Minimum Selection Standards
To be selected as a reserve officer in California is an accomplishment to be proud of. California peace officers undergo an extensive selection process before they are hired by law enforcement agencies. POST's role in this selection process includes responsibility for instituting the minimum selection standards governing the employment of peace officers in California, and responsibility for conducting the research that results in the development of the tests and procedures used by local law enforcement agencies to adhere to these minimum selection standards. Reserve Officers must pass all of the tests required to become a regular peace officer except the written test. Each reserve officer in California must minimally pass the following POST selection standards:

Interview
POST requires that reserve officers be personally interviewed prior to employment by the department head or a representative(s) to determine the person's suitability for law enforcement service. The interview must address, but is not limited to, the person's ability to communicate.

Background Investigation
The histories of reserve officer applicants must be thoroughly investigated to make sure that nothing in their backgrounds is inconsistent with performing peace officer duties. During this phase of the selection process, verification is also made that the applicant conforms with requirements of POST Regulation 1007 (doc) and the California Government Code which, in part, specifies that as a minimum every peace officer shall: (1) be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship; (2) be at least 18 years of age; (3) be fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record; (4) be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation; (5) be a high school graduate, pass the General Education Development test or have attained a two-year or four-year degree from an accredited institution; and (6) be free of any felony convictions. To assist agencies with this process, POST has developed a Background Investigation Manual which focuses on appropriate areas of investigation to determine peace officer suitability. This manual is currently being revised.

Psychological Suitability
Pursuant to the California Government Code, all California peace officers must be found to be free from any ". . . emotional, or mental condition which might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer" as determined by a licensed physician and surgeon, or a licensed psychologist who has a doctoral degree in psychology and at least five years of postgraduate experience in the diagnosis and treatment of emotional and mental disorders. POST further requires that Level II and Level I reserve officers must pass the same Psychological Suitability Examination as is required of regular Peace Officers (see Post Administrative Manual Section C-3 doc) be found to be free from job-relevant psychopathology, including personality disorders, and that a minimum of two objectively scored psychological tests must be used to assess psychological suitability, one normed in such a manner as to identify patterns of abnormal behavior and the other geared toward assessing dimensions of normal behavior. A clinical interview is also required if the test results are inconclusive or suggest that the candidate should be disqualified. To assist in the required evaluations, POST has developed the Psychological Screening Manual (1984; POST Publication #50).

Medical Suitability
Peace officers must also be free from any physical condition which might adversely affect the exercise of peace officer powers. The California Government Code requires that physical condition shall be evaluated by a licensed physician and surgeon. To assist physicians in their examinations of peace officer applicants, POST has developed a Medical Screening Manual which includes recommended examination and evaluation protocols for the individualized assessment of each candidate, and provides detailed information on commonly detected medical conditions.

Other Selection Requirements
In addition to POST-required minimum selection standards, reserve officer applicants may be required to undergo additional testing required by the individual law enforcement agencies. Additional testing may include the Peace Officer Entry-level Test Battery (i.e., the written test), physical abilities (or agility) testing, drug screening, a polygraph examination or voice stress analysis.