Final Bckgrnd Int Just Scheduled...What's Next?

[resipsa]

Hello,

First of all, thank you for having this open forum where applicants and their family members can obtain salient information about the CHP, including the hiring process and what it's like to be a member of the Organization.

For the past few months, my application for Cadet has been in the background investigation phase of the hiring process. Last week my background invesitgator scheduled a final interview with me in two weeks at an area office. My B.I. has indicated to me that my background went very well and will be pushing to get me into the March 6th Academy.

I would like to know what I should expect at my final interview, and what phases are next for me in the upcoming 7 weeks. Could anyone, officer or applicant, please advise me on my situation? Additionally, I have been told that I will most likely have to undergo an oral psychological live interview and a state medical exam......does anyone know the timeframes for these two phases?

Thank you very much.

[TheForceCHP]

sorry i don't have the answers for you, but i am interested in what others have to say!

how long did BI take since you had your QAP?

[resipsa]

After my PAT/Written Psych/QAP weekend, it took about 2 months for me to receive my CHP Form 441 Conditional Commitment Letter (I had already completed and turned in my Personal History Statement within 2 weeks after my QAP). I completed and mailed back my Form 441 that week.

Next I waited to be contacted by phone from my B.I., which took another 2 months after I mailed back my Form 441 (for a running total of approx. 4 months since my QAP). However, during those 2 months I was waiting for that initial direct phone contact, my background investigation was already taking place. My references and neighbors had notified me that they already received reference inquiries from the CHP.

Next my B.I. scheduled an intial background investigation meeting at my home. My CVSA (Computer Voice Stress Analyzer) took place 2 weeks after my initial at-home meeting (for a running total of approx. 5 months since my QAP).

Approx. 1 month later (last week) my B.I. called to inform me that my background investigation was complete and my last meeting was scheduled for later this month (for a running total of approx. 7 months since my QAP).

This process has taught me that patience is truly a useful virtue! Perserverance through this lengthly, but necessary process will build character and give you time to prepare physically for the arduous challenge ahead. I can appreciate that many applicants are curious about the timeframes of different hiring phases - as am I. However, a caveat is that each applicant's situation is different and can yield very different timeframes. Last year in 2005, I had a friend complete the background investigation process in 3 months versus the 5 months mine took (and I had very few records to check in my background). I am happy to say that this friend recently graduated the Academy and is now an Officer.

Good luck to all in the process and thanks in advance for anyone who can help answer my questions in my initial post on 01/16/06 at 1133.

[Dipmo]

Congrats on getting this far. Do a search for a member here named "Nellie" he detailed his final processing steps just before he went to the November academy. I won't try to answer as i am still waiting for my QAP score.

Good luck the rest of the way.

[Dipmo]

Here's the thread with Nellie's details

http://www.chpforums.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=15

[resipsa]

Dipmo, that thread was very helpful. Thanks for the direct url link to it!

[stateboy]

Resipsa, congrads on making through the process thus far...

Have you had the sit-down with the Psych or the medical exam yet? (Sorry if I missed that in one of your posts)

[resipsa]

Thanks stateboy. No, I have not had the live sit-down oral interview with a Psychologist yet, nor have I had a full medical exam (just the vision exam I passed at the PAT). I have my final background interview with my B.I. next week who indicated that everything went fine. Since you have already gone through these last phases already, could you please tell me what the timeframes, procedural steps, and what the "to expect's" are for the final B.I. interview, the oral psych, and the medical exam?

Does the Cadet Hiring Unit usually give most applicants at least two weeks notice when extending a final offer to attend the Academy? I want to be able to extend a minumum 2-week courtesy notice of my resignation to my current company, if at all possible.......which for the March 6th Academy means by mid-February (5-7 weeks away).

[Soon2BCHP]

Congrats bro!! Very nice. I'm still waiting. It's been like 3 weeks since I dropped off my PHS so thanks for the insight of the time frame. which that just answered my question that i posted before this. I hope all goes well for you bro. and I have no doubts that you will make that academy!! Good Luck.

[CaliforniaHighwayPatrol]

Looks like almost a year process from start to finish.

[resipsa]

UPDATE:
I completed my final background interview last week and was told by my background investigator that I am being recommended to move on in the process. I scheduled my medical exam the next day (after receiving the info sheet at my final interview) and I have now completed a full medical exam today. It took less than one week after my final interview to complete my medical exam. The exam itself was very thorough and took about two hours. It included vision tests, bloodwork, x-rays, EKG, drug testing, TB testing, and more.

Next, I have to wait for the results on my medical exam to be reviewed by the Clinic doctor, then forwarded and reviewed by CHP's own medical staff. If all goes well I will have one last phase - the oral psych interview.

FYI:
I was informed by my background investigator that the March 6th Academy (CTC I-06) will be approx. 90 cadets, even though they wanted 120, and had approval for 140. Perhaps CTC II-06 (slated to begin in late May/early June) will have at least 120 cadets. Good luck to all in the process - stay positive and remember, patience is a virtue!

[TheForceCHP]

great news!!! keep us updated

[SinnerForgivn]

Is it during your final interview that the voice stress analysis occurs? I started my background process approximately one week ago, but was told by my BI that a rush would be put on it (and try to get it done within two weeks) because there are still openings in the March academy. I was told that if all goes well there was a very good chance that I'll be able to make it. But, just wondering about what the next step in the BI is...I'm expecting to have my final interview within the next four-five days, so was just wondering if anyone could tell me what to expect. Thanks a ton for your help! Also, on a separate note, I didn't pass my vision test at the PAT and so (of course) am expecting to have a vision test at the medical exam. However, I don't have to worry about the vision test being done on overhead projectors again do I? My doctor was not too happy when he found out that I failed it (since he'd tested my vision to 20/20 a week before the PAT) and then was even more upset to find out that I failed based off results from an overhead projector. So, just wanted to make sure that I'd be looking at an actual eye chart this time. ~Thanks again!!

[resipsa]

Actually, your Background Investigator is the one to tell you when he/she will forward your name to the CVSA staff so that they can schedule the CVSA meeting. Your B.I. is not there when another staff member takes your CVSA. The results of your CVSA have to be forwarded back to your B.I. before he/she even schedules your final interview. After my initial background investigation meeting at my home, it took about one month before I completed my CVSA, and then one more month passed before my B.I. called me to schedule my final interview to be held at a CHP facility.

About the vision tests, it depends on what medical facility you go to for your state medical exam, but most have you read off of regular eye charts. Good luck!

[resipsa]

FYI from http://www.chp.ca.gov/recruiting/html/oqualifications.html

Minimum Qualifications for Cadet, CHP

Vision:
The candidate must read from a standard Eye Test chart. If eyeglasses or hard contact lenses are worn, uncorrected vision must be no less than 20/40 in each eye and corrected to 20/20 in each eye. Applicants who have successfully worn soft contact lenses for the past 12 months are not required to meet an uncorrected standard, as long as their corrected vision is 20/20 in each eye. Normal color vision is required as assessed by the Farnsworth-Munsell D-15 test. An X-Chrom Lens is prohibited.

[CHP1]

DOES THE CHP GIVE THE POLYGRAPH TEST AND THE VOICE STRESS TEST?

[SinnerForgivn]

FYI from http://www.chp.ca.gov/recruiting/html/oqualifications.html

Minimum Qualifications for Cadet, CHP

Vision:
The candidate must read from a standard Eye Test chart. If eyeglasses or hard contact lenses are worn, uncorrected vision must be no less than 20/40 in each eye and corrected to 20/20 in each eye. Applicants who have successfully worn soft contact lenses for the past 12 months are not required to meet an uncorrected standard, as long as their corrected vision is 20/20 in each eye. Normal color vision is required as assessed by the Farnsworth-Munsell D-15 test. An X-Chrom Lens is prohibited.
I'd already read this off of the CHP website and so knew that it would be required that I have 20/20 vision with my contacts in. However, the whole overhead projector thing threw me off at the PAT...I'd passed a vision test for 20/20 about a week prior, but the lighting was horrible (as normal on an overhead projector). So, I just wanted to make sure that I wouldn't have to worry about an overhead projector again at the actual medical exam (seeing as how I failed it the first time at the PAT on the overhead projector).

[AceRock]

Are we to mail in the personal history statement within two weeks after our QAP? I thought we are only to fill it out and return it once we are givin' a commitment to hire notice. Any help would be nice. I am almost scared to ask them since they made it clear that they are so busy.

[CHP1]

HELLO,

YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO WAIT FOR THAT COMMITMENT TO HIRE LETTER. AFTER YOU RECEIVE THAT LETTER YOU HAVE TWO WEEKS TO SEND OUT YOUR PHS. HOPE THIS HELPS:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

[K-Lo]

Acerock. It is 2 weeks like CHP1 said. Just remember that it is 2 weeks from the date the commitment to hire letter is dated not 2 weeks from the day you receive it. Good luck to you.

[SinnerForgivn]

Hey everyone...so I just talked to my background investigator about an hour ago. I was told that my investigation would be pushed through in about two weeks, and that is exactly what has happened. Although when I received the phone call I was asked to come in and have another interview...is that normal? I'm just wondering about the voice stress analysis test. Will my appointment to take the polygraph be set up during this next interview (when I talk with my background investigator) and then on top of that I'll have a final exit interview? Any knowledge on this would be helpful...stress level always shoots through the roof when I think about this stuff. Thanks.

[AceRock]

Thanks for the help. I already started gathering documents and filling out the forms just in case I make it to the next step.

[dw]

Hey everyone...so I just talked to my background investigator about an hour ago. I was told that my investigation would be pushed through in about two weeks, and that is exactly what has happened. Although when I received the phone call I was asked to come in and have another interview...is that normal? I'm just wondering about the voice stress analysis test. Will my appointment to take the polygraph be set up during this next interview (when I talk with my background investigator) and then on top of that I'll have a final exit interview? Any knowledge on this would be helpful...stress level always shoots through the roof when I think about this stuff. Thanks.

Your BI will schedule the CVSA and then you will have a final interview as well.

[SinnerForgivn]

Thanks DW...nerves are always on edge right now...so close to being done with the hiring process, and yet at the same time I don't want to "count my chickens before they're hatched." So, good to know what's coming. Thanks again!

[resipsa]

UPDATE:
My medical exam paperwork was cleared in approximately three weeks. The State Personnel Board approved me for the last phase - the Psych Interview. Recently, I scheduled my Psych Interview for the next available date and time, which isn't until next week.

Does anyone know about the average duration of a Psych Interview - 30 mins, 45 mins, 75 mins? Also, any insights about what is covered in the Psych Interview and other misc advice would be greatly appreciated!

[webby]

I just took mine last week, the Doc said a min. of 45 mins. Which was exactly how long mine was.;)