Police Officer

The Irving Police Department is looking for individuals who possess good decision-making skills and good judgment, who can handle pressure, are dependable, are physically fit, possess emotional control and above all, have impeccable integrity.

Applicants may be rejected for employment at any point in the screening process.

To register for an upcoming Civil Service Exam, visit the City of Irving Employment Portal.

Already a Police Officer? Check out additional information on our LATERAL POLICE OFFICER page.

The Irving Police Department’s hiring process consists of 12 phases

Out-of-state applicants will need to make two trips to Texas. On the first trip, applicants take the civil service exam and physical test. On the second, applicants will take polygraph, oral board, and medical and psychological tests.

Register for Civil Service Exam - The civil service exam is offered several times a year. Click Here to register for the next test.
Civil Service Exam - This is a written test consisting of multiple choice questions covering subjects such as spelling, reading comprehension, and memory skills. General civil service exam study guidebooks can be found at libraries, bookstores, and online at police employment websites.
An applicant’s score on this test will rank the individual on our eligibility list, which is posted on the Registration page. The applicant’s ranking will determine when they are called back to finish the rest of the process. A military veteran with an honorable discharge who shows their DD-214 at the time of the test will receive 5 extra points on the exam after receiving a passing score (70).
Physical Fitness Test - This test is generally done on the same day as the civil service test. Each event is scored separately, and you must meet the standards for each and every event. Rest periods are offered between events. Review physical fitness standards.
Personal History Questionnaire- The police officer application or Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ) will be completed online. Upon successful completion of the exam, the applicant will be emailed an invitation and instructions for the online PHQ. View the list of information (PDF) needed to complete the PHQ. The PHQ will be due the fourteenth day after the written exam and must be submitted by that Saturday to be considered further in the hiring process. Chief's Letter and PHQ Instructions. A Complete PHQ Walkthrough Video can be reviewed if you need more assistance.
Pre-polygraph Interview - This interview is conducted by a background investigator to cover information such as prior criminal activities, drug use, credit, work history, driving history, and other topics.
Polygraph Exam - Administered by an independent consultant.
Background Investigation - Family members, references, acquaintances, past employers, and co-workers are interviewed, and a review is conducted of military and school records, driving records, credit history, and any other area the investigator deems appropriate.
Oral Interview Board - The applicant is interviewed by four police officers who present hypothetical situations for discussion.
Conditional Offer of Employment - Upon passing the oral review board, the applicant will be given a conditional offer of employment.
Psychological Exam and Interview - This exam is scheduled by the police department with a licensed psychologist, independent of the Irving Police Department.
Medical Exam / Drug Screen - A physical is scheduled by the department with a licensed physician and includes, as a minimum, a vision test, an audiogram, a blood pressure check, and back X-rays.

General Requirements

Men and women interested in becoming Irving Police officers must meet the following requirements:

Must be a U.S. citizen.
Must be 20 years 6 months old when you apply to take the civil service test, and you must be 21 years old by the time you graduate from our police academy. There is no maximum age limit.
Must complete and file a legible application with the Police Personnel office.
Must have a high school diploma or G.E.D.
Must have an associate’s degree or equivalent (60 college hours) from a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)-approved/accredited school with at least a 2.0 GPA with the following exceptions:
- Applicants who have completed three or more years of active military service and have exited within 18 months prior to submitting their application must have a high school diploma or G.E.D.
- Applicants who have completed three or more years of active military service and have exited more than 18 months but less than 36 months prior to submitting their application must have completed 30 or more college hours with at least a 2.0 GPA.
- Applicants who have been employed as a full-time certified peace officer for three or more years during the period immediately preceding the submission of their application must have a high school diploma or G.E.D.
Must not have any criminal conviction above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor or any Class B misdemeanor within the past 10 years.
Must not have been on any court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor or any Class B misdemeanor within the past 10 years from the date of the court order.
Must intelligently read and write the English language.
Must be of good character.
Must not have made any false statement in any material fact or practiced, or attempted to practice, any deception or fraud in application, examination or appointment.
Must not have been dismissed from public service for inefficiency, delinquency, or misconduct.
Must appear for all requested examinations and interviews.
Must not have received more than two moving traffic violations or had two preventable accidents, or any combination, in the past 18 months or four in the past 36 months.
Applicants must also be able to pass a physical exam as determined by the appointed civil service physician.

Mental, Physical Condition

Officer candidates cannot possess any mental, nervous, organic or functional disease likely to interfere with safe performance of duties, and cannot possess the loss of a body part or other structural defect or limitation likely to interfere with performance of duties.

Eyesight

Officer candidates must have telebinocular visual acuity correctable to 20/20 (Snellen), field of vision in the horizontal meridian of not less than 140 degrees and the ability to distinguish the colors red, green and yellow.

Hearing

A candidate's hear shall not be less than 10/20 in the better ear for conversational tones without a hearing aid.

Liquor, Narcotic or Drug Use

Police Department candidates cannot not be addicted to the use of narcotics or habit-forming drugs or the excessive use of alcoholic beverages or liquor. A drug test is required by state law.