PCPA Testing and Consulting Programs

Advertising Your Employment Opportunities

The Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association (PCPA) offers advertising for Training, Entry-Level, and Executive positions on our website under the “Jobs” tab.

Executive-Level Advertisements:
PCPA does not accept Executive-level advertisements for projects managed or assisted by third-party LLCs. Communities that are fully self-managing every level of their hiring process are eligible; however, they must include a statement affirming this fact in their submission.

PCPA reserves the right to refuse services if this standard is not met.

How to Proceed

Simply email your advertisement to:

Gerald Simpson
Testing & Consultation Manager
[email protected]

• Microsoft Word format is preferred, but we can accommodate most file types.
• Ads are typically posted within one to two business days.
• Examples of current postings can be found under the “Jobs” tab on our website.

Rates for Service
Training Announcements

• $300 – Members
• $400 – Non-Members
• $750 – Third-party LLCs (unless sponsored by a Member Agency)

• $225 – Members
• $275 – Non-Members

• $750

• No charge

Additional Information
Advertisements remain active for up to 90 days.
Each posting is also distributed via email to 6,500+ subscribers who have signed up for job announcements.
An invoice will be issued after posting.

PCPA understands that recruiting qualified law enforcement candidates has become more challenging than ever. Our job postings reach a broad and targeted audience, providing your agency with maximum exposure and the best opportunity to identify the right candidates.

Several Endorsements for our Program

Responses from a recent client survey:

• We had an excellent experience with this vendor during the Lieutenant exam process. From start to finish, they were organized, responsive, and highly professional. The exam was administered smoothly, timelines were clearly communicated, and any questions or issues were handled quickly and effectively. Their attention to detail and understanding of the importance of a fair, well-run promotional exam gave us full confidence in the process. We truly appreciate the care they took in supporting both the organization and the candidates, and we would not hesitate to work with them again.
  
  
• The Township extends its sincere appreciation to the PCPA for the thorough and professional work undertaken to ensure that both residents and Township leadership were presented with highly qualified, professional police officers seeking to lead our Police Department. Throughout the process, the PCPA demonstrated a clear understanding of the unique challenges involved and provided steady guidance to leadership, ensuring a thoughtful, transparent, and well-informed selection process. Their expertise and diligence were instrumental in identifying the best candidate to serve our community. Without a doubt, the PCPA delivered a proven and successful process that reflects the highest standards of professionalism and commitment to public service.
  
  
• Thanks for providing excellent service.
  
  
• All personnel were very knowledgeable, quick to assist and offer services.
  
  
• Just reaching out to say thank you to Gene for all his help Saturday morning! We greatly appreciate the professionalism in proctoring the test and all your efforts to keep the test running smoothly. Also, thank you to the PA Chiefs for providing such a valuable service. Our Civil Service Commission sends a representative to every written test, and they have expressed how grateful they are with the test and proctor and the process they approve. Thank you again for all your help. It relieves a lot of stress knowing we have help the morning of the test.

“The testing and consulting services PA Chiefs provide for the fitness testing portion of our civil service examination process has always been first rate.  Thank you to you and Mike Grogan for all the help.”
Gregory J. Gottschall
Chief of Police
Bethlehem Township Police Department

"I wanted to say thank you for everything. Chief Stiles (proctored exam) was a huge help and he took a lot of stress off of me for the test. It was a pleasure working with him. We did a quick exit poll of the candidates asking them where they heard about our test and the vast majority said from the PA Chiefs of Police website. I can’t thank you enough. We had 130 apply. 96 paid the application fee and 68 attended the written exam… It was also a very diverse crowd.
Thanks to you, Chief Stiles and the PA Chiefs Association for all your help and support. I couldn’t have asked for more."
Mick Markovich
Chief of Police
Pottstown Police Department

“I wanted to pass on to the board members just how impressed I was with the effectiveness of our Police Officer job recruitment ad that I placed on the PA Chief’s website for my department. On short notice (manpower shortage dictated a quick turnaround) and with only a two week window before the test date, we wound up with 68 total test takers of which 41 said they saw the ad for PO employment on our (PA Chiefs) website. The other 27 were broken down between social media and Indeed. This speaks well as to our exposure to job seekers and I thought this survey was worthwhile passing on. It was the best $100 I spent in the whole process.”
Chief Mark A. Toomey
Upper Providence Township Police

Police Testing - PCPA can provide municipalities with a variety of written entry level and promotional exams. These examinations have been developed by Stanard & Associates, a nation-wide leader in public safety assessment and selection. The company has over 30 years of experience in the field of developing content-valid, job related, fair and objective public safety employment examinations.

 Written Entry Level Exams

Agencies now have the option to test entry-level applicants on-line and in their homes.  Click here for additional details: Testing entry level remotely informational.pdf (updated) For agencies wishing to purchase the Online Version of the POST – please use this Security Agreement when submitting your order.  Agencies will also indicate on page 3 of the order form, in Section B for Form Type, Online Form E (if they want to allow candidates to test at home) or Online A, B, C, or D if they prefer the online version and plan to proctor on site. Please Note: Be advised the hardcopy exams and the E or Electronic Tests are handled differently regarding exams that are not used.  Hardcopy forms of the exams can be sent back and there is no charge for unused exams. Unused E Tests (keys) cannot be exchanged for funds or credit.

Please Note:  When ordering any test on-line, you should receive an emailed response back to you within 48 hours - weekdays.  If you do not, there may be an issue with the receipt of your order.  Please resend and call/leave message with Scott Bohn @ 717 236 1059 ext.108.

The National Police Officer Selection Test (POST) tests entry level police officers on four components: arithmetic, reading comprehension, grammar and report writing. The tests have been developed by Stanard & Associates specifically for law enforcement agencies to assess incident report writing skills and predict training and job success. There are alternate forms and self-score versions available to departments and are economical for agencies of all sizes.  PCPA also offers exam study guides.  An agency can elect to purchase study guides for their candidates or provide the candidates the following link and allow them to purchase a study guide directly from Stanard and Associates. / www.applytoserve.com/study

 *These Order Forms can be downloaded, electronically signed, then emailed directly from your computer. If you need to create a digital ID Signature, print and follow the steps in this document: Creating a digital signature.pdf

• POST Brochure
• POST Order Form

The National Dispatcher Selection Test (NDST) was developed specifically for use by public safety communications/call centers and may be used by any emergency call center, communications center, or dispatching center through which calls for emergency and/or public safety services are received and routed. The test focuses on five components: reading comprehension, listening, problem solving, prioritizing and multi-tasking.

• NDST Brochure
• NDST Order Form

Promotional Testing Services

PA Specific First and Second Line Police Supervisor Tests (PA FLST and PA SLST) help to identify promotional candidates who possess the relevant job knowledge to be successful supervisors and managers. The cost-effective exams assess knowledge in areas such as:

• Management/Supervision
• Major Court Cases
• Community Policing
• Criminal Investigation
• Patrol Tactics
• PA Criminal Law and Vehicle Code

The exams can be easily integrated into the promotional process and measure both first-line supervisor (e.g Corporal, Sergeant) and second-line supervisor (e.g. Lieutenant, Captain). Each exam has 125 questions (multiple-choice and true/false) and candidate study guides are needed to provide test takers with specific chapters on the textbook list, study tips and sample test questions. A textbook list will also be sent of the required reading needed to successfully pass the exam.  These books can be ordered by the municipality or by the candidates themselves.  When planning a test date, consider that it will be an approximate week for your packet to arrive, another two weeks for you to order the books and for them to arrive to the candidates, and then the recommended 45-90 days for the candidate to study for the exam.  An exam administration guide is also needed with step-by-step instructions.

• PA FLST and SLST Information Brochure
• PA FLST and SLST Order Form

National Detective/Investigator Test

The National Detective/Investigator Test (NDIT) helps identify candidates who posses the relevant job knowledge to be successful detectives/investigators.  The exam assesses candidates' knowledge in three critical areas: Criminal Investigation, Interviewing Techniques, and Relevant Case Law.

• NDIT Brochure
• NDIT Order Form

Physical Performance Consulting and Testing 

PCPA specializes in providing proactive risk management. Over the past two decades, the science and technology of physical performance management has advanced to a point where we can predict with an 80%-85% degree of accuracy whether an officer will be able to perform the essential job functions, at a minimal level, based on a series of basic physical tests.

PCPA is able to perform:

• Entry Level Police Officer Testing
• Specialized Unit Testing
• Departmental Physical Education Consulting

The benefits to physical performance testing and consulting include the department's ability to defend current practices, lower insurance rates, as well as a higher level of professionalism and officer safety and performance.

For pricing and availability to have PCPA staff come to your municipality to administer entry-level fitness testing, or any other physical fitness related needs, contact Scott Bohn – information listed below.

For information concerning  Physical Fitness Coordinator Training & Certification and the next class: click here

Consulting Services – PCPA will provide the following services

1. Oral Boards - Entry-Level and Promotional oral boards to assist municipalities with the hiring and promotions of police officers
2. Executive / Chief Searches – Full -Service program that assists municipalities with hiring a Chief of Police, PCPA will assist municipalities with the hiring of a Chief of Police as described below:

• Preparation of a "Job Announcement" for the Chief of Police position
• Job announcement emailed to members of PCPA and posted on the PCPA website
• Receive and screen resumes of applicants
• Assist with selection of candidates to be interviewed
• Prepare oral examinations
• Provide three qualified and experienced Chiefs to conduct, evaluate, and score oral interviews
• Prepare and present examination results and make recommendations to the municipality
• Provide 1 experienced Chief to sit in on final interviews of elected officials

      3. Organizational Review - PCPA assessors conduct a review of an organization and provide a thorough
          written analysis

Testing & Consulting Coordinator
[email protected]
Tel: 717-236-1059 Extension 107
Fax: 717-236-0226