Our recruitment process is comprehensive and competitive to ensure we vet the best people. You'll undergo checks, assessments, evaluations and interviews.
I have previously been part of the WA Police Force and passed probation.
I am an Australian or New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Australian Resident.
I hold a current Manual 'C' or Automatic 'C-A' class Driver's Licence
Provisional licences are acceptable.
I have a current First Aid Certificate (HLTAID003 or HLTAID011 - Provide First Aid).
This can be completed within 90-days of submitting your application.
Great news!
You appear to meet the basic requirements for admission into the WA Police Force. Please note that any body art, such as tattoos, or body modifications will need to be assessed upon applying. You will also need to complete an Integrity Declaration to ensure you meet the standards of ethical and professional conduct required by the WA Police Force.
We welcome people from all walks of life, bringing diverse skills, work histories, and life experiences to better serve our community.
Officers who have been away from the WA Police Force for more than two years will have to re-train at the WA Police Academy in Joondalup before returning to service.
For applicants who reach the final assessment stages of the recruitment process, the following costs will be reimbursed by the WA Police Force:
First Aid Certificate
Medical (standard P58)
Visual Acuity Assessment
Bankruptcy Check
Fingerprints and DNA
Police Recruiting will provide more information to applicants who progress to the final stage.
YOUR APPLICATION
Once you've checked the eligibility requirements, you can begin your application. While going through the application, you will be asked to provide the following information where relevant:
Personal Details
Education and Qualifications
Employment History
Police service or military history
Providing Documents
You will need to upload the following supporting documents:
Photo ID
Traffic, driving and licence history if you have held a licence in Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, South Australia or Victoria.
Photos of visible tattoos and piercings.
Certifying Documents
You will be required to provide a certified copy of your birth certificate as part of the recruitment process. Our recruitment team may also request further documentation.
A certified copy is a photocopied version of your original document that has been stamped, dated, and signed as a ‘true copy’ by an authorised person (e.g. Justice of the Peace, Public Servant, Pharmacist, Nurse, etc.)
If your application has been progressed, you’ll be put through a series of checks and evaluations. If all of which are successful, you’ll either undergo training at the WA Police Academy or be placed direct to a police district.
Integrity check
When we receive your application form, we will undertake an Integrity Check to identify any criminal offences and/or traffic infringements that you have previously incurred.
The assessment will take into consideration the nature of the offence, the frequency and recency of the occurrence and your age at the time of the offence.
Internal clearances and references from various business units including health and safety, personnel services and professional standards will also be requested for officers seeking to return to the WA Police Force.
Whilst some applicants will not necessarily be excluded from proceeding to the next recruitment assessment, the WA Police Force need to ensure that people of the highest integrity are employed. For this reason, some convictions may result in an applicant being deemed unsuitable for progression.
Tattoo review
If you progress from the initial Integrity Checks, a review of any tattoos that may be visible when wearing a short sleeve shirt including those located on the neck, face or hands will be undertaken.
Applicants are required to provide colour photographs of their tattoos whilst wearing a collared short sleeve shirt when submitting their application.
Tattoo standards are contained within the WA Police Force Commissioner’s Uniform and Appearance Manual and consideration of tattoos is given in regard to whether they are:
in a prohibited location
prohibited form
detract from a professional appearance.
If your tattoos do not meet the required standard, Police Recruiting are unable to provide any advice in relation to proposed modification or removal and how this may impact future selection. For further information on tattoo standards, please visit our FAQs or contact us.
Psychological evaluation
The psychological tests are assessments and evaluations of you - everything from your personality, psychological state and background risks. It is very important that you respond to the psychological tests honestly. The tests are designed to identify applicants who impression manage and this will result in an invalid assessment result.
Physical performance evaluation (PPE)
To join the WA Police Force, you are required to have a reasonable level of fitness. During this evaluation, you will be required to perform the following:
If you are successful in Stage 1 you will be invited for a panel interview which will assess your suitability for to return to the WA Police Force. Whilst you will not be able to study anything specific for your interview, you can take some positive steps to help you perform your best on the day.
Ensure you read and consider all available information on the Let's Join Forces website, including the essential criteria you will be assessed against throughout the recruitment and selection process, together with an understanding of the four core values of the WA Police Force:
Selection Criteria
Personal Drive and Integrity
Supports Strategic Direction
Achieves Results
Builds Productive Working Relationships
Communicates with Influence
Core Values
Duty
Teamwork
Integrity
Care
On the day of your interview:
Be punctual and ensure you attend at the correct location.
Dress appropriately in smart business attire, and consider your grooming.
Whilst interviews can be daunting you should try your best to be confident, composed and professional. Throughout the interview be aware of your communication, eye contact and body language.
Listen to the questions carefully and give thought to your answers. Every response you give allows the panel to assess your suitability. If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification.
Be clear and concise in your communication. Answer questions fully but don't elaborate unnecessarily. Be concise.
Be open and honest in your answers. Be yourself. The panel is not expecting perfection.
For advice on how to prepare for your interview, read the factsheet.
Review Panel
All applicants applying to return to the WA Police Force are required to meet assessment criteria for the role. These assessments are comprehensive and take into consideration prior work performance, integrity factors to include traffic and criminal history, psychological suitability, physical ability and assessment against essential criteria relevant to the job role. For applicants that proceed through the selection process to review panel, they are assessed holistically using all information collected during the recruitment process. This enables the review panel to make an overall determination in regard to progression of an applicant to Stage 3.
Applicants that are not progressed to Stage 3 assessments will be given an individual reapplication date (if applicable). If you are given a reapply date, we encourage you to reapply.
Final Health & Medical Assessment
Following the completion of Stage 1 and Stage 2 assessments, you will be required to undertake a final health and medical assessment. This examination is designed to ensure your fitness and health are of a high standard and that there is no reason why you would be unable to carry out all the duties required as a police officer.
Applicants with prior medical history may be required to provide additional contemporary information to support their final health and medical assessment.
Vision Requirements
You are required to have a minimum unaided vision of at least 6/9 in your better eye and 6/18 in your other eye. If your vision is below this standard, you must be able to wear soft contact lenses and achieve corrected vision of at least 6/6 binocularly, or 6/9 in each eye separately. You must also have a minimum horizontal peripheral vision of 70 degrees on each side.
A report from a qualified person will be required detailing your vision history, current treatment and future prognosis. This must include your history of duration of wear and tolerance of soft contact lenses over a 10 hour period and expected future tolerance to wearing soft contact lenses on an ongoing basis. The WA Police Force will send you a form that you need for this report.
Other Checks
A number of other checks will be conducted during Stage 3 including:
full Background and Integrity Check
identifying particulars - fingerprints and DNA
bankruptcy check.
Once applicants have completed these requirements consideration is given to place in the selection pool or directly to a district. Placement in the selection pool does not guarantee an offer of employment. Please note that applicants from the selection pool are not placed in a recruit school on a first in first out basis. Police recruiting ensures that schools have a mix of recruits across gender, age and background.
Applicants who are not progressed will be given an individual reapplication date (if applicable).
Application Cost Reimbursement
For applicants who reach the final assessment stages of the recruitment process, the following costs will be reimbursed by the WA Police Force:
First Aid Certificate
Medical (standard P58)
Visual Acuity Assessment
Bankruptcy Check
Fingerprints and DNA
Applicants must provide proof of payment and complete a claim form. Police Recruiting will provide more information to applicants who progress to the final stage.
These assessments will occur over 3-4 months.
Your questions answered
How fit do I need to be to join?
As part of the WA Police Force recruitment process, applicants must complete a Physical Performance Evaluation. You will need to meet the minimum physical standards which are:
Complete a modified version of the Illinois Agility Test (20 secs or less for males and 22 secs or less for females)
1 sit-up
10 push-ups on toes
30kg grip strength
35kg bag lift and carry
Beep test (7.01 for males and 6.01 for females)
To learn more about the Physical Performance Evaluation, click here.
What if I have a criminal record or traffic offence?
You can still apply for the WA Police Force however some types of convictions may impact your suitability for a position.
What qualifications do I need?
You don't need any qualifications to apply to become a Police Officer. We welcome all levels and ranges of skills, experience and abilities. Each application will be assessed on individual merit.
Are tattoos allowed?
Yes, you can apply if you have a tattoo. You will be required to send a photo and we will review your tattoos to ensure they comply with our policies.
Images depicting drugs, death or violence are likely to be considered unsuitable if visible when wearing a short sleeve shirt.
Face tattoos are currently not permitted and tattoos on the neck and hands will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All other tattoos will be assessed considering their location, size, and imagery.
Do I need to provide a full history of my driving licence?
It depends! As part of the application process we will check any traffic infringements that you've previously had. If you have lived in ACT, NT, SA or VIC for more than three months you will be required to provide a full licence history from that state.
