Washington, District of Columbia · District of Columbia · City / town police

Metropolitan Police Department

Hiring process, pay research and preparation guide.

Applicant route covered: MPD entry-level Police Officer applicants; separate lateral, cadet, civilian, and volunteer paths have different requirements.

Information last reviewed . Hiring status: not verified.

What we have researched

Police Officer starting salary (as advertised on MPD recruiting page)
$75,433 annually
After successful completion of 18-month probation
$82,529 annually

MPD's recruiting page accessed October 30, 2026; the page does not state a salary effective date, so confirm current rates with MPD. · Reviewed 2026-10-30. Base pay is not total compensation.

Official pay research source ↗
Researched hiring process & preparation

Partial profile reviewed 2026-10-30. Not proof of an opening.

Department size and hiring context

Reported workforce
MPD reported 3,039 sworn members excluding recruits and 3,163 including 124 recruit officers; it separately listed 729 professional staff. Total staffing including recruits and professional staff was 3,892.September 11, 2026MPD September 2026 staffing report ↗
Recent or planned hiring
MPD recorded 162 sworn hires in FY 2025 (109 recruits, 40 cadet rollovers, 2 laterals, 2 Senior Police Officers, and 9 reinstatements). It separately recorded 136 hires in FY 2026 through June 30, 2026; that is partial-year output, not a full-year total.FY 2025 completed; FY 2026 through June 30, 2026MPD June 2026 Staffing and Attrition Report ↗

These dated figures provide context, not a live vacancy count or promise of future hiring.

Application timing: The official recruiting site currently labels MPD as actively hiring and provides an Apply Now / Prospect Day application route. No closing date is shown; confirm the next Prospect Day and current application instructions with recruiting. Scope: Police Officer entry-level recruitment. Checked 2026-10-30. Current official notice ↗

Minimum requirements

  • At application, be at least 20 years and 6 months old, be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and hold a valid driver's license; MPD's FAQ says applicants must be 21 by appointment.
  • Meet one education or experience route: at least 45 semester credits from an accredited college; two years of U.S. military active duty (including Reserve or National Guard service as specified by MPD) with honorable discharge if separated; or three years in full-duty status with a full-service U.S. police department in good standing.
  • MPD says candidates with 45 college credits may complete a UDC partnership that provides 15 additional academy credits toward the department's 60-credit requirement. Review current MPD rules and automatic disqualifiers before applying.

Selected requirements, not a complete eligibility or disqualifier checklist.

Lateral entry

MPD recruits experienced officers through a separate lateral route. Its recruiting page describes an approximately 16-week abbreviated academy; review the current lateral qualifications and application directly.

Recruiting contact

MPD Recruiting Division · (202) 645-0445 · police recruiting contact page

(202) 645-0445

Hiring outline

  1. Submit the Police Officer Prospect Day application and complete MPD's required preparation packet before attending.
  2. At Prospect Day, MPD lists fingerprinting, a preliminary background meeting, its paid-for NTN FrontLine written exam, and a timed physical-ability obstacle course. MPD does not publish numeric candidate standards on the linked page.
  3. Selected candidates continue through a comprehensive background investigation, polygraph, medical and psychological evaluations, and department review. MPD says the background phase takes about four to six months; its FAQ gives a two-to-three-month average for the overall process, so timing varies.
  4. If selected, recruits enter the academy as paid employees. MPD says its academy is approximately 24 weeks and classes are held monthly; confirm timing and current instructions with recruiting.

Physical testing

MPD's Prospect Day includes a timed obstacle-course Physical Ability Test assessing essential job tasks. The public page does not give numeric event standards or a candidate preparation protocol; use MPD's current Prospect Day packet and contact recruiting rather than substituting academy graduation standards.

Benefits

MPD advertises a $25,000 hiring bonus paid in two stages subject to a two-year service agreement, up to $6,000 in eligible DC rental assistance, paid academy training, tuition reimbursement, shift differentials, and a defined-benefit retirement plan. Verify current terms and eligibility with recruiting.

Hiring incentives

Availability and terms need confirmation.

The FY 2025 hiring count includes several sworn appointment pathways and is historical output, not current vacancies. FY 2026 is a partial-year count. MPD's salary page has no effective date, and its public Prospect Day page does not give numeric physical-test cutoffs; verify current details with recruiting. Hiring and academy schedules do not guarantee an opening or appointment.

Official research source ↗MPD Police Officer qualifications, selection, pay, and benefits ↗MPD Prospect Day and preparation packet ↗MPD lateral officer path ↗MPD Cadet Corps ↗MPD Recruiting contacts ↗MPD June 2026 Staffing and Attrition Report ↗MPD September 2026 staffing report ↗

No test preset is imported from this profile. Bring current employer instructions to your preparation.

Sources and review dates by topic

A general page review does not confirm every topic. These are research records—not a guarantee that requirements remain unchanged or that a job is open.

  • Minimum requirements: Separate source check not recorded
  • Lateral entry: Separate source check not recorded
  • Hiring process: Separate source check not recorded
  • Physical testing: Separate source check not recorded
  • Pay: Separate source check not recorded
  • Recruiting contact: Separate source check not recorded
  • Benefits: Separate source check not recorded
  • Incentives: Separate source check not recorded

Official recruiting resources

Official DC MPD police officer applicant gateway ↗Official DC Metropolitan Police careers ↗

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Frequently asked questions

Which applicant route does this Metropolitan Police Department guide cover?

MPD entry-level Police Officer applicants; separate lateral, cadet, civilian, and volunteer paths have different requirements.

What minimum requirements are recorded for Metropolitan Police Department?

At application, be at least 20 years and 6 months old, be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and hold a valid driver's license; MPD's FAQ says applicants must be 21 by appointment. Meet one education or experience route: at least 45 semester credits from an accredited college; two years of U.S. military active duty (including Reserve or National Guard service as specified by MPD) with honorable discharge if separated; or three years in full-duty status with a full-service U.S. police department in good standing. MPD says candidates with 45 college credits may complete a UDC partnership that provides 15 additional academy credits toward the department's 60-credit requirement. Review current MPD rules and automatic disqualifiers before applying. These are selected requirements, not the complete current eligibility or disqualifier list.

What lateral-entry information is available for Metropolitan Police Department?

MPD recruits experienced officers through a separate lateral route. Its recruiting page describes an approximately 16-week abbreviated academy; review the current lateral qualifications and application directly.

What salary information is available for Metropolitan Police Department?

Police Officer starting salary (as advertised on MPD recruiting page): $75,433 annually; After successful completion of 18-month probation: $82,529 annually. Confirm current rates and your eligible step with the employer.

What hiring process does Metropolitan Police Department describe?

Submit the Police Officer Prospect Day application and complete MPD's required preparation packet before attending. At Prospect Day, MPD lists fingerprinting, a preliminary background meeting, its paid-for NTN FrontLine written exam, and a timed physical-ability obstacle course. MPD does not publish numeric candidate standards on the linked page. Selected candidates continue through a comprehensive background investigation, polygraph, medical and psychological evaluations, and department review. MPD says the background phase takes about four to six months; its FAQ gives a two-to-three-month average for the overall process, so timing varies. If selected, recruits enter the academy as paid employees. MPD says its academy is approximately 24 weeks and classes are held monthly; confirm timing and current instructions with recruiting.

What physical testing information is available for Metropolitan Police Department?

MPD's Prospect Day includes a timed obstacle-course Physical Ability Test assessing essential job tasks. The public page does not give numeric event standards or a candidate preparation protocol; use MPD's current Prospect Day packet and contact recruiting rather than substituting academy graduation standards.

What benefits information is available for Metropolitan Police Department?

MPD advertises a $25,000 hiring bonus paid in two stages subject to a two-year service agreement, up to $6,000 in eligible DC rental assistance, paid academy training, tuition reimbursement, shift differentials, and a defined-benefit retirement plan. Verify current terms and eligibility with recruiting.

Is Metropolitan Police Department hiring now?

Current hiring status and application deadlines are not verified. A recruiting page alone does not confirm an opening. Use the employer’s current announcement before applying.

When was this Metropolitan Police Department research reviewed?

This partial profile was reviewed 2026-10-30. That is not a vacancy verification date, and reading this page does not refresh the underlying research.

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