Officer - Frequently Asked Questions

Possession of a valid Class C driver license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles is required. Applicants who do not possess a license will be admitted to the examination but must secure the license prior to appointment.

The age limit to apply for the CHP is outlined in the California Vehicle Code. Per California Vehicle code section 2256, notwithstanding section 18932 of the Government Code, the minimum age limit for California Highway Patrol, shall be 21 years old and the maximum age limit for the examination shall be 35 years.

Applicants who are unable to attend the scheduled Physical Abilities Test (PAT) should notify their Division recruiter. Your name may be taken off the recruiter’s list; however, there is no way to remove you from the system. Applicants who do not attend the scheduled Physical Abilities Test (PAT), will be marked as a no show (this does not affect an applicant negatively through the remainder of the process). Your name will be removed from the exam cycle approximately 30 days after the written test. At that point, you may reapply.

Not at this time, once an application is submitted, there is no way to withdraw a name from the exam cycle. Applicants who are unable to attend the scheduled Physical Abilities Test (PAT) or no longer wish to continue in the application process, will be marked as a no show (this does not affect an applicant negatively through the remainder of the process). Your name will be removed from the exam cycle approximately 30 days after the written test. At that point, you may reapply.

Not necessarily, the Division selected is for testing purposes. The CHP is divided into 8 Divisions throughout the State. Testing is done within each of those Divisions as a convenience to the individuals applying; however, it does not reflect where you may be assigned following appointment as an officer. Although there is a possibility you may be placed in the Division you applied, it is not a guarantee. Area assignments are based on the needs of the Department and Academy standings.

Yes, you may test at any location within California. If you are successful in the physical abilities test and the written test, your information will be forwarded to a background investigator closest to your residential address listed in your application.

During the period between weeks 19 and 21 before graduation, cadets receive a “Dream Sheet”; a list of CHP Area offices that have openings (not all offices have openings) for new officers. Cadets list their choices of locations by order of personal preference. The lists are then returned to headquarters for processing. The following information shows how the cadet’s first duty assignment is determined/prioritized:

The needs of the department.
-Hardship. The hardship must have occurred after appointment to the academy.
-Residency. This is for cadets who reside within 70 miles of the command they chose. Residency must be established before the start of Academy training. Each cadet claiming this criteria must provide a photocopy of two types of proof of residency from the following categories; current utility bill, deed of trust. rental agreement, vehicle records(i.e., registration or lease), insurance document, or California Driver License.
-Academy Scores. A merit-based assignment system has been developed utilizing an average of scores obtained through standardized Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) testing. The scores utilized will be calculated on dates determined by HRS and will not reflect the overall score at Graduation. The scoring criteria are as follows:
     (a) Average of Post Academic tests. (Weighted 60 percent.)
     (b) Average of Post Physical Agility test. (Weighted 20 percent.)
     (c) Average of Post Weapons score (Firearms). (Weighted 20 percent.)
There are no guarantees that you will be assigned to a location in the city nearest your residence or family
members.

Most of the department’s vacancies are in metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay area, and the San Joaquin Valley, or the desert areas. Nearly all officers begin their careers in one of those locations. After one year on the job, you may transfer to another area pending vacancy and seniority.

A misdemeanor conviction, unlike a felony conviction, may not be a disqualifying factor in the cadet application process. As with traffic violations, severity, recency, frequency, and specific circumstances will be evaluated to determine your qualifications.

Many applicants and current officers have tattoos, but they must adhere to our policy which is: all uniformed employees and cadets are prohibited from displaying any body art, tattoo(s), brand(s), intentional scarring, mutilation, or dental ornamentation while on duty or representing the CHP in any official capacity. Any current uniformed employee or cadet with existing body art, tattoo(s), brand(s), intentional scarring, or mutilation that is visible shall have the following options:

1)Uniformed employees and cadets shall cover existing body art, tattoo(s), brand(s), intentional scarring, or mutilation by wearing the long-sleeve uniform shirt and/or uniform trousers/breeches.
2) Cover the existing body art, tattoo(s), brand(s), intentional scarring, or mutilation with a skin tone patch or make-up.
3) Have the tattoo(s) or brand(s) removed at the employee’s expense. Body art, tattoo(s), brand(s), intentional scarring, and/or mutilation that is not able to be covered or concealed is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, foreign objects inserted under the skin, pierced, split or forked tongue; and/or stretched out holes in the ears.

Uniformed employees and cadets shall not have any dental ornamentation. The use of gold, platinum, silver, or other veneer caps for the purposes of ornamentation are prohibited. Teeth, whether natural, capped, or veneered, shall not be ornamented with designs, jewels, initials, etc.