- General Overview
Each classification in the Police Series has a corresponding examination. The Police Officer examination conducted by the Human Resource office at the employment location is a three-stage process comprised of a physical fitness component, cognitive (integrity and knowledge) test, and an assessment center (Structured Oral Interview). The Police Corporal and Police Sergeant examinations are both two-stage processes comprised of a knowledge test and an assessment center (Structured Oral Board). The knowledge tests are conducted and rated by the Human Resource office at the employment location as is the Structured Oral Board for the Police Corporal. The Sergeant’s Structured Oral Board is conducted by the State Universities Civil Service System (University System). The assessment center’s Structured Oral Interview for Police Officer and the Structured Oral Board for Police Corporal and Police Sergeant are rated by an approved panel of assessors using guidelines provided by the University System. The Police Lieutenant, Police Captain and Deputy Chief examinations are Credentials Assessments which require applicants to submit copies of résumés, official transcripts, DD214(s) (if applicable), and any relevant license(s) certification(s), or materials with their application and cover letter to their human resource office. Rating of these items will be conducted by the human resource office at the appropriate employment location.
Each examination component must be administered in accordance with established protocols. Failure to follow established guidelines by any human resource representative or any member of an oral board/interview (assessor) panel may result in the voiding of an examination or an entire register.
In order to ensure fair and consistent treatment of applicants/employees for policing positions and to maintain the confidentiality of examination materials and the testing process, Ethical Guidelines should be reviewed and followed by the human resource staff, test administrators, all members of the structured oral board/interview (assessor) panel and applicants/candidates prior to beginning any examination process. (See Section 9.6 of the Examination Procedures Manual.)
- Police Officer Examination
The Police Officer examination is a three-stage process. Each stage of the examination must be passed in order to continue and successfully complete this examination. The examination components and the recommended order of delivery are described below. In all instances the Structured Oral Interview component must be the final stage of the examination process. NO STAGE of the examination should be started unless the human resources office in conjunction with Public Safety plans to complete the entire examination process as soon as possible.
Stage 1. Physical Fitness Test (PFT)
The Physical Fitness Test (PFT) is a screen-out element. An Applicant must successfully pass all four components of the PFT (the Sit and Reach, Sit-ups, Bench Press, and 1.5 Mile Run) to proceed to the next testing stage. Failure of any component of the PFT will result in a failure of the examination. If an applicant has taken and passed the Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA) Power test, Joliet Junior College or Triton College’s POWER test, Southwestern Illinois College Police Academy (SWIC) POWER test and human resources has confirmed the candidate has received the NIPSTA’s POWER Test ID card/certification or Joliet Junior College or Triton College’s POWER Test ID card and/or SWIC POWER Test ID card in the past 6 months, the institution may opt to waive the University System PFT. If an applicant informs human resources at the time of application for a Police Officer posting that he/she has taken and passed the Physical Fitness Test at a University System employer, and human resources can confirm the applicant has passed the PFT within the past 6 months, the institution may choose to waive the University System Police Officer Physical Fitness Test (Stage 1 Physical Fitness Test).
Stage 2. Cognitive Test for Police Officer
The Police Officer Cognitive Test is a screen-out element. An applicant must pass this stage in order to continue to the next stage of this examination. The Police Officer Cognitive Test is composed of the Integrity Test (92 questions) with a 30 minute time limit and the Knowledge Test (75 questions) with a 2 ½ hour time limit. The University System E-Test system will calculate the appropriate points. A minimum combined score of 70 points must be achieved in order to pass the Cognitive Test. A passing Cognitive Test score will count as 60% of the total examination score. Scores may not be rounded.
Stage 3. Structured Oral Interview
The Structured Oral Interview (SOI), also a screen-out element, is comprised of five questions and has an overall weighted value of 40%. A panel of three (3) assessors will rate the Structured Oral Interview. Final scores for Stage 3 will be entered into the University System E-Test system which will calculate appropriate points. An applicant’s failure to pass the Structured Oral Interview with a minimum of 70 points will disqualify the applicant and will result in failure of the examination. Scores may not be rounded.
- Police Corporal and Police Sergeant Examinations
Examinations for these classifications are a two-stage process. The examination components and the order of delivery are briefly described below. NO STAGE of the examination should be started unless the human resources office in conjunction with Public Safety plans to complete the entire examination process as soon as possible.
Stage 1. Knowledge Test
There is a knowledge test for each of the two classifications, Police Corporal and Police Sergeant. The Police Corporal Knowledge Test accounts for 40% of the total examination score while the Police Sergeant Knowledge Test accounts for 35% of the total examination score. An applicant/employee must achieve a minimum score of 70 points in order to pass this first stage of the testing process. Scores may not be rounded. In all cases, failure to pass the Knowledge Test will disqualify the applicant from proceeding to Stage 2 and will result in a failure of the examination.
Stage 2. Structured Oral Board
There is a Structured Oral Board for the Police Corporal and for the Police Sergeant. A panel of assessors will rate the Structured Oral Board exercise. The Structured Oral Board component for the Police Corporal accounts for 60% of the total examination score. The Structured Oral Board component for the Police Sergeant accounts for 65% of the total examination score. Final scores for Stage 2 will be entered into the University System E-Test system by human resources which will calculate appropriate points. An applicant’s/employee’s failure to pass the Structured Oral Board with a minimum of 70 points will disqualify the applicant/employee and will result in failure of the examination. Scores may not be rounded.
- Police Lieutenant, Police Captain, and Deputy Chief Examinations
Examinations for these three classifications consist of a Credentials Assessment. A Credentials Assessment is a rating by the human resources office of an applicant's/employee's education, experience and special credentials/qualification (licenses, etc.). In order to determine an appropriate rating for these examinations, a review of official university/agency employment application, résumé, cover letter, official college/university transcripts, DD214(s) (if applicable), copies of related license/certification(s) and any other relevant materials may be required.
