About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Scientific & QA.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Role & Opportunity

Confidential Client is hiring Police Trainees in Pasadena, CA. This is a temporary, non‑benefit Police Trainee appointment (maximum six months) that leads to a full‑time Police Officer position upon successful completion of a POST Basic Academy certification.

Compensation highlights:

• While attending the academy: $42.55/hour (approx. $88,497.76 annual).
• After academy / as a Police Officer: $53.0216–$61.4889/hour (approx. $110,284.98–$127,896.86 annual).
• Overtime and premium pay opportunities (Rose Bowl, city events, special assignments).
• Differential pay: 16.5% for Advanced POST; monthly education differentials for college standing and degrees.

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Key Responsibilities

As a Police Trainee you will:

• Prepare for and complete the police academy and POST Basic certification.
• Participate in physical training and department onboarding activities.
• Learn and demonstrate core policing skills under supervision and in training scenarios.
• Support community policing initiatives and participate in department assignments during training.
• Demonstrate honesty, integrity, and respect in interactions with the public and colleagues.

Core competencies:

• Analytical skills to assess dynamic, potentially dangerous situations and act effectively.
• Community policing orientation and cultural sensitivity.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing schedules and situations.
• Physical capability to perform arrests, lift/carry up to 20 lbs regularly and assist 165‑lb persons.
• Clear written and oral communication for accurate reports and interactions.
• High moral character (subject to thorough background investigation).

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Qualifications

Minimum requirements:

• Graduation from high school, GED, or equivalent; or completion of an accredited 2‑ or 4‑year degree.
• At least 21 years of age at time of appointment.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Possession of a Class C California driver’s license at appointment and as condition of continued employment.
• Vision: with glasses at least 20/100 correctable to 20/30; contact lens candidates must meet stated standards; free from color blindness.
• No felony convictions or disqualifying criminal/military history.

Preferred/valued:

• Demonstrated community service, leadership, or relevant experience.
• College credits or degree (differential pay available for certain educational thresholds).

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Selection Process & Required Exams

Important dates:

• Application filing period is open; closing date extended to: 10/01/2026.

Written exam (qualifying) — submit one qualifying score dated within one year of application:

• National Testing Network (NTN) Frontline Law Enforcement Written Exam — candidates must register with NTN; scores will be submitted to the hiring authority. Passing thresholds: Video ≥55%, Writing ≥65%, Reading ≥65%. OR
• P.O.S.T. Entry‑Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) — submit a T‑score of 45 or higher from an outside agency on agency letterhead.

Physical Agility Exam (qualifying)

• Location: Rose Bowl Pasadena Lot H — 1001 Rose Bowl Dr, Pasadena, CA 91103 (attendance mandatory).
• Test components (pass/fail):
  • 30 push‑ups within 2 minutes.
  • 30 sit‑ups within 2 minutes.
  • 1.5 mile run within 14 minutes.
  • Lift and drag a 165‑lb dummy 32 feet within 10 seconds.

Oral interview (weighted)

• Structured on‑site interview with department field training officers; scenario questions and job knowledge.

Other phases (qualifying)

• Placement on eligible list (valid for one year if qualified).
• Personal history review and comprehensive background investigation (criminal, credit, DMV, employment, education).
• Polygraph examination.
• Psychological evaluation by licensed psychologist.
• Medical examination prior to appointment.

Veterans Preference

• Up to three points added for eligible veterans who submit honorable discharge documentation.

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Compensation & Career Path

• Paid academy training during the Police Trainee period ($42.55/hour stated).
• Post‑academy hourly range: $53.0216–$61.4889 (approx. $110,284.98–$127,896.86 annually).
• Overtime and event pay (Rose Bowl and other City events).
• Assignment premiums for specialties (motorcycle, FTO, gang detail, aviation roles, special investigations, etc.).
• Differential pay for Advanced POST (16.5% of base) and educational premiums for junior standing, associate, and bachelor’s degrees.

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Physical & Other Job Requirements

• Ability to perform the physical agility standards listed above.
• Must be able to work outdoors in varied weather and respond to emergency or dangerous situations.
• Ability to lift/carry and assist persons as described in physical requirements.
• Must pass background, polygraph, psychological and medical screenings.

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Why Join

• Paid pathway into a progressive law enforcement career in Pasadena, CA, with diverse assignments and community engagement.
• Clear training-to‑career progression and competitive compensation with premium pay opportunities.
• Work in a community with high‑visibility events and varied public safety challenges.

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.