Questions

[Fuller]

I have a few questions about becoming a CHP Officer:

1. I have just begun the application process, and will begin testing in Dec. Can somebody lay out the time frame I am looking at should I make it through the entire process and be accepted into the academy? I've heard the next academy starts in March, would it be realistic to assume this would be my start date at the academy should I be fortunate enough to be accepted? Or does it take longer?

2. It happens to be that I currently have a job that has relocated me to Hawaii (Bad timing for considering a career change to the CHP). This is where I am applying from. What would be your advice to someone in a position like mine who is very interested in the CHP, but also has a (out of state) job at the present time. In other words, when is it time to resign and get serious about the academy?

3. Lastly, tell me about the job, what's it like, why do you like it, etc? What are the rewards, what are the down sides? I would appreciate anyones input. And also, what are the areas that most officers get assigned to after graduation? SF, LA I know, does Sacramento area usually have many openings as a starting point?

Sorry so long, thank you in advance.

[retchp]

Fuller, just poke around in and watch this site and all or most of your questions will be answered over time. As to your Sacramento request out of the Academy let me put it to you this way. All offices are staffed by seniority. It is easier to move around now than when I came on, but when I left the Academy I was number 113 for Sacramento and number 87 for Solano area. It took me 9 years to get back to Sac.
I think you can get there in less time now though.

[ResQ]

In my class there are folks who have been in the process for 4.5 years and those that have been in 6-8 months...totally depends. The short ones are only 4-5 out of 75 who had more than 1 year to wait from the initial test.

[Fuller]

Thanks for the responses. I have learned a lot just from reading the various posts from everyone. Are there ever any openings in the Northern Division?

[KingFrankSam]

One of my classmates got Clear Lake right out of the Academy, but that is VERY rare.