FAQ

• Education and Experience: High School Diploma
• Not less than 21 years old at the time of graduation from the academy.
• United States Citizenship –OR– permanent legal resident of the United States who is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces and who has applied to obtain United States Citizenship, and the application is still pending approval.
• Valid driver’s license.
• A comprehensive background investigation conducted by the MCPD.
• A written examination, scored interview, polygraph examination, and psychological and medical examinations.

Selected candidates must demonstrate the following:

• Vision: Corrected vision of 20/20 in each eye. Uncorrected vision of 20/40 in each eye for those who wear glasses or hard contact lenses. Those who wear soft contact lenses are not subject to the uncorrected vision requirement if they have successfully used soft contact lenses for at least six months.
• Color vision: Measured on a Farnsworth D-15 test.
• Hearing: An auditory examination will be conducted.
• Physical
  • Exercise capacity of 12 METS (10 min) measured on an exercise treadmill using BRUCE protocol with a maximum target heart rate of 90%, adjusted for age.
  • Abdominal stretch 27 inches measured from chin to wall while bending backward with hips strapped against the wall.
  • Standing long jump / Plyometrics– 73” minimum
  • Sit & reach stretch
  • Push-ups – 17
  • Sit-ups – 34
  • Other exercises or movements required by the Occupational Medical Services (OMS) to demonstrate fitness for duty

Hiring Bonus: $20,000

Montgomery County Government offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

1. 4-day work week for patrol officers
2. Permanent shift schedules
3. Differential pay for bilingual skills upon certification (average $4,160-$8,320 per year, based on fluency and hours worked)
4. Pay differential for evening and night shifts (average $4,160-$8,840 per year, based on shift hours worked)
5. Paid Holidays, Accrued Sick, Annual, and Compensatory Leave
6. Take-home car program 
7. Property Tax Credit: $2,500 for Montgomery County Residents
8. All uniforms supplied, including cleaning and alteration
9. All leather goods supplied, including boots and shoes
10. Liberal 25-year retirement plan/deferred compensation plan
11. Paid leave to attend military training (25 days per year)
12. Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and prescription drug plans
13. Medical catastrophe benefits
14. Employee assistance programs
15. Professional improvement leave
16. Workers’ compensation insurance
17. College tuition assistance for continuing education
18. Promotional opportunities
19. Extensive in-service training and specialized career opportunities
20. Credit union membership

Foreign Secondary and Post-Secondary Education Evaluation

For Police Officer Candidate (POC) and Professional Staff Applicants:

Applicants for employment with the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) who have completed secondary or post-secondary education outside the United States must provide documentation demonstrating that their education meets the minimum qualifications for the position. This requirement applies to foreign diplomas, degrees, or coursework from institutions not accredited in the U.S.

In accordance with:

• COMAR 12.04.01.04C(1)–(2) (Police Officer Selection Standards), and
• Maryland State Department of Education official guidance on foreign transcript evaluation, the following procedures apply:

1. Foreign Secondary (High School) Education

Applicants may validate their foreign high school diploma or equivalent by obtaining a course-by-course evaluation using original documents from an authorized foreign transcript evaluation agency.

• The evaluation must determine the comparability of the foreign credential to a U.S. high school diploma.
• Agencies must be:
  • Approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), or
  • Members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE).

A list of MSDE-approved agencies is available at: https://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Pages/DEE/Certification/Foreign-Transcript-Evaluation-Agencies.aspx

2. Foreign Post-Secondary (College) Degrees and Coursework

Applicants may validate their foreign post-secondary education using one of the following methods:

a. U.S. College Transcript Integration

• If the foreign coursework has been accepted and applied toward a degree by a U.S. accredited college or university, the applicant may submit an official transcript from that U.S. institution.
• The transcript must:
  • Clearly indicate the foreign coursework accepted, and
  • Be sent directly from the U.S. institution to MCPD at:
    policebackgrounds@montgomerycountymd.gov
  • Or mailed to:
    MCPD Background Investigations Unit
    100 Edison Park Drive, 3rd Fl, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
• The U.S. institution must be listed on the U.S. Department of Education’s database of accredited institutions: https://www.ed.gov/accreditation.

b. Independent Credential Evaluation

If no U.S. institution has accepted the foreign coursework, the applicant must obtain a course-by-course evaluation using original documents from an authorized foreign transcript evaluation agency (as described above).

Important Notes

• All costs and fees associated with transcript evaluation are the sole responsibility of the applicant and are not reimbursable by MCPD or Montgomery County Government.
• An authorized evaluation does not guarantee appointment to the position.