Bucks County PA Police Chiefs Association

PoliceApp has partnered with the Police Chiefs Association of Bucks County (PCABC) to offer regionalized testing and recruitment. All agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers.

How It Works

Pay one fee + Take one physical assessment + Take one written exam = Valid test results for 12 months

Your twelve-month application eligibility period begins on the date you take the written exam. During this 12-month period, you may apply for any position advertised by a department participating in the PCABC program, provided you meet that department’s minimum score requirements, as well as any other department-specific prerequisites.

Upcoming Exams

Eligibility

Candidates Must Be:

At least 21 years of age by testing date
Have a valid drivers license
Be a high school graduate or equivalent
Be a U.S. Citizen
You do not need to be a resident of PA to participate in the exam. However, some participation may require residency at the time of appointment.

Physical Test Requirements

The test will include:

1.5 Mile Run
300 Meter Sprint
One Minute Sit Ups
One Minute Full Body Push Ups

**PLEASE NOTE: Applicants must complete and pass the Physical Ability Test in order to advance on to the Written Examination

Value

A single application fee of $50 covers your fee for a standardized written exam, physical assessment and all PoliceApp processing fees when you submit an application to a participating department.

Disclaimer

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Association reserves the right to authorize additional testing within the same 12-month period. Although that will not affect the eligibility of any applicant who has successfully completed the exam process to apply for any of the participating departments, the Association cannot guarantee that each department will continue selection of candidates having successfully completed physical assessments and examinations preceding any such additional testing.

Neither PCABC nor PoliceApp can control how many departments will recruit over the course of any given twelve-month period. A minimum number of open positions cannot be guaranteed. Each department is responsible for its own hiring standards, prerequisites, and hiring timeline. No additional charges will be assessed by PoliceApp during the twelve-month eligibility period. All agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers.

What is a Consortium?

Together, the Bucks County Chiefs of Police Association and its members participate together in a testing consortium that pools its resources to test for those interested in becoming a municipal police officer. Applicants must complete and pass a Physical Fitness test and written test in order to be added to the final listing of interested applicants.

Do I have to be a resident of PA to participate in the examination?

No, you don't have to be a resident of PA to sit for the examination, however some of the participating hiring departments may require that you are a resident at the time of appointment.

How often is the Consortium conducted?

Currently, the Bucks County Chiefs of Police Testing Consortium is held semi-annually.

How is payment made to participate in the Consortium?

Payments must be made online directly through PoliceApp.com when registering to participate in the Consortium.

Why should I participate in the Consortium?

By participating in the testing consortium and passing, your name will be forwarded to all participating agencies who are interested in hiring officers rather than just a single agency, therefore making it easier for applicants to get hired.

How many departments are hiring?

It is unknown how many departments will be hiring from this consortium process as some may only need to update a valid list to use should they need to hire, while others need to fill spots.

What exactly happens in the Consortium Process?

1. Applicants are asked to complete the online preliminary questionnaire and submit the testing fee.

2. Physical agility test will be completed first. Any one not successfully completing the physical agility test will not be permitted to continue with the testing process. A notarized Personal Injury Waiver must be presented the day of testing. Any applicant without a properly notarized waiver at the time of registration will NOT be permitted to participate in the test and application fee will NOT be returned.

3. Upon passing the Physical Fitness test, you will be eligible to participate in the Written Exam, which will take place the same day following the physical agility.

4. Notification of your written test results will be given through the PoliceApp.com website in which

you registered to participate. The Consortium results are then passed to each participating department for further processing.

5. From that point on, it’s all up to the individual departments on how they move forward. Each will have their own unique timeline and process and will get in touch with the candidates on their list once they begin processing it. Any additional evaluation process will be coordinated by the individual departments (i.e. – departmental applications, physicals, interviews, polygraphs, etc.) (These tests, do not take place of any physical fitness or reading test given to obtain acceptance into any Act 120 program.)

Do you have make up days for the Physical Fitness Test?

No makeup days are available for those who may miss the test due to the scheduling of facilities months in advance to hold the testing process.

What are the requirements for the Physical Fitness Test?

The Physical Fitness Test is a specific battery of tests that applicants must be able to pass. Click HERE to download a copy of the Fitness Test Standards.

What happens if I fail the Physical Fitness Test?

If any portion of the Physical Fitness Test is failed, the applicant is no longer able to move forward in the process and would need to begin the process over the following year.

How will I be notified of my written exam score?

Once all test results are received, every applicant who takes the written exam will be notified by email through PoliceApp.com of their written test results within approximately 2 weeks.

What happens if I fail the Written Exam?

If your exam score falls below the cutoff (which varies by agency) you are no longer able to move forward in the consortium process and would need to begin the process over the following year.

How should I prepare for the written test?

The written test is designed to measure basic skills, reading, writing and arithmetic that are important for successfully learning and performing an entry-level, law enforcement position.

What is Act 120?

Under Pennsylvania ACT 120, any person employed as a municipal police officer in the Commonwealth is required to have successfully completed a 919 hour course of instruction covering all areas of police work. All applicants, whether in-service or preservice, must comply with all MPOETC regulations and application procedures. Each applicant must successfully complete the Nelson-Denny Reading test and achieve a minimum score in the 30th percentile on the required MPOETC Fitness Standards Test. Additional information regarding the MPOETC Fitness Standards can be viewed by visiting: https://mpoetc.psp.pa.gov/training/Pages/Basic- Police-Officer-Training.aspx

Is it beneficial that I have my Act 120 Certification?

Yes, while some municipalities may pay for you to attend the Police Academy, others may require that you already be certified before moving through their individual hiring process. Certification is not a requirement to participate in the consortium.

I submitted the application and fee but can no longer attend the testing, can I receive a refund?

Unfortunately all payments are non-refundable once your application has been submitted.

Will my criminal history preclude me from employment?

Please refer to the Municipal Police Officer Education Training Commission (MPOETC) standards online for disqualifications.