being eligible to attend an Academy class:
• STEP 1. Application - each applicant must submit an application to be eligible for the testing process. Applications can be completed online. If an applicant prefers, scannable hard copy applications are available at any CHP office or by calling 1-888-4A-CHP-JOB; the scannable application must be completed and mailed to CHP Headquarters for processing..
• STEP 2. Written Examination - The Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Entry-level Law Enforcement Test Battery written test is currently given on a pass/fail basis and consists of 125 multiple choice questions and a fill-in-the-blank portion. Reading comprehension, vocabulary and English skills, including punctuation, grammar and spelling equivalent to the 12th grade level, will be tested. This is not a test of law enforcement or knowledge of the CHP. Click Applicant Study Guide to view the study guide. Additionally, a sample reading and writing test is available from the POST website.
  
  
• STEP 3. Physical Ability Test - The PAT is also pass/fail and involves a series of exercises that measure endurance, flexibility and strength. A vision test in also conducted during the PAT. The five-part PAT consists of the following:
  
  
  • 100-Yard Sprint in 20 seconds or less
  • Upper Body Strength Test
  • Trunk Strength Flexion Test
  • Side Step
  • 500- Yard Run in 2 minutes or less
• STEP 4. Psychological Evaluation - Includes a written examination given during the same weekend as the PAT test and a personal interview with a licensed psychologist which is conducted upon successful completion of the background investigation.
• STEP 5. Qualifications Appraisal Panel Interview - The QAP Interview is weighted 100%. The interview determines a competitor's ability to deal with problems, analyze situations and determine necessary actions, comprehend and present ideas, exercise sound judgment and assume the responsibilities of a CHP officer.
  
  Candidates selected to continue in the hiring process are subject to the following steps:
• STEP 6. Background Investigation - Determines the candidate's suitability to be a peace officer. As part of the Background Investigation, all candidates will be required to undergo a truth verification examination. A Computer Voice Stress Analyzer will be used to verify the veracity and accuracy of information submitted regarding the use of controlled substances, driving, criminal, medical and employment history and other job-related factors.
• STEP 7. Medical Examination - Evaluation of any medical conditions that may prevent an officer from performing his/her duties.
• The Cadet Bulletin contains more information about the testing and hiring process.

• The State of California is an equal employment opportunity employer. The State of California will not deny a prospective employee (or current employee) an opportunity to compete in an open (or promotional) examination or cause a prospective employee to be subject to harassment because of race, color, religion, ancestry, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.
• It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free state workplace. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.
• Candidates must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, and ability to work cooperatively with others; and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history, and fingerprinting may be required.
• If you meet the requirements on the examination bulletin, you may take this competitive examination. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the required examination will be compared with the performance of the others who take the test.
• Successful candidates may be called by the Department for a hiring interview. These interviews are normally conducted at the location of employment in California. The State of California does not reimburse applicants for any expenses incurred in taking a State examination or participating in a hiring interview.

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