Florida Police Officer Written Exam Online Preparation and Tips – 2024
Floridian residents wishing to become a police officer will undergo a rigorous hiring process that may include one or more written exams. How well you score on each of these exams will undoubtedly determine your future as a Florida Police Officer. Learn how to achieve a high score on the Florida Police Officer Written Exam by following this article’s expert advice.
What Is the Florida Police Officer Hiring Process?
In order to become a law enforcement officer in the state of Florida (FL), future candidates need to apply on the Florida state website and verify that they meet the minimum requirements. If you are deemed a qualified candidate, you will be asked to complete a Basic Abilities Test, also referred to as BAT. Successful completion of the BAT will result in an invitation to complete the State Officer Certification Exam, also referred to as SOCE. If you meet all of the qualifications mentioned above, you may be recruited into a Florida police department as a law enforcement officer.
What Is the Florida Police Officer Written Exam?
When you apply for a police officer position, you should always verify the requirements for the city that you are applying in. Each police department in the state of Florida will have their own testing and hiring requirements. However, Florida police departments generally require their candidates to complete and pass the following two police officer written exams.
Criminal Justice Basic Abilities Test (CJBAT)
The Criminal Justice Basic Abilities Test, also referred to as CJBAT, is the written exam used by Florida police departments. Starting in 2019, all other basic ability tests were discontinued, and only the CJBAT remains. The CJBAT is published by I/O Solutions and is a multiple-choice test consisting of 125 questions. Each of these questions will cover three essential abilities that all future police officers must possess, including reasoning, language, and visualization abilities. Candidates will only have 2.5 hours to complete the entire exam and will need to answer questions from the following ten subsections accurately:
It is important to note that each candidate will be required to earn a minimum score of 79%, and the results from this exam are valid for up to 4 years. However, candidates that do not pass the exam the first time will only have three chances within a 12-month period. After the third failure, candidates will have to wait to retake the exam.
State Officer Certification Examination (SOCE)
Job seekers in Florida looking to become law enforcement officers, correctional probation officers, or correctional officers will need to complete the SOCE qualification. This test is usually taken after completing the Basic Abilities Test, such as the CJBAT. The SOCE is a written exam that is administered online through Pearson VUE. The testing material will cover basic topics and situations that normal Florida police officers encounter on a daily basis. Each topic area will depend on the exact position you are applying for. The topics could include the following subsections:
- Interviewing and Report Writing
- Criminal Investigations
- Fundamentals of Patrol
- Interactions in a Diverse Community
- Crime Scene Procedures
- Courtroom Procedures
- Professional Communication
- Other Law Enforcement Concepts
Additionally, four different types of SOCE assessments will be administered based on the position. Refer to the following chart to learn about the number of questions you may be asked and each test’s time limits.
| SOCE Discipline |
Total Questions |
Graded Questions |
Minimum Passing Score |
Time Limit |
| Law Enforcement – FLEA |
200 |
190 |
152 |
3 hours |
| Law Enforcement Auxiliary |
110 |
100 |
80 |
1.5 hours |
| Correctional Probation – FCPO |
200 |
190 |
156 |
3 hours |
| Corrections – CMS |
200 |
190 |
152 |
3 hours |
Other Florida Police Officer Written Exams by City or Position
As previously mentioned, each police officer position will have their own prerequisites and requirements. The largest police departments in Florida, including the Miami-Dade and Tampa Police Departments, typically use the CJBAT assessment. The following police departments and law enforcement positions also use the CJBAT assessment:
- Belleair Police Department
- Cape Coral Police Department
- Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office
- Daytona Beach Police Department
- Fort Lauderdale Police Department
- Fort Meyers Police Department
- Fort Walton Beach Police Department
- Gainesville Police Department
- Hollywood Police Department
- Jacksonville Police Department
- Key West Police Department
- Largo Police Department
- Miami Beach Police Department
- Miami-Dade County Police Department
- Orange County Police Department
- Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office
- Pensacola Police Department
- Polk County Sheriff’s Office
- Tallahassee Police Department
- Tampa Police Department
How to Prepare for the Florida Police Officer Written Exam?
Future Florida police officers need to be prepared to take two different exams that cover entirely different topics. These exams are designed to test the basic knowledge and skills of the test takers to ensure that each police department only hires the best of the best. You need to make sure that you are a competitive candidate by preparing for the Florida Police Officer Written Exams. This is accomplished by becoming familiar with the test questions using free online material, such as sample questions and study guides. It is also beneficial to prepare with practice exams that include example questions. Candidates can significantly benefit from using practice exams that include similar questions from the actual police officer exams. Practice exams offer test takers the flexibility to retake the test as many times as necessary, so that the test taker can repeatedly practice any sections they find especially difficult. Keep in mind that candidates can only take the written exam three times before they are forced to wait. Practice with the best preparation methods to ensure you pass the Florida Police Officer Written Exam the first time.
