Step 2: POST Physical Fitness Test (PPFT)

All Nevada peace officers must take the POST Physical Fitness Test (PPFT), regardless of their age, as part of NDOC certified academy. Performance on the PPFT is strongly linked to the officer's fitness level and his or her ability to do fitness-related tasks. The PPFT is a validated physical readiness test and measures the underlying and predictive physical fitness factors necessary to perform the essential and critical physical job tasks of Nevada peace officers.

The PPFT assesses muscular endurance and cardio respiratory fitness. The lowest passing PPFT standards reflect the minimum acceptable fitness level for all peace officers regardless of agency. Maintaining good physical fitness is the professional responsibility of every peace officer.

FAIL > RE-TESTING. If a candidate fails to receive a passing composite score based on his/her performance on the five components on the first attempt, he/she will have one more opportunity to pass that day. A candidate is retested only on the vertical jump, agility run, push-ups, & the 300-meter run events.

You are not able to retest on the 1.5 mile run/walk.

SAME DAY: Physical Fitness Test

• Vertical jump of 15 inches - The vertical jump test measures the dynamic strength and muscle power in the legs.
• Agility run in 20. 4 seconds - A measure of coordinated movement and speed. It is important for performing tasks requiring quick movements around obstacles.
• 20 push-ups (not timed) - This is a test of upper body strength. Push-ups are "military style" with legs straight, hands positioned under the shoulders. The test begins with arms extended (body raised), then lower the body to within 3-4 inches of the ground and complete by returning to an extended arm position.
• 300-meter run in 1 minute 14 seconds - A long sprint test, and a test of anaerobic capacity, which is an important fitness attribute for performing short intense bursts of effort.
• 1.5-mile run/walk in 17 minutes 37 seconds - This is a general test of endurance.  Runner's aids other than appropriate clothing/running shoes are not permitted. One attempt is allowed.  The time limit is the maximum allowed.

SAME DAY: Oral Interview

There is a panel that you will sit across from that will be asking you questions and scoring your answers. This panel, often called the “Oral Interview Board” usually consists of the board consists of a panel of people, usually 3 to 5 people including people who currently are in the job you are applying for, supervisors in NDOC, and possibly people from other departments within the agency.

They will be in uniform, and it will be an intimidating experience. They are not they to put you at ease. Law enforcement officers need to function well under pressure and the interview is one way to determine how a candidate will function under stress. NDOC will spend a lot of time and money going through the hiring process to select an individual. They will also spend time and money training an individual. Therefore, it is vital for the interview panel to make a good selection. A good selection is someone who will make it through the training process and will represent the department professionally and serve all members of their community.

SAME DAY: Background Package

Instructions to the Applicant

The information you provide in this Personal History Statement will be used in the background investigation to assist in determining your suitability for the position of Nevada Peace Officer

Disqualification

There are very few automatic bases for rejection. Even issues of prior misconduct, such as prior illegal drug use, driving under the influence, theft or even arrest or conviction are usually not, in and of themselves, automatically disqualifying. However, deliberate misstatements or omissions can and often will result in your application being rejected, regardless of the nature or reason for the misstatements/omissions. In fact, the number one reason individuals “fail” background investigations is because they deliberately withhold or misrepresent job-relevant information from their prospective employer.

BOTTOM LINE: Be as complete, honest and specific as possible in your responses.

SAME DAY: Psychological Exam

What is the Law Enforcement Officer Psychological Exam? It is… An evaluation of your mental fitness for working in the law enforcement field. It is NOT… A test of your overall “sanity” or mental stability. Being a law enforcement officer can be mentally and emotionally taxing. Correctional Officers can endure abusive language, violence, horrifying crimes scenes in the prisons, and long work hours. The purpose of the exam is to determine if you can handle the stress associated with working in the field of law enforcement.

SAME DAY: Drug Screening Test

You will have 24 hours to take a Drug Screening Test after receiving your Drug Screening papers.

Like any other employee with immense responsibility and control of safety-sensitive materials, a correctional officer must undergo drug testing to verify their drug-free status. Being aware of oneself and surroundings is vital to the safety of the correctional officer and any offender he or she may be responsible for at any point. This is especially true when he or she is in a position where they must use a weapon of any sort to maintain order.

Notice of pre-employment drug testing must be stated in the same literature describing the officer's duties. An appointment to drug test should be scheduled upon receiving an employment offer. Employability is determined by the results of the drug test. Applicants must receive a negative test result to become a correctional officer.

Download Physical Fitness Readiness

Step 3: Background Process

The Department of Corrections will not hire individuals who are found unsuitable for employment as a Corrections Officer based on background investigation of the individual.

Please be patience as your background is still pending. If you receive a letter in mail, please don't be discourage. You can re-apply again. If it has been over 3 weeks, please reach out to your assigned Recruiter for a Background Status Update.

Step 4: Medical & Eyes Examination

This step also includes a rigorous medical examination designed to evaluate your fitness. You will be given a cardiovascular stress test. The vision requirements state that your vision must be correctable to 20/20 BINOCULAR and no more than 20/125 uncorrected in each eye (most laser surgery correction are now acceptable). You must also have moderate color discrimination ability. The medical exam, including vision and physical test, must be passed before a Final Offer of Employment is given.

Prior to employment, a pre-hire candidate will be required to submit to a 2-step tuberculin (TB) skin test. Candidates having documentation of a negative TB test administered and read within 10 months prior to the offer of employment may provide this documentation and waive the 2-step TB skin test. Prior to employment, a pre-hire candidate will be required to submit to a Hepatitis Testing. Candidates must be offered the Hepatitis A and B vaccinations, at no cost to the individual, if administered by the health care provider.

The applicant must have at least 20/30 vision with or without correction. If only one eye is present or functional, the examining health care practitioner will determine if an applicant can perform the physical ability test, the firearms component, and the self-defense component at the training center safely. Color vision is not required for primary correctional positions. For positions requiring color vision (e.g., electricians), the applicant must pass an approved color vision test.

The applicant must be capable of hearing conversational voice, with or without a hearing aid, in at least one ear, as measured by normal findings in the decibel ranges of 500, 1000, and 2000. This determination is made via a hearing booth test that conforms to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) hearing conservation program standards.

The applicant must display mental and emotional stability. The examining health care practitioner evaluates mental and emotional stability based on an applicant’s history as well as a current examination.

Active diseases that are infectious and may be spread by routine means, such as handshakes, skin contact, and breathing, preclude an applicant from employment.

History of a disease, medical condition, or impairment cannot, solely on the basis of the existence of such disease, condition, or impairment, exclude an otherwise qualified applicant from consideration for employment. If the applicant is otherwise qualified and can, with or without reasonable accommodation, perform the essential functions of the position, the physical ability test, the firearms component, and the self-defense component at the STA safely, he/she will be considered for employment.

The clinic where all candidates will have to attends, they will administer a cardiovascular screening as a part of its pre-employment medical process for correctional officer candidates. The medical exams occur after a candidate has received a conditional offer of employment. The protocol used for the graded exercise test is the most well studied and widely used protocol designed for the motorized treadmill. The Bruce Protocol is a continuous graded exercise test which includes no rest between work stages and each stage of work is more difficult than the previous. This protocol is designed to elicit maximal levels of work for most individuals within a reasonable period of time, usually 8-15 minutes.

Welcome to
Nevada Department of Corrections

You are an official State of Nevada Employee. At this time, since you have met the initial requirements to become a Correctional Officer Trainee, you may be employed as a non-peace officer serving in various capacities at an institution until the start of the next available Corrections academy.

The Nevada Department of Corrections is committed to preparing cadets to become correctional officers and serve our communities by maintaining offenders in a safe and human condition while in custody, as well as the ongoing development and training of correctional officers to have a long and rewarding career in law enforcement.

All correctional officers are certified by the Nevada Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), which sets the minimum criteria for selection and training standards for Nevada law enforcement.

The academy provides basic and specialized training for NDOC correctional officers to better prepare them to accomplish the agency's mission of protecting the public, victims of crime, and agency staff by constantly seeking better ways to improve employee performance through training.

Welcome to NDOC P.OS.T. Academy

Congratulations on being selected to attend the Nevada Department of Corrections' Pre-Service Training Academy (PST).

The seven-week Academy is scheduled for June 5, 2023, to July 21, 2023. The Academy hours will be 6:45 AM-3:30 PM, Monday – Friday, except holidays. The Training Academy is located in Indian Springs, Nevada.

You are to wear your Class A Uniform, starting June 5th, including the tie, while in training, NO EXCEPTIONS! You will also need to have your BDU’s by week 4 of the academy. The academy uniform will be a Nevada Department of Corrections Long Sleeve Class "A" Uniform TO INCLUDE THE TIE, as specified in Administrative Regulation (AR) 350. Click here to download  the AR 350. NO blue will be allowed. Coats will be allowed (if needed for the weather) without holds attached.

Each cadet will need $500 to $1,500 to buy required uniforms, equipment/accessories, athletic gear, and school supplies. Once you graduate and report to your institution, you will be eligible to receive an annual uniform allowance of up to $2,000.

Academy Staff

Sergeant Gregory D. Carter

Academy Commander South

Office: (725) 216-6418 GCarter@doc.nv.gov

Roxanne Barajas

Employee Development Manager

Office: (725) 216-6922 RBarajas@doc.nv.gov

Senior Officer L. Gallo

Academy TAC Officer

Office: (725) 216-6458 LGallo@doc.nv.gov

Officer R. Varay

Academy TAC Officer

Office: (725) 216-6928 RVaray@doc.nv.gov