Question 1

Current Eligibility List

Accepted Answer

December 6, 2025, Civil Service Test Results

Question 2

What are the minimum requirements for police officers?

Accepted Answer

• 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 when you graduate from police academy.
 • Must have a high school diploma or G.E.D.
 • Must have an associate’s degree or 60 college hours from a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)-approved / accredited school with at least a 2.0 GPA unless:
    • You have 3+ years of active military service and a high school diploma or G.E.D.
    • You have been employed as a full-time certified peace officer for 3+ years within a 180-day period immediately preceding the submission of your application and have a high school diploma or G.E.D.
    • You have been employed by the City of Irving as a Detention Officer for 3+ years during the period immediately preceding the submission of your application and have a high school diploma or GED. 
 • Must possess a valid driver’s license.
 • Must pass a written test.
 • Must pass a physical agility (row) test.

Question 3

What is on the written test?

Accepted Answer

The written examination is a standardized civil service entrance test created by a third-party test vendor. The exam has 100 multiple-choice questions and is composed of questions testing the following topics:

Observation and Memory - As a police officer, having a good memory is an asset. The ability to recall and retain new information is a necessary job skill. Retained information includes facts or ideas presented, numbers, faces, vehicles, geographic locations, maps, and patterns.

Observation and Memory Overview and Sample Questions(https://778e1702-25f4-487d-9d28-f4bf69f0a561.usrfiles.com/ugd/778e17_f2b435a24fb04472b662ac3c44cf1e97.pdf)

Written Communication – Police Officers need to have good communication skills.  Officers also need to have the ability to write clear and concise reports to document investigations.

Written Communication Overview and Sample Questions (https://778e1702-25f4-487d-9d28-f4bf69f0a561.usrfiles.com/ugd/778e17_4f1073e1ce0a44f3bb94f2b39c9f7033.pdf)

Reading Comprehension – A police officer needs to have the ability to read a passage of information, deduce information accurately from the information and be able to apply the information learned to solve questions that come up during investigations.

Reading Comprehension Overview and Sample Questions(https://778e1702-25f4-487d-9d28-f4bf69f0a561.usrfiles.com/ugd/778e17_7c1800776cbd4be98466b0079bc86652.pdf)

Analytical Ability – A police officer needs to have the ability to draw conclusions from given information (deductive reasoning) and find trends or patterns in series of facts (inductive reasoning)

Analytical Ability Overview and Sample Questions (https://778e1702-25f4-487d-9d28-f4bf69f0a561.usrfiles.com/ugd/778e17_1c910b96ce784781aa33287c49f4dea1.pdf)

Sample Question Answer Key

Answer Key (https://778e1702-25f4-487d-9d28-f4bf69f0a561.usrfiles.com/ugd/778e17_dc55228cf5cd48ed983fbd0c7f665cf1.pdf)

Question 4

What does the fitness test consist of?

Accepted Answer

The Irving Police Department entry fitness exam consists of a 2000-meter rowing test using departmental rowing machines.
The test is conducted indoors on a Concept 2 rower with the damper set on five (5).  The minimum standard for each applicant is based on age, weight, and gender.  Applicants must meet a minimum percentage score of 54.7% to be considered for employment.

To calculate your minimum row test time, applicants can utilize the Irving Row Time Calculator, which is located on the Police Officer page.(https://www.joinirvingpd.com/policeofficer) Input your gender, age range, and weight.  Select "Calculate Row Time", and your required Target Row Time will be listed below.  The time listed is the minimum time necessary for the applicant to complete the 2000-meter row.

IPD Row Test Protocol (https://778e1702-25f4-487d-9d28-f4bf69f0a561.usrfiles.com/ugd/778e17_cfd5c16ad3d34052a71b4d6bbe35e208.pdf)can be reviewed for information on how the test is administered.

Question 5

Any suggestion on how to prepare for the fitness test?

Accepted Answer

https://youtu.be/s2jaEOA5nOA

Training 2000m Rowing Ergometer Test(https://778e1702-25f4-487d-9d28-f4bf69f0a561.usrfiles.com/ugd/778e17_8f8a177aea4540a29a5c64919b5fce35.pdf)

Concept 2 Rower Tabata Sprint Training(https://778e1702-25f4-487d-9d28-f4bf69f0a561.usrfiles.com/ugd/778e17_6af3ba30491b4d6ebca66a40ce987df3.pdf)

Question 6

What does the hiring process look like for police officer?

Accepted Answer

The hiring process consists of a written exam, physical agility exam, a pre-polygraph interview, a polygraph examination, a background investigation, an oral review board, a psychological examination, a drug screen, and a medical examination.

Upon successful completion of these requirements, qualified applicants will be submitted to the Chief of Police for final disposition.

Question 7

As an out-of-state applicant, how many trips will I need to make during the hiring process?

Accepted Answer

Usually three. The first trip will be for the written and physical fitness assessment. The second trip will be for the pre-polygraph interview and polygraph exam. The third and final trip will be for the final interview (Oral Board). This is usually a two-day trip. If you pass the Oral Board, you will also sit for a psychological evaluation, drug screen/medical evaluation, and FBI fingerprint check.

Question 8

What disqualifies me from applying as a police officer?

Accepted Answer

Criminal Convictions
Must not have any criminal conviction above a Class B misdemeanor or any Class B misdemeanor within the past 10 years.

Probation
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.

Expungements
Under Texas law expungements are not accepted on convictions, even if the sentence was probation. Expungements from another state must meet the same standards as Texas law.

English
Must intelligently read and write the English language.

Deception
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.

Delinquency
Must not have been dismissed from public service for inefficiency, delinquency, or misconduct.

Driving History
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.

Illegal Drug Use
Any illegal drugs including but not limited to marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, PCP, LSD, ecstasy, fentanyl, steroids, and prescriptions not prescribed to you will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Question 9

Does Irving PD allow facial hair?

Accepted Answer

Yes – See the policy by clicking here.(https://778e1702-25f4-487d-9d28-f4bf69f0a561.usrfiles.com/ugd/778e17_ea398aaeae724a8292f4950ec22d56fb.pdf)

Question 10

Does Irving PD allow visible tattoos?

Accepted Answer

Yes—You can see the policy by clicking here.(https://778e1702-25f4-487d-9d28-f4bf69f0a561.usrfiles.com/ugd/778e17_b9716bd9680946b5a6f61ddc8cc92ea8.pdf) Any tattoo not in compliance must be removed prior to starting field training.

Question 11

Does Irving PD allow Load Bearing Vests?

Accepted Answer

Yes, at the expense of the individual officer. – See the policy by clicking here. (https://778e1702-25f4-487d-9d28-f4bf69f0a561.usrfiles.com/ugd/778e17_b57e88eebb7c47d69e3ea9eb7305ede8.pdf)

Question 12

How much of the equipment does the officer have to supply?

Accepted Answer

The department supplies all required equipment except for boots.

Question 13

How long does the hiring process take once my name on the eligibility list is reached?

Accepted Answer

This can vary based on many factors. Typically, it will take 30-45 days to process an applicant fully. Factors such as allowing time for out-of-town travel, availability of polygraph and psychological appointments, and our ability to contact references and prior employers can all affect the time it takes to complete one file.

Question 14

How often do you offer the entrance exams?

Accepted Answer

As a civil service agency, we are required to process all applicants on the eligibility list prior to hosting the next test. The amount of time it takes to process the list depends on the number of eligible applicants. We typically test every 4-6 months.

Question 15

How long is basic training for someone with no police experience?

Accepted Answer

The basic regional police academy lasts approximately 6 months. You will then attend a 2-month Irving in-service training, where you will learn how Irving PD operates (our report writing systems, policies, property handling, etc.). You will then undergo field training for approximately 4 months before you are cut loose and on your own.

Question 16

How long is your Lateral Police Academy?

Accepted Answer

Out-of-state laterals:
Our lateral police academy is approximately 4 months long and is conducted at our training academy.  The first two months are focused on preparing you to challenge the TCOLE entrance exam and focus on material such as the Texas Penal Code, Traffic Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Family Code.  The last two months are focused on teaching you the "Irving Way," which would include building searches, traffic stops, property booking, our report writing system, etc. From there, you move on to modified field training, which can vary based on your prior experience and how long it takes you to catch on.

In-State laterals:
You attend our 2-month Irving in-service training, where you will learn how Irving PD operates (our report writing systems, policies, property handling, etc.)  From there, you move on to modified field training, which can vary in length based on your prior experience.

FAQ

CONTACT A RECRUITER

SIGN UP TO TEXT A RECRUITER