There are around 100 questions covering reading, writing, and logical reasoning on the written examination.

You will need to have excellent reading and writing skills, such as spelling, English comprehension, grammar and vocabulary.

Practice writing without the use of spell-checking software or electronic devices.

There are several resources online to help people improve these skills.

There is a book online called Pellet B Study Guide to assist with preparation.

Santa Barbara Police Department Recruitment team holds a Hiring Workshop and Seminar and will be able to answer most of your questions there.

Once you apply, you will be invited to the next scheduled workshop.

SBPD uses the National Testing Network (NTN) Exam, which measures key skills like reading comprehension, situational judgment, and report writing. Visit the NTN website for study guides and practice tests

The physical agility test is purposely designed to see how your body reacts and performs when completing high-intensity, short-duration skills and movements.

While lifting weights is excellent for building strength and toning a person’s physique, it does little to help you prepare your joints, muscles, and tendons for the physical agility test in terms of different movements and cardiovascular demands.

Any type of functional fitness workout, such as a bootcamp, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), or CrossFit style workout routine would be excellent to use in your preparation for the physical agility test.

Push-ups are an essential movement when trying to prepare for the Physical Agility exam but also for the academy.

Santa Barbara Police Department Recruitment team holds a Hiring Workshop and Seminar and will be able to answer most of your questions there. Once you apply, you will be invited to the next scheduled workshop.

During the interview, we’re going to ask questions about you as a person, as well as questions pertaining to why you want to work for us, and the skills you possess.

We’re also going to see how well you have prepared, and your specific desire to work at the Santa Barbara Police Department. What do you know about our department? Who is our leadership team? What’s the population, square mileage, and ethnicity of our community?

The interview panel will also be looking at your attire, your hygiene, and how you handle yourself in the interview. Are you confident or reserved? Are you arrogant or militant? Can you speak confidently, or are you scared and intimidated?

Santa Barbara Police Department Recruitment team holds a Hiring Workshop and Seminar and will be able to answer most of your questions there. Once you apply, you will be invited to the next scheduled workshop.

As part of the qualifying process for police officer, there will be a polygraph examination, psychological evaluation, a physical examination including controlled substances screening, and a thorough background investigation.

You will also be required to complete a detailed personal history statement. Any falsification of information or failure to meet the standards listed above will result in my disqualification.

Additionally, you may be rejected for the following:

1. Conviction of any felony.

2. Conviction of any sex crime.

3. Conviction of larceny (Section 484 PC).

4. Conviction of or involvement in any other crime, whether adult or juvenile, the nature and seriousness of which would relate to the sensitivity and exposure characterized by this job classification.

5. Use of marijuana, narcotics, or other habit-forming drugs (other than prescribed) within the last year will disqualify. Any prior use or abuse of previously listed substances may disqualify. Failure to reveal prior use will disqualify.

6. Failure to possess a valid operator's license issued by the State of California; willful disregard of traffic rules and regulations; any grounds for which an operator's license might be refused.

7. A bad employment record, including behavior that is discourteous, disloyal, indecisive, undependable, uncooperative, lacking in capacity to work, insubordinate, disobedient, lacking in force, initiative, and judgment, lacking proper work habits and industry, emotionally unstable, unable to accept responsibility, unable to get along well with others, and/or intemperate.

8. Lack of well-balanced credit.

9. Poor community and neighborhood reputation.

10. Falsification of any required application or report.

11. Failure to have a high school diploma, GED Certificate, or equivalent.

12. Personality disorders.

13. Failure to meet physical standards.

14. Failure to pass controlled substances screening.