How to Become a Police Officer in New Hampshire

• Concord, New Hampshire
• Dover, New Hampshire
• Manchester, New Hampshire
• Nashua, New Hampshire
• Rochester, New Hampshire

Becoming a Police Officer in Concord, New Hampshire

The Concord Police Department, which includes 84 full-time officers, provides law enforcement and support services to the 42,000 residents of Concord, New Hampshire.

Follow this guide for step-by-step instructions on how to become a cop by meeting police officer requirements in Concord:

1. Meet all minimum requirements for employment
2. Submit an application for employment
3. Take the written exam
4. Take the Physical Ability test
5. Meet with the Oral Board
6. Undergo a background investigation, polygraph examination, and psychological examination
7. Participate in a final interview
8. Receive conditional offer of employment and take physical exam
9. Attend the police academy to become state certified

Step 1. Meet Basic Requirements for Employment

Before you apply for a position with the Concord Police Department and seek Concord Police Jobs you should ensure you meet all minimum requirements for employment. In particular, if you are interested in becoming a police officer in Concord you must:

• Be at least 21 years of age
• Possess a high school diploma
• Have a minimum of 60 credit hours in an associate or bachelor’s program; OR two years of certified police officer experience; OR four years of military experience ending in an honorable discharge (A bachelor’s degree is preferred.)

Step 2. Submit an Application for Employment

You can view all job postings and apply online for Concord Police jobs. You must first create an account to apply for a position.

Step 3. Take the Written Exam

Upon receipt of your employment application, the Concord Police Department will review your qualifications and notify you if you quality to take the written exam. Written exams are administered at the Concord Police Department.

Step 4. Take the Physical Ability Test

Upon passing the written examination you will be required to take the Physical Ability test on the same day. You must schedule a physical with your doctor prior to the exam date and obtain a medical waiver as to take the Physical Ability test.

The Concord Police Department uses the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council physical fitness requirements. All candidates are required to complete push-ups, sit-ups and a 1.5-mile run.

Step 5. Meet with the Oral Board

Upon successfully passing the Physical Ability test you may be scheduled to meet with the Oral Board and participate in a panel interview. Only the top candidates are invited to participate in the panel interview and complete the employment process.

Step 6. Undergo a Background Investigation, Polygraph, and Psychological Examination

Only those candidates who receive a recommendation by the Oral Board are chosen to undergo a background investigation, polygraph examination, and psychological examination.

Step 7.  Participate in a Final Interview

Select candidates are chosen for the final interview.

Step 8. Receive Conditional Offer of Employment and Take Physical Exam

The top candidates are given a conditional offer of employment and required to take a physical exam, including drug screening.

Step 9. Attend the police academy to become state certified

Upon being hired by the Concord Police Department you will be required to attend training through the New Hampshire Police Academy and become certified through the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council.

All peace officers in the State of New Hampshire are required to complete the Academy’s 14 weeks of training and achieve state certification within six months of being hired.

Becoming a Police Officer in Dover, New Hampshire

The Dover Police Department (603-742-4646) provides law enforcement services to the 30,000 residents of Dover, New Hampshire. Dover has one of the lowest rates of serious crime in the region.

This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to become a cop by meeting police officer requirements in Dover:

1. Meet minimum requirements for employment
2. Submit an application for employment
3. Take the written entrance exam
4. Take the Physical Agility exam
5. Undergo remaining testing
6. Complete police academy training and become state certified

Step 1. Meet Minimum Requirements for Employment

Before applying for Dover Police Jobs you must first determine whether you meet all eligibility requirements for becoming a Police Officer in Dover. In particular, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be at least 20 years old
• Possess a high school diploma or the equivalent

Step 2. Submit an Application for Employment

Applications for The Dover Police Department jobs are accepted year round, and testing is usually every third month year round. Certified candidates, however, may be allowed to test throughout the year.

For information on becoming a Police Officer in Dover, or for the upcoming testing dates, call or email Sgt. Anderson at 603-742-4646 or at l.anderson@dover.nh.gov.

Step 3. Take the Written Entrance Exam

The Dover Police Department tests through the Great Bay Community College Police Testing Alliance, which is through the Great Bay Community College, Portsmouth Campus, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

You must register to take the exam by completing and returning the Police Testing Alliance Registration Form, along with a $40 exam fee (by check or credit card), to Great Bay Community College.

You may also fax the Registration Form to: 603-559-1522.

The written exam, which includes math, cognitive and personality sections, takes about 90 minutes to complete, and only those candidates who pass the written exam are asked to participate in further testing at future dates. All candidates receive their test results within 2 weeks of the testing date.

Step 4. Take the Physical Agility Exam

Candidates chosen to participate in the next step of the hiring process, the physical agility exam, are contacted directly by the Dover Police Department.

Step 5. Undergo Further Testing

Select candidates who pass the Physical Agility exam are asked to complete the hiring process, which includes: an oral interview; psychological testing, including a polygraph examination; a background investigation; and medical testing.

Step 6. Complete Police Academy Training and Become State Certified

All New Hampshire police officers are required to attain state certification within 6 months of being hired. The State of New Hampshire training requirements include 14 weeks of police academy training through the New Hampshire Police Academy and state certification through the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council.

Becoming a Police Officer in Manchester, New Hampshire

The Manchester Police Department (603-668-8711) provides law enforcement services to the city of Manchester, New Hampshire. The Manchester Police Department, which has 112 police officers and a number of specialized units within the Patrol Division, including the traffic unit, the K-9 unit, and the animal control unit, responds to more than 100,000 calls for service each year.

If you want to learn how to become a cop by meeting police officer requirements in Manchester, review these steps:

1. Meet all minimum requirements for employment
2. Complete a police recruit form
3. Submit an application for employment
4. Take a written test
5. Take the Physical Agility test
6. Undergo a comprehensive interview
7. Undergo a background investigation
8. Receive a conditional offer of employment and complete employment process
9. Police Academy and certification

Step 1. Meet all Minimum Employment Qualifications

Before applying for Manchester Police Jobs you must determine if you meet all minimum requirements for employment. In particular, if you are interested in becoming a Police Officer in Manchester, you must:

• Be at least 21 years of age by the date of the written test
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Possess a high school diploma or GED
• Possess a valid New Hampshire driver’s license at the time of appointment
• 20/30 eyesight (corrected or uncorrected)
• Be honorable discharged from the U.S. military (if applicable)

You may NOT qualify for Manchester Police Jobs if you:

• Used marijuana in the last 12 months
• Illegally used a controlled substance, other than marijuana, in the last 36 months
• Used a controlled substance while you were employment in a law enforcement position
• Have been convicted of a felony
• Have been convicted of a misdemeanor involving dishonesty, physical violence, controlled substances, unlawful sexual conduct, or any offense that may create a reasonable doubt to your character, honesty or ability

Step 2. Complete a Police Recruit Form

If you are interested in becoming a police officer in Manchester you must first complete the Police Recruitment form. The Manchester Police Department will then contact you when a new application period begins.

Step 3. Submit an Application for Employment

Upon notification of a new application period you must download, print, and complete a City of Manchester Employment Application and send it to:

City of Manchester
Human Resources Department
One City Hall Plaza
Manchester, NH 03101

You must include a $25 non-refundable application fee (in the form of a check or money order made payable to City of Manchester Human Resources Department) and copies of your high school diploma or GED, driver’s license, birth certificate, and DD-214 (if applicable) with your application for employment for Manchester Police Jobs.

Step 4. Take a Written Test

Candidates for Manchester Police Jobs who meet minimum requirements for employment are contacted to take the written test during new application periods. Only those candidates who receive a score of at least 70 percent are eligible to take the Physical Agility test.

Step 5. Take the Physical Agility Test

The Physical Agility test includes five events (bench press, sit-ups, push-ups, trigger pull test, and a 1.5-mile run), all of which are designed to measure your ability perform physically demanding tasks that may be encountered in job performance. Upon the successful completion of the Physical Agility test, you will be scheduled for a comprehensive interview. You may read more about Physical Agility requirements before attending the Physical Agility test.

Step 6. Undergo a Comprehensive Interview

Only those candidates who pass the interview process will be subject to a background investigation.

Step 7. Undergo a Background Investigation

Candidates who pass the background investigation phase of the pre-employment process are placed on a one-year eligibility list.

Step 8. Receive a Conditional Offer of Employment and Complete
Employment Process

If you are extended a conditional offer of employment by the Manchester Police Department you will be required to successfully complete the employment process, which includes: a polygraph examination, a psychological examination, a medical examination, and a personal interview with the Chief of Police.

Step 9. Attend the Police Academy to Become State Certified

Once you are hired you will attend the New Hampshire Police Academy, which will culminate in certification through the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council.  Training takes place over a 14-week period and must be done within the first six months of your hire date.

Becoming a Police Officer in Nashua, New Hampshire

The Nashua Police Department (603-594-3500) provides law enforcement and community policing services to Nashua, New Hampshire, through bicycle patrols; citizen academies; K9 units; walking patrols; neighborhood community policing offices; and a community center. The Nashua Police Department, which has the second largest police department in the state, currently has 179 sworn officers protecting the city’s 90,000 residents.

If you want to learn how to become a cop by meeting Police Officer requirements in Nashua, follow this guide through the step-by-step instructions:

1. Meet all minimum employment requirements
2. Submit an application for employment
3. Take the written examination
4. Take the Physical Fitness exam
5. Complete an oral interview
6. Complete the testing process and receive a conditional offer of employment
7. Attend the police academy to become state certified

Step 1. Meet Employment Requirements

If you are considering becoming a police officer in Nashua you must first determine if you meet all minimum employment requirements for Nashua Police Jobs. You must:

• Be a United States citizen
• Be at least 21 years old
• Possess a high school diploma or FED
• 20/30 vision (correctable) with normal color and depth perception

Step 2. Submit an Application for Employment

Download, print and complete a Police Officer application from the FORMS page.

If you currently are a New Hampshire full-time certified police officer you must download the NH FULL TIME CERTIFIED ONLY application.

Step 3. Take the Written Examination

Once the Department receives your application and you meet all minimum qualifications, you will receive a letter of confirmation regarding the date/time of the next written exam. You may also review upcoming written exam dates here.

On the date of the exam you must bring a check for $15 written out to the Nashua Police Department. The written exam is a 100-question, general knowledge exam.

Step 4. Take the Physical Fitness Exam

If you pass the written exam with a score of 70 percent or higher you will proceed directly to the Physical Fitness exam portion (You can review Physical Fitness requirements here). You should therefore bring appropriate gym attire on the exam date.

Step 5. Complete an Oral Interview

If you pass the Physical Fitness exam you will be scheduled for an oral interview.

Step 6. Complete the Testing Process and Receive a Conditional Offer of Employment

Only those candidates who pass the oral interview portion of the employment process will be scheduled to complete a background examination, a polygraph examination, a psychological examination, and a medical examination.

Step 7. Attend the Police Academy to Become State Certified

All peace officers in the State of New Hampshire are required to complete 14 weeks of police academy training and achieve state certification within six months of being hired.

You will be required to attend training through the New Hampshire Police Academy and become certified through the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council.

Becoming a Police Officer in Rochester, New Hampshire

The Rochester Police Department (603-330-7127) consists of 26 patrol officers, all of whom are tasked with providing law enforcement and community support services to the residents and visitors of Rochester, New Hampshire.

This guide provides the steps necessary to help you learn how to become a cop by meeting police officer requirements in Rochester:

1. Meet Minimum Requirements for Employment
2. Take the Written Examination
3. Submit an Application for Employment
4. Take a Physical Fitness Examination
5. Interview with the Oral Board
6. Interview with the Rochester Police Commission
7. Undergo Final Employment Testing
8. Complete Training and State Certification Requirements

Step 1. Meet Minimum Requirements for Employment

If you want to learn how to achieve Rochester Police Jobs you must first ensure you meet all minimum requirements for employment with the Rochester Police Department.  In particular, you must:

• Be a United States citizen
• Be at least 20 years old (at the time of application)
• Possess a valid driver’s license
• Possess a high school diploma or GED certificate
• Have at least 30 college credits (Candidates who possess police certification are exempt from this requirement.)

Step 2. Take the Written Examination

Before applying for Rochester Police Jobs you must take and pass a written examination either through New Hampshire Technical Institute or Great Bay Community College. You must score at least 80 percent on the cognitive portion of the exam to qualify for Rochester Police Jobs.

If you are a full-time certified law enforcement officer you may not be required to take the written examination.

Step 3. Submit an Application for Employment

Individuals who meet all minimum requirements for employment must submit a cover letter, a current resume, and a City of Rochester Employment Application to:

City of Rochester, New Hampshire
31 Wakefield Street
Rochester, NH 03867

You may contact the Training Coordinator at 603-330-7130 or at christopher.cost@rochesternh.net with any questions regarding the application process.

Step 4. Take a Physical Fitness Examination

Provided you meet all minimum requirements for employment, the Human Resources department will contact you to take the physical fitness examination during hiring periods.

Step 5. Interview with the Oral Board

Upon successfully passing the Physical Fitness/Agility examination, you will receive an invitation to appear before the Oral Board for an interview. The Oral Board is comprised of members of the Rochester Police Department.

Step 6. Interview with the Rochester Police Commission

Upon the completion of a successful interview with the Rochester Police Commission and a review of all components of your testing, you may be invited to complete the pre-employment process.

Step 7. Undergo Final Employment Testing

The final stages of the pre-employment testing process include undergoing a background investigation, a medical examination (including a drug screen), a polygraph examination, and a psychological examination.

Step 8. Complete Training and State Certification Requirements

All new officers with the Rochester Police Department are required to undergo training through the New Hampshire Police Academy and become certified (within six months of your hiring date) through the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council.

Further, Rochester Police Officers are required to complete a 6-week in-house training program and an 8-week field training assignment with a certified Field Training Officer.

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