How do I apply for an Entry-Level Police Officer, Firefighter, or EMT position?

You can find links to job applications on our Job Postings page. The informational booklets on that page contain more details about the application process and the minimum qualifications of each role. We recommend reading the informational booklet for the position before starting the application to ensure you understand the hiring process.

The first step of the application process is to complete an online application. You can find the job posting on the City and County of Denver's Career Site. Here is what to expect when completing your online application:

1. You will be required to create a Workday account using your email address. Please remember your login ID/password, as the Civil Service Commission will not be able to help you reset your ID/password.
2. You will enter your contact information, work experience, and education. Workday can autofill this information from your resume.
3. You will be asked to respond to a series of application questions. Please answer the questions honestly and completely.
4. You may be requested to upload additional documentation. Documentation you may need for your application includes:

You can check the status of your application through the Workday account you created. It is important to monitor your Workday account, and the email inbox associated with your application throughout the hiring process. The Civil Service Commission will assign you tasks and provide application updates through Workday and email notifications.

How long does the entry-level hiring process take?

The length of the hiring process can vary based on the position you applied for, the hiring needs of the department, and the academy dates for that year. To understand the complete hiring process, please review the informational booklets found our Job Postings page. Overall, you can expect to complete the background investigations step approximately 90 days from the date you complete your written test. You can help the Commission process your application in a timely manner by promptly completing assigned tasks and scheduling your testing appointments as early as possible.

What if I am having trouble locating my high school diploma?

If you are having trouble finding your high school diploma, you can provide a letter from your high school printed on official letterhead or an official high school transcript as proof of your education. The letter or transcript must include your graduation date to qualify as acceptable proof of education.

Entry-level Testing

Is there an age requirement for Police, Firefighter, or EMT positions?

You must be at least 21 years old to apply for a Denver Police Officer or Firefighter position. The minimum age requirement for EMT applicants is 18 years.

Is there a study guide or practice test for the written test?

Yes, there are study guides and practice tests for the written test. The National Testing Network (NTN) administers the entry-level written exam for both fire and police positions. Study guides, practice tests, and detailed information about the exam can be found on their website.

Follow the links below to access the practice tests, sample questions, and information for the firefighter test:

Test information/overview: https://nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs/ntn-test-firefighter.cfm

Practice tests: https://ergopracticetests.com/?FTB

Follow the links below to access practice tests, sample questions, and information for the police test:

Test information/overview: https://nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs/ntn-test-law-national.cfm

Practice tests: https://ergopracticetests.com/?FLB/

What if I need accommodations to take the written test?

The City and County of Denver is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you need a reasonable accommodation for your written test, as outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please inform the Civil Service Commission in advance in writing, including any necessary supporting medical documentation. The Civil Service Commission will review each request on a case-by-case basis. Submitting a request does not guarantee the accommodation will be granted. The "ADA Requests and Questions" section below contains instructions and information on what to include in your written request.

When can I retest for Police Officer or Firefighter?

You can only take the written exam once per job posting, and your exam results remain valid for one year. If you fail the written test, you are welcome to retest and reapply at the next job posting. If you pass the test, you do not need to re-take the exam—re-taking the exam to obtain a higher score does not increase your likelihood of being hired.

I am an out-of-state applicant. Will I need to travel to Denver for testing?

Police Applicants:

You will be required to travel to Denver for your polygraph exam, your police physical ability test, and post-conditional medical evaluations. Candidates can work with vendors and the Civil Service Commission to schedule their polygraph and physical ability test around the same time to minimize the number of trips to Denver.

The Civil Service Commission allows out-of-state applicants to complete specific tests at facilities close to home. The informational booklets outline travel requirements in more detail.

Fire Applicants (Firefighter and EMT):

You will be required to travel to Denver for your polygraph exam. The Civil Service Commission allows out-of-state applicants to complete specific tests at facilities close to home. The informational booklets outline travel requirements in more detail.

ADA Requests and Questions

An impairment is considered substantially limiting when it renders a person unable to perform major life activities that an unaffected person can perform, or when it significantly restricts the condition, manner, or duration under which they can perform the major life activity as compared to an unaffected person. 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)(1)(i) & (ii).

In determining whether an individual is substantially limited in a major life activity, the following three factors should be considered: (1) the nature and severity of the impairment; (2) the duration or expected duration of the impairment; and (3) the permanent or long-term impact or expected permanent or long-term impact resulting from the impairment. 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)(2).

You can work with your medical provider to understand the level of your impairment and what substantial limitations you experience as a result of your diagnosis or diagnoses.

To determine whether you have a disability covered by the ADA, the Civil Service Commission will need a recent statement (dated within the last six months) from an appropriate health care provider answering the following questions:

1. What is the applicant's medical diagnosis (or diagnoses)?
2. What is the expected duration of the applicant's diagnosed condition(s)?
3. What, if any, corrective measures and/or medication is the applicant pursuing to address their diagnosed condition(s)?
4. What major life activities are substantially limited by the applicant's diagnosed condition(s)? Please describe how each major life activity is substantially limited despite any corrective measures and/or medication. If no major life activities are substantially limited, please note that in the statement.
5. For applicants who need accommodations for the written exam because of their diagnosed condition(s), what specific reasonable accommodations are required to take the test? If prolonged test-taking time is recommended, please indicate the specific length of additional time that is needed for each test component.

Accommodation requests can be submitted via email to CSCInfo@denvergov.org.

Lateral Qualifications and Experience

Can an out-of-state lateral applicant become a Denver Police Officer or Firefighter without going through the whole process?

The informational booklets for lateral positions will provide detailed guidelines on what phases of the process you do not need to complete. Lateral applicants will not need to complete:

1. The entry-level written exam
2. The Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT), if you provide a copy of a current CPAT certificate obtained within the past year (Firefighter applicants only)

Does my past patrol (e.g., calls to duty) experience need to be consecutive for me to qualify as a lateral police officer applicant?

No, your three years of experience do not need to be consecutive to qualify as a lateral applicant.

Does my past firefighter experience need to be consecutive for me to qualify as a lateral firefighter applicant?

No, your three years of experience do not need to be consecutive to qualify as a lateral applicant.

Does my academy training count toward the three-year experience requirement?

No, your academy training does not count toward the experience requirement.

Does my deputy sheriff experience count toward the required three years of patrol experience?

If you have experience in a Deputy Sheriff role, your experience may be applicable under the following conditions:

1. You are POST certified
2. You are currently employed in a sworn position
3. Your experience is specifically in patrol duty (calls to service or street duty)

Experience transporting prisoners or working in a jail or correctional facility is not applicable experience.

Does time spent working in a security or officer role in a school or university count toward the experience requirement?

Working as a School Resource Officer does not qualify toward the experience requirement because it is not the same as a role where you have street-call duty.

Campus security does not typically qualify as lateral experience. However, if you have been employed as a police officer at a "Full Service" university Police Department, such as the University of Colorado at Boulder Police Department and Colorado State University Police Department, your experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis for lateral appointment. "Full Service" is defined as an agency where officers respond to calls for service, make arrests, and file criminal cases without relying on another law enforcement agency. "Full Service" university police department patrol experience can satisfy the minimum three years patrol experience that must be obtained before application.

Does my experience working as a deputy or officer at a correctional facility count toward the experience requirement?

No, experience working in a correctional facility is not considered applicable experience.

Selection Process

I was disqualified during the hiring process. Can you explain why?

There are several reasons why a candidate can be disqualified during the selection process. If you are disqualified, the Civil Service Commission will send an email to you explaining the specific reason why you were disqualified from the process. There are six overall categories of disqualifiers:

1. You do not meet the minimum qualifications of the position.
2. You have a felony (or felonies), misdemeanor(s), and/or criminal charge(s) that are not allowed per Commission Rule 3.
3. Drug use and/or drug-related offense(s).
4. Certain traffic or driving violations.
5. Application-related disqualifications, such as failing an examination or not completing a required testing phase.
6. Despite meeting all qualifications, you may not have been the most qualified candidate from a pool of qualified candidates. It is the agency’s mission to select the best candidates for Denver Police, Fire, and EMT positions.

In some cases, you may be allowed to reapply for the position in the future. Please see Commission Rule 3 or the Informational Booklets for the specific disqualifiers and their associated disqualifying periods.

I answered an application question incorrectly and was disqualified because of my response. What can I do to fix this mistake?

If a mistake was made when answering an application question, you can send a written notice (via email) to the Executive Director through CSCInfo@denvergov.org. The request for application reactivation should include: (1) the question you answered incorrectly; (2) the reason the answer is incorrect; (3) any supporting documentation to show the answer isincorrect; and (4) your contact information (including mailing address and phone number) where you can be reached. On a case-by-case basis, your application may be reactivated.

About the Academy

When is the next Police Officer, Firefighter, and EMT Academy?

The academy start date depends on the personnel needs of the department. Please contact the Civil Service Commission for information regarding the next anticipated start date.

Where are the Police and Fire Academies located?

The Denver Police Academy is currently located at:

2155 N. Akron Way

Denver, CO 80238

(720) 913-1350

The Rocky Mountain Fire Academy is located at:

5440 Roslyn Street, Building 5

Denver, CO 80216

(720) 865-4075

How long is the academy for entry-level and lateral-entry police officers?

The academies combine both entry-level and lateral-entry recruits in the same class. For entry-level police officers, the academy is approximately 25 to 28 weeks long. For lateral police officers who are already P.O.S.T certified, the academy is approximately 4 weeks long.

The academy training schedule can vary, but a typical week will require attendance Monday through Friday. Recruits are paid a full salary while in the academy.

How long is the fire academy?

The fire academy is approximately 27 weeks long. You will typically work Mondays through Fridays. Lateral applicants may have a shorter academy that lasts approximately 8 weeks.

Pay and Benefits

What is the starting salary for Police Officers, Firefighters, and EMTs?

You will be paid an annual salary, rather than an hourly rate, in these positions.

Visit the Denver Police Department Salary and Benefits site for up-to-date salary information for Denver Police Officers.

What benefits do the Denver Police Department and Denver Fire Department offer?

The benefits are part of a collective bargaining agreement. The benefits include vacation and sick leave, as well as medical, dental, vision, and retirement options.

Visit Denver Firefighters Local 858 for up-to-date benefit information for Denver Firefighters.

Does my previous work experience allow me to have a higher salary as a lateral applicant?

If you are hired, you may be eligible for a higher pay rate depending on your qualifications and experience as of your application date. Ultimately, salary determination will be determined on an individual basis by your department.

Pensions

I work for another police or fire department; can I transfer my retirement into DPD or DFD?

The Denver Police and Fire Departments' retirement program is administered by the State Fire Police Pension Association plan. If your current department uses the state plan, you may be able to transfer. If your current department does not follow the state plan, you may be able to buy credits. For questions about transferring retirement or purchasing service credits, call the Fire & Police Pension Association of Colorado at (303) 770-3772, ext. 6400.

Where can I find more information about pension plans?

For information concerning Pensions for the Denver Police Department or Denver Fire Department, please visit https://fppaco.org/.

Public Safety and City Jobs

Where can I find information on the Public Safety Cadet Program?

The Executive Director of Safety Office is responsible for the Public Safety Cadet Program. For specific information on how to become a cadet. Please visit the Public Safety Cadet Program website for more details.

How do I apply for other city jobs?

Openings for other jobs within the City and County of Denver are posted on the city's Job Postings website.

Civil Service Information

Who should I contact if I have questions about my application?

You can contact the Civil Service Commission Office by phone at 720-913-3371 or by email at CSCInfo@denvergov.org.