TESTING PROCESS

Police Officer 

All applicants for the position of Police Officer must attend one of the in-person testing dates listed below.  This process consists of a written examination, physical agility, and interview. 

Public Safety Officer 

In an effort to streamline our testing process and alleviate the financial burden of traveling for Public Safety Officer applicant testing, our written testing and interview may be conducted online. The written test is a minimal cost compared to traveling to take an in-person test, incurring lodging, meals, and other travel expenses. This will allow the applicant to take the online test at their location and time of choice. Upon successful completion of the written test a virtual interview will be scheduled. Public Safety Officer applicants may elect to attend one of the in-person testing dates and complete the written examination and interview in-person.

We are currently offering in-person testing on below listed dates. This in-person testing will comprise of the written exam (All Applicants), physical agility (Police Officer Applicants Only), and interview (All Applicants).

    • July 22, 2026 – (PO ONLY)

AS OF JULY 1, 2025:  POLICE OFFICER TESTING IS IN-PERSON ONLY

APPLICANTS WILL HAVE 90 DAYS FROM APPLICATION SUBMISSION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WRITTEN TEST (ALL APPLICANTS), PHYSICAL AGILITY (PO APPS ONLY) AND THE INTERVIEW.  PSO APPLICANTS WHO DO NOT TEST IN PERSON WILL HAVE THEIR INTERVIEW SCHEDULED AT A LATER DATE.  APPLICATIONS WILL BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE PROCESS AFTER 90 DAYS IF THE ABOVE HAS NOT BEEN MET.

IMPORTANT: The above listed dates are by reservation only. 

Applicants must complete the online Application through PoliceApp

The physical ability test for police officer applicants will be conducted at the Ocean City Police Department, 6501 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842.

Once an applicant successfully completes the written exam, physical abilities test (PO only), and interview they may be selected to move on to a background investigation.

TESTING COMPONENTS

Public Safety Officer – Written Examination & Interview:

As previously stated above a PSO applicant may complete the written examination in-person or on-line. After successfully completing the written examination, an applicant will participate in an interview that’s either conducted in-person or on-line. Once an applicant successfully completes an interview they will be provided a confidential questionnaire to begin the background investigation.

Police Officer – Written Examination, Physical Abilities Test & Interview:

Police Officer applicants must successfully complete an in-person written examination. All applicants that successfully pass the written examination will immediately participate in the physical abilities test. Applicants who successfully complete the physical abilities test will then participate in an interview. All three of these testing components will be completed all in the same day on a scheduled testing date. Once an applicant successfully completes an interview they may be provided a confidential questionnaire to begin the background investigation.

Physical Abilities Test - Police Officer Only:

The Physical Abilities test is comprised of 3 events – A 220 yd. shuttle run, an obstacle course, and a 150 lb. dummy drag. Applicants will need to sign a waiver on the day of testing.

Event #1: 220 Yard Shuttle Run
(Simulates the foot pursuit of an individual)
The run is structured in four (4) legs of fifty-five (55) yards each for a total of two hundred twenty (220) yards.
The course must be completed in forty-seven (47) seconds or less.

Event #2: Obstacle Course
(Simulates pursuing a fleeing suspect around various obstacles)
The participant must complete the obstacle course in forty-two (42) seconds or less. The obstacle course will consist of:
Run around seven (7) traffic cones
Spring to and traverse a set of stairs
Sprint to and cross over a low hurdle
Run across six (6) four (4) inch posts
Spring to and jump/climb over a four (4) foot barrier
Run to the finish line while dodging five (5) traffic cones

Event #3: Body Drag
(Simulates the Emergency Rescue of an Injured Person)
The participant will drag/lift/carry/pull a one hundred fifty (150) pound dummy a distance of forty (40) feet on a resistant surface. The task must be completed in twenty (20) seconds or less.

Physical Abilities Test Preparedness

As is customary when beginning any fitness program, Police Officer candidates should consult with their doctors to ensure they are healthy enough to start training.

To prepare for the physical fitness test, candidates should ensure they do not “jump into” a routine, especially if they have not worked out in a while. Candidates are advised to begin their programs slowly to assess their baseline level of fitness. From that point, candidates are recommended to practice the individual tests and build on their scores. Repetition is key to increasing performance on the tasks at hand.

Again, it is not recommended that candidates begin the program and push themselves too hard. Injuries frequently occur this way. Take time at the beginning of your fitness program and build up to test day.

Each individual candidate should develop his or her own workout routine. Fitness professionals are a great resource to customize a program that will work for you.