How to Become a Deputy Sheriff in California

Los Angeles County
Orange County
Riverside County
San Bernadino County
San Diego County

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Jobs

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is the largest in the world. Sheriff’s Deputy jobs involve providing service to the unincorporated areas of the county, which includes several dozen cities.

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Here you’ll find information on how to become a Los Angeles Country Sheriff’s Deputy in just seven steps:

Meet the Basic Qualifications
Submit Your Application
Written Examinations and Interview
Background Check
Physical Fitness Test Plus Medical and Psychological Examination
Addition to the Eligibility Roster
Attend Sheriff’s Academy for Training

Step 1. Meet the Basic Qualifications for Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Candidacy

To be considered for jobs as a Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy, you must meet certain requirements:

You must be either:
- A U.S. citizen when you submit your application
- A permanent resident alien waiting on a citizenship application
You must have one of the following education requirements:
- High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Pass the California High School Proficiency Examination
- Have a 2 year, 4 year, or higher degree from an accredited institution
You must be in good physical condition.
Your vision must be excellent (20/70 minimum in each eye, correctable to 20/30)
- If you wear contact lens, you do not have to meet the minimum requirement.
You cannot be colorblind.
You must have good hearing.
You must have a valid Class “C” driver’s license from California by the time you are hired.
You must be willing to work at any hour (nights, weekends, and holidays).
You must not have been convicted of worker’s compensation fraud.

Step 2. Submit Your Application

To apply to be a Sheriff Deputy in Los Angeles County, you should apply online.

Step 3. Written Examinations and Interview

There are three parts to the examination that you have to pass with a score of at least 70% to continue your selection to be a Sheriff Deputy in Los Angeles County.

Written Examination Part 1
- You will be pre-screened with a Job Specific Questionnaire (JSQ)
- If you do not pass this exam, you will be disqualified from continuing
Written Examination Part 2
- You will then take a written test that covers a variety of areas:
  - Data interpretation
  - Grammar
  - Reasoning: both deductive and inductive
  - Spelling
  - Vocabulary
  - Writing clarity

There are various study guides with examples or practice tests. You can go to one of these to prepare for this examination:

You will then be interviewed about a range of topics:

Ability to solve problems
Acceptance of working conditions
Communication skills
Community involvement and awareness
Experience
Interest and motivation
Interpersonal skills

The Los Angeles County Sheriff Department has prepared a guide to give you an idea of what to expect during your interview. It is important to be well groomed and wear proper business clothing for the interview.

You will be given two chances to pass the interview. If you do not pass, you will have to wait three months to reapply for this examination.

If you are actively serving in the military and will not be discharged within 12 months after having taken the test, your scores will be held for 48 months after the date of your examination. If you are honorably discharged during this time, you can continue with the application process.

Step 4. Background Check

After you have passed your written exams and interview, the Sheriff’s Department will conduct a thorough investigation of your background to see if you are suitable to become a Sheriff Deputy in Los Angeles County. Things that would disqualify you include:

Being on probation
Credit history that is poor
Employment history that is poor
Felony Convictions
Misdemeanor Convictions related to your job
Substance abuse
Traffic violations that are
- Accidents for which you are at fault
- DUI
- Moving violations (4 or more over the last 2 years)
- Serious convictions
- Suspended driver’s license

Step 5. Physical Fitness Test plus Medical and Psychological Examination

Once you have passed your background check, you will be given an offer of employment that depends on your passing the physical fitness test and medical examination. You can view the preparation guide for the fitness test. The physical fitness test consists of:

Arm endurance
Running
- 75 yards
- 1.5 miles
- Sit-ups

You will also have a Candidate Feedback Assessment that is not scored. The purpose of this is to gauge how well you would perform in the field. This includes:

Trigger pull on a handgun
Holding a shotgun

You will get four chances to pass the physical test.

To continue with your appointment as a Deputy Sheriff in Los Angeles County, you will have to pass a medical examination that includes a psychological evaluation.

Step 6. Addition to the Eligibility Roster

Once you have passed the medical and psychological evaluations, you will be added to the Eligible Register. You will remain listed as eligible for 12 months after the date you were added.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff Department offers training classes to take before the academy to improve your academic skills and physical training and increase your chances of success.

Step 7. Attend Sheriffs Academy for Training

The final step in become a Sheriff Deputy in Los Angeles County is to undergo the 19 week training program at the Sheriff’s Training Academy. You will attend for 8.5 hours every weekday, along with some holidays and weekends.. You will also have to spend time outside of the academy preparing for classes and studying for exams.

You will be trained in the following topics:

CPR and First Aid
Law Interpretation and Application
Operating
- Emergency Vehicles
- Radios
Physical Training
Techniques of Searching and Handcuffing
Weapons Usage:
- Baton
- Firearms
Writing Reports

You can expect a range of salaries as a Sheriff Deputy in Los Angeles County depending on your level of education.

Orange County Sheriff’s Department Jobs

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is the second largest in California and the fourth largest in the U.S, serving a population of over two million people. Over 1800 Deputy Sheriff jobs in Orange County are involved in providing law enforcement services to unincorporated areas. A full one third of the cities in the area contract law enforcement services through the Orange Country Sheriff’s Department.

If you’re interested in learning how to become a Sheriff’s Deputy in Orange County, follow these steps:

Verify you Meet the Basic Qualifications and Submit Your Application
Take the Pre-Employment Preparation (PEP) for Law Enforcement Class
Consider Taking the Physical Fitness for Law Enforcement Applicants Class
Written Examination and Physical Agility Test
Interview and Background Check
Polygraph Examination, Psychological Evaluation and Medical Examination
Take the Training Academy Preparation Class
Attend Sheriff’s Academy for Training

Step 1. Meet the Basic Qualifications for Submit Your Application for Orange County Sheriff Deputy Candidacy

To be considered for jobs as an Orange County Sheriff Deputy for patrol, you must meet certain requirements:

You must either:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Have filed for citizenship as a permanent resident alien before you applied
You must have reached 20 years of age when you submit your application.
You must have a high school diploma or have scored satisfactorily on the
- California High School Proficiency Test
- GED
You must not have any of the following
- Domestic violence convictions
- Restraining order for domestic violence
- Felony convictions as an adult or juvenile
You cannot be on probation of any type.
You must have a Class C driver’s license valid in California by the time of your appointment.

You must apply online to become a Sheriff Deputy in Orange County. You can find the proper application under County Employment at the Popular Links bar.

Step 2. Take the Pre-Employment Preparation (PEP) for Law Enforcement Class

If you are a non-sponsored recruit and intend to be trained in the Academy, you must take this class to learn how to pass the various tests you have to go through, along with how to prepare for your interview and background check to become a Sheriff Deputy in Orange County.

The training will be conducted by law enforcement individuals who are on duty and will take place at the Orange County Sheriff’s Training Facility in Orange. The instructors will also explain the ins and outs of working for different law enforcement agencies.

Step 3. Consider Taking the Physical Fitness for Law Enforcement Applicants Class

If you want to become a Sheriff Deputy in Orange County, it is strongly recommended that you take this four-week class. To do so, you must have completed the PEP class.

You will trained in:

Academy obstacle course preparation
Cardiovascular
Nutrition and weight control
Weight room conditioning
Physical conditioning calisthenics

Once you have completed this course and start your own workout regimen, you will be prepared for the physical demands of a law enforcement career.

Step 4. Written Examination and Physical Agility Test

Your next step in becoming a Sheriff Deputy in Orange County is to take the100 question written examination. You can obtain two different study guides to prepare for taking this exam. There are California editions for both of these types of exams:

Norman Hall’s Police Exam
Learning Express Police Officer Exam

Aside from examining your ability to spell and perform arithmetic, this test will also examine such things as your:

Ability to make analogies
Ability to make comparisons
Ability to match codes
Ability to read maps
Ability to write reports
Interpersonal skills
Judgment
Vocabulary

Once you have passed the written examination, you will be given a physical agility test to ensure that you are fit to become a Sheriff Deputy in Orange County. You should be prepared to:

Pass through an obstacle course
Drag a body 45 feet (165 pound dummy)
Run 440 yards
Pull a revolver trigger (6 times using each hand)

Step 5. Interview and Background Check

Following the successful completion of your physical agility test, you will be interviewed during the following week by a panel of two sworn offices and a civilian. You should have a professional appearance for this interview. Your will be evaluated on your:

Appearance
Common sense/problem solving skills
Communication skills
Confidence
Interest
Performance under stress
Personal qualities
Professionalism

You can find tips on preparing for your interview, so that you are likely to succeed.

After passing your interview, you undergo a thorough background check that will determine whether or not you are suitable to become a Deputy Sheriff in Orange County.

You must bring the background packet that you got at the time of the written examination and have it completed. Your fingerprints will be taken at this time.

The process will involve checking if you have a criminal history and examining your:

Credit history
Driving records
Previous employment
References

Step 6. Polygraph, Psychological Evaluation and Medical Examination

Once your background check has been completed, you will be hooked up to a lie detector and questioned about things in your background.

After you have passed the polygraph examination, you will meet with a psychologist who will evaluate how fit you are to be a Sheriff Deputy in Orange County.

Once you have passed the psychological evaluation, a physician will examine you to determine whether or not you will become a Sheriff Deputy in Orange County.

Step 7. Take the Training Academy Preparation Class

After you have passed your medical examination, your next step should be to take the training class to prepare you for the academy.

If you are a non-sponsored recruit, you must take this 16 hour course to assist you in entering the academy. If you are a sponsored recruit, it is still highly recommended that you take it. You will be trained in:

Diet and Nutrition
Drill
- Flag ceremony
- Marching
- Basic movements
- Honor Code
- Physical Training Overview
- Reporting and Speeches

Step 8. Attend Sheriff’s Academy for Training

Now you should be ready to attend the 28 week course at the Orange County Sheriff Academy. This academy is part of the Criminal Justice Academies system at Santa Ana College, an institution with a national reputation for excellence.

Your training to become a Sheriff Deputy in Orange County will include a rigorous emphasis on physical training and making decisions in stressful situations.

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Jobs

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is the second largest sheriff’s department in California. 2,300 sworn officers serve the unincorporated areas of Riverside County, including more than half of the cities in the county.

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San Bernadino County Sheriff’s Department Jobs

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is the second largest sheriff’s department in California. 2,300 sworn officers serve the unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County, along with over half of the cities in the county. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to become a Sheriff Deputy in San Bernardino County.

8 Steps to Become a Sheriff Deputy in San Bernardino County:

Meet the Basic Qualifications
Submit Your Application and Take Written Examination
Physical Agility Test
Preliminary Interview
Background Check and Interview
Polygraph Examination
Departmental Interview
Medical and Psychological Examinations
Attend Sheriff’s Academy for Training

Step 1. Meet the Basic Qualifications for San Bernardino County Sheriff Deputy Candidacy

To be considered for San Bernardino County Sheriff Deputy jobs, you must meet certain requirements:

You must be at least 21 years old.
You must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
You must have a driver’s license that is valid in California

Step 2. Submit Your Application and Take Written Examination

To apply for a job as a Sheriff Deputy in San Bernardino County, you must apply online when positions are available. Once you done that, you will be e-mailed a test date by Human Resources. You are strongly recommended to study ahead of time for this examination. The Department has tips on taking the written exam, along with practice tests.

Step 3. Physical Agility Test

Once you have passed the written examination, you will take a test of you physical abilities to ensure that you have the required strength, endurance, and agility to perform tasks that could be required as a Sheriff Deputy in San Bernardino County. This will include:

Passing through an obstacle course
Dragging a body
Climbing fences:
- Chain-link
- Solid
- Running 500 yards

Step 4. Preliminary Interview

After you have passed the physical agility test, you will be interviewed about your qualifications. When you have passed this, you will be given a Personal History Form to fill out.

Step 5. Background Check and Interview

The next step in becoming a Sheriff Deputy in San Bernardino County is to undergo a background check. You will receive a phone call notifying you of who will be doing this investigation. The investigator will interview you about your background. You will also have to write an autobiography and be fingerprinted.

The background investigator will interview the people who know you including:

Co-workers
Family members
Friends
Neighbors
Supervisors

The person will also check your

Employers—current and former
Records:
- Criminal
- Financial
- Military
- Education

Step 6. Polygraph Examination

You will then be given a lie detector test to verify that the information provided for your background interview is correct. Once you pass this polygraph examination, the investigator will start you background check.

Step 7. Departmental Interview

Once you have passed your background check, you will be interviewed to see if you have the interpersonal and communication skills, along with the qualifications to be a Deputy Sheriff in San Bernardino County. You will be interviewed by the Commander or Lieutenant of the Employee Resources Division, along an executive staff member of the Sheriff.

Step 8. Medical and Psychological Examinations

Passing the interview is the final step in getting a conditional job offer. Once you have that, a physician will examine you to determine that you are in excellent health and do not have medical conditions that would prevent you from doing the work of a Deputy Sheriff in San Bernardino County.

You will also be interviewed by a psychologist and answer a written questionnaire to assess whether you will be able to carry out the functions of being a Deputy Sheriff.

Step 9. Attend Sheriff’s Academy for Training

Once you have passed your medical and psychological evaluations, you will be scheduled to attend the next possible Sheriff’s Academy for intensive academic and physical training in how to become a Sheriff’s Deputy in San Bernardino County.

The training program has accreditation by San Bernardino Valley College and exceeds the standards that the state of California requires for Police Officer training including:

Defensive tactics
Firearms training
Investigating crime scenes
Tactical communication

Your physical training will include

Strength training
Mat and stretching exercises
Aerobic and formation runs on both paved surfaces and dirt

San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Jobs

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is unusual in that it serves a 4,200 square mile area containing 2.5 million people from different cultural backgrounds. San Diego County Deputy Sheriff jobs can be found in a variety of places. The department has seven stations, along with seven substations. There are also four rural resident offices.

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