Protective service officer recruits

Eligibility

To be eligible to become a PSO with us, you must:

• be aged 18 years or over
• be an Australian citizen
• hold a valid full or provisional driver's licence (including automatic-only)
• be able to obtain a Negative Vetting 1 Security Clearance
• meet our character standards
• hold at least one of the following qualifications:

  • Year 10 Certificate and 2 years of work experience

  • Year 10 Certificate and a nationally recognised vocational education qualification at Certificate III level or higher

  • Year 12 Certificate

  • vocational education (TAFE) qualification or university qualification at Diploma level or higher.

You must also provide evidence that you:

• have had 2 primary doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine or one dose of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine at the time of application (immunisation history statement or COVID-19 digital certificate is required)
• hold current first aid and CPR certifications
• can swim 100 m freestyle.

Your first step is to register your interest by applying through our Jobs portal.

If you pass this gateway, you'll receive an email invitation to take the entrance exam.

Take the entrance exam

The entrance exam will test your cognitive ability and emotional intelligence.

We usually hold entrance exams 4 times a year, in a supervised environment, in different places around Australia. The available times and dates for your exam will be included with your invitation.

As part of the exam, you'll complete 5 tests. You must meet the minimum score in each test to pass this gateway.

• The literacy skills test has 30 written and multiple-choice questions, and a 35-minute time limit.
• The numeracy skills test has 30 written and multiple-choice questions, and a 35-minute time limit.
• The abstract reasoning test has 30 multiple-choice questions, and a 30-minute time limit.
• The writing ability test has one extended writing question, and a 35-minute time limit.
• The emotional intelligence test has 141 multiple-choice questions, and is untimed.

If you don't pass a test (other than the emotional intelligence test) you'll be given one opportunity to take the test again. If you don't pass the emotional intelligence test, you'll have to wait 12 months before you can take it again.

The tests are administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). To help you prepare for your exam, ACER has prepared:

A range of information about the exam

Free and paid testing resources.

Complete your fitness assessment

If you pass your entrance exam, you'll be invited to complete the Entry Physical Competency Assessment (EPCA). The invitation will be sent to your email address.

Fitness testing is held around Australia at various times and places. The available dates, times and locations will be sent with your invitation.

If you pass all gateways, you'll also complete a Physical Competency Assessment (PCA) at the AFP College. 

The PCA is different to the EPCA. If you pass the EPCA we suggest you start preparing for the PCA by following the AFP Pre-course Fitness Program.

Preparing for the Entry Physical Competency Assessment

To pass the EPCA, you must complete 3 different exercises to a set standard.

Phased sit-ups

To complete this exercise successfully, you must perform one valid sit-up at 4 different stages, in order. At each stage the sit-up increases in difficulty. You can attempt each stage up to 2 times.

For sit-ups to be valid, you must:

• start the sit-up with your back flat on the floor
• keep your knees at a 90-degree angle throughout the movement
• keep both feet in contact with the ground at all times
• keep both of your arms in contact with your body at all times
• maintain control, without using the momentum of your body.

Stage 1

• Start with your arms outstretched, with your hands on your thighs.
• Sit up to the point that your fingertips reach the top of your knees.

Stage 2

• Start with your arms outstretched, with your hands on your thighs.
• Sit up to the point that your elbows reach the top of your knees, with arms outstretched.

Stage 3

• Start with your arms folded on your abdomen, with your hands gripping each opposite elbow.
• Sit up to the point that your chest touches your thighs, and your arms pass over your knees.

Stage 4

• Start with your arms crossed over your chest, with your hands resting on your shoulders.
• Sit up to the point that your chest touches your thighs, and your arms pass over your knees.

Watch our video on sit-up standards.

Push-ups

Applicants who identify as:

• male must perform 15 valid push-ups
• female must perform 8 valid push-ups
• gender X must perform a number of valid push-ups as determined on a case-by-case basis and following discussion with the applicant.

For push-ups to be valid, you must:

• complete all required push-ups in 60 seconds
• maintain correct form, and adjust your form if asked
• limit rest (at the top of the push-up) to no more than 3 seconds
• begin with your body raised in a plank position, with your hands in line with your shoulders, your arms straight, and your toes on the floor
• lower your body to within 5 cm of the floor, with your arms at a 90-degree angle
• maintain a straight line through your body (from shoulders to heels) throughout the push-up
• return to the start position, with your elbows straight.

Watch our video on push-up standards.

Beep test

You must reach Level 6.5 on the beep test:

• you'll get one attempt at the beep test
• you can receive up to 2 warnings during the test
• if you receive a third warning, your test will be over.

You'll receive a warning if you:

• start running or cross the marker before the relevant 'beep'
• don't reach the mark (with your leading foot) before or on the relevant 'beep'
• run a loop at the end of the turn (instead of turning around directly)
• step in front of another applicant.

Watch our video on beep test standards.

Submit your detailed application

To pass this gateway, you'll have to supply us with more detailed information about you, your character, and your background. You'll also need to provide evidence that you can swim 100 m freestyle non-stop and unaided.

You might also be asked to attend a video interview, to help us learn more about why you'd like to join us.

Employment Suitability Questionnaire and traffic history

The Employment Suitability Questionnaire helps us understand your character.

Along with your traffic history, we use it to assess whether you meet our character standards.

You'll be asked a series of questions, including whether you have:

• any criminal history or prior convictions (at any age)
• any associations with people or groups who are well-known to law enforcement
• spent any significant periods of time overseas
• travelled regularly to places of interest to the AFP.

You'll also have to provide us with a traffic history from any place you have held a valid driver's licence. This includes any licence you've held overseas. Your traffic history must cover your entire driving history. You must have obtained a copy of your traffic history no more than 3 months before the date you submit it to us.

If you don't pass this gateway you won't receive feedback. The decision is final, and there are no internal reviews.

If you do pass this gateway, you'll be invited to attend the Assessment Centre.

Attend the Assessment Centre

The Assessment Centre is an assessment environment that may be held in person, online or a mix of both. You'll be advised in advance which format yours will be.

You’ll take part in team-based activities, scenarios, and an interview. You’ll be assessed by AFP staff including police officers and protective service officers.

If you're attending the Assessment Centre online, you can join on your computer, or a computer you have access to, from a quiet and private location such as your home. The computer you use should be equipped with a video camera, microphone and internet connection.

A member of the recruitment team will contact you if you pass this gateway. It's the last major assessment before you're offered employment with us.

Undergo a security assessment

The AFP Personnel Security Vetting Team will look at your past, going back at least 10 years. They'll assess:

• your employment, residential, financial and personal history
• any history of disregarding the law
• any significant periods you've spent living in foreign countries
• regular travel abroad to regions of interest.

The team will also conduct a security assessment on your partner, if you have one.

As part of this process you will be asked to provide fingerprint and palm print biometric data. This will be compared to existing biometric records within the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System, which is managed by the Australian Crime and Intelligence Commission.

Undergo a health assessment

This gateway has 3 parts:

1. Meeting physical standards
2. Evaluating medical conditions
3. Meeting psychological standards.

Meeting physical standards

You will have an appointment with our contracted health service providers. A medical professional will confirm that you meet these standards:

• monocular visual acuity of 6/9 or better in each eye (glasses or contact lenses can be worn)
• binocular visual acuity of 6/9 or better (glasses or contact lenses can be worn)
• unaided (no glasses or contact lenses) binocular visual acuity of 6/36 or better
• near vision N8, aided or unaided
• hearing level averaging 25dB or less between 0.5kHz and 3kHz in both the left and right ear without a hearing aid
• hearing level of 40dB or less at 4.0kHz in either ear without a hearing aid.

Evaluating medical conditions

Our contracted health service providers will assess any medical condition that you have. They will confirm whether you can complete the job safely and effectively. They may need you to provide reports from specialists, which you'll need to supply at your own expense.

You're unlikely to meet the medical standards if you have:

• an unreconstructed shoulder following dislocation (an MRI or MRA scan is likely to be required)
• unreconstructed anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
• epilepsy, unless you meet the requirements for an unrestricted commercial driver's licence
• bleeding disorders, clotting disorders and/or current treatment with anticoagulants.

Conditions we evaluate

These are some of the medical conditions that we consider on a case-by-case basis. The final decision about any medical condition will be made by the AFP Chief Medical Officer.

Vision

• Colour deficiency
• History of retinal detachment, glaucoma, radical keratotomy, full thickness corneal transplant or acute keratotomy

Musculoskeletal conditions

• Shoulder subluxation (an MRI may be required)
• Clinically evident osteoarthritis of the knee (X-ray changes and effusion)
• Shin splints or compartment syndrome
• Clinical signs of a lumbar nerve root (straight leg raise limitation less than 40 degrees)
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Chondromalacia, patella dislocation or tracking disorder, cruciate ligament repair or meniscectomy
• Prior joint surgery or joint replacement surgery
• Back pain and/or injury
• Lumbar spine fusion
• Poor muscular development, abnormal gait and limitation of movement of a joint

Respiratory

• Asthma (supporting reports will be required)
• Chronic obstructive airways disease, chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis
• Cystic fibrosis
• Recurrent pneumothorax

Neurological

• Migraines and cluster headaches
• Organic disease of the nervous system

Endocrine

• Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
• Thyroid disorders

Cardiovascular

• Systolic blood pressure over 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure over 90 mmHg
• Organic disease of the heart or arteries
• A history of deep vein thrombosis

Gastroenterological

• Liver disease
• Hernia
• Irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis

Other

• Organic disease of the bladder or kidney
• Current chronic fatigue
• Leukaemia, polycythaemia or myelofibrosis
• Bleeding disorders, clotting disorders or current treatment with anticoagulants
• HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C
• Some chronic skin conditions
• Narcolepsy or sleep apnoea
• BMI greater than 33 or lower than 18.5
• Tinnitus
• Cancer
• Any condition that results in a 'conditional' driver's licence under Assessing fitness to drive for commercial and private vehicle drivers – Medical standards for licensing and clinical management guidelines (2022 edition).

Meeting psychological standards

You will need to demonstrate your psychological and emotional resilience through psychological testing and a face-to-face interview with a registered psychologist. As long as your personal circumstances don't change, the results of this assessment are valid for 12 months.

You will be assessed on your strengths in these areas:

• teamwork
• emotional self-control
• conflict resolution
• decision-making under stress
• ability to understand other people's behaviour.

You will also be asked about any current or past psychological or psychiatric conditions. The absence of current or past conditions doesn't guarantee that you will pass this gateway.

If you're neurodivergent or are a person with learning disability you may need to go through additional assessments.

Existing conditions

If you have a prior diagnosis or history of a psychological or psychiatric condition, you will be asked to provide relevant information. This includes if you have been treated for these conditions with therapy or medication.

You will not pass this gateway if you:

• have a condition such as bipolar disorder, major depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders or other diagnosis that has led to psychiatric hospitalisation or has required treatment
• are currently taking any form of prescription psychotropic medication (prescription medication that can affect your mind, emotions or behaviour) such as sertraline (commonly sold as Zoloft), citalopram (Cipramian, Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), duloxetine (Cymbalta), mirtazapine, venlafaxine (Effexor), and diazepam (Valium).

If you decide to stop taking psychotropic medications, you must do this in consultation with a registered medical practitioner. The medical practitioner must also supervise your withdrawal. They'll have to give us written evidence that you have successfully withdrawn from medication and have been symptom-free for at least 12 months.

Successful withdrawal from psychotropic medication does not guarantee that you will clear this gateway.