UTPD commissioned police officers are our most publicly visible representatives of the department and are dispatched by police communications operators by radio.
As the primary responsibility of this division, UT Austin officers are on constant patrol of the campus to prevent crime, to preserve the peace, and to protect life and property by enforcing Texas state laws and UT System rules and regulations.
UTPD officers patrol the campus by car, bicycle and on foot. Uniformed police officers provide safety to students living in campus housing by monitoring residents’ late-entry access, checking exterior doors and patrolling halls.
For any recruiting questions, call 512-232-9655 to speak directly to one of our recruiting specialists or email us at joinutpd@austin.utexas.edu
- Job description from UT System (PDF)
- Apply now for a cadet position
Starting Salary
- Cadets — $46,000/year
- First year Officer — $68,626/year
- TCOLE Commissioned Police Officer — $68,626 plus one year of service credit for every four years of prior law enforcement experience
Supplemental Pay
Officers may be entitled to an education or peace officer certificate supplemental pay:
Certificate
- Intermediate Peace Officer Pay $600 annually
- Advance Peace Officer Pay $1,200 annually
- Master Peace Officer Pay $1,800 annually
Degree
- Associate Degree $600 annually
- Bachelor’s Degree $1,200 annually
- Master’s Degree $1,800 annually
Other Supplemental Pay (eligibility requirements)
- Field Training Officer (FTO) up to $400/monthly while actively training a PPO
- Shift Differential
- $175/monthly for Evening Shift
- $275/monthly for Night Shift
- Bilingual (Spanish/English) $75/monthly
- Hazardous Duty Pay
Requirements
Employment requirements are available from UT System. Click Cadet (PDF) or Lateral (PDF) for more information. The following is a summary:
Education Requirements
- Cadet Position: high school diploma or GED
- Police Officer Position: high school diploma or GED and possess a TCOLE Peace Officer License; If you were not commissioned in the state of Texas you will need to be licensed with TCOLE
- Preferred: 60 college hours from an accredited college or university
Health and Physical Requirements
- Age 21 on commission date
- Vision correctable to 20/30; uncorrected cannot be greater than 20/200
- Able to hear conversation from at least 15 feet
- Able to pass the physical fitness test including weight lift, stair climb, and obstacle course
See the Physical Agility Test description (DOCX) from UT System for details.
Additional Requirements
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- No felony convictions
- No DWI or DUI convictions within the past 10 years
- No Class B misdemeanor convictions within the past 10 years
- Not currently on probation for any criminal offense above a Class C misdemeanor
- No convictions, court-ordered community supervision, or probation for any Class B or above criminal offense
- Acceptable driving record and eligible to operate a university-owned vehicle in accordance with UTS 157.
Ineligibility
An applicant who falls into any of the following categories is ineligible to be licensed and will not be considered:
- Currently charged with or under indictment for any criminal offense
- Any convictions for family violence offense
- Prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition
- Had a TCOLE license denied by final order or revoked; had a voluntary surrender of a TCOLE license currently in effect; or have not violated any TCOLE rules or provisions of the Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1701
- Terminated, asked to resign, or resigned from any previous employment for engaging in inappropriate or unlawful behavior, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
- Separated from any law enforcement commission/position, recruit position within a law enforcement agency, or any position within a city, county, state, federal or private corrections institution by:
- Termination due to excessive or serious disciplinary reasons;
- Resignation to avoid suspension or termination;
- Resignation during a disciplinary investigation that did not reach a final disposition;
- Termination for untruthfulness; or
- Termination for insubordination
- Illegally sold, produced, cultivated or transported for sale marijuana or any other substance or drugs listed in the federal or Texas Controlled Substances Acts
- Used marijuana anytime in the past 36 months preceding application date
- Habitually used marijuana during the five years preceding application date
- Used amphetamines, methamphetamines, cocaine, opium, barbiturates, heroin, morphine, ecstasy, Eve, anabolic steroids, LSD, PCP or psilocybin within the past five years
- Separated from any law enforcement commission/position, recruit position within a law enforcement agency, or any position within a city, county, state, federal or private corrections institution by:
For other possible drug disqualifiers contact UTPD Recruiting.
Application Process
The selection process is composed of phases in which a series of tests and examinations, integral to the background investigations, are administered. A rigorous and challenging selection process will identify those individuals best qualified for employment with this department.
* indicates order may be changed due to scheduling.
- Phase 1 — Application for employment and resumé posting on UT Austin Job Search
- Phase 2 — Tests
- Written examination (Cadet and communication operator applicants only)
- Physical fitness test (Cadets and TCOLE Commissioned Peace Officers)
- Firearm qualification (TCOLE Commissioned Peace Officers)
- Phase 3 — Police Application Packet (Cadets and TCOLE Commissioned Peace Officers)
- Personal History Statement
- Pre-Employment Polygraph Questionnaire
- Conditional Offer of Employment
- Phase 4 — Oral Interview Board
- Phase 5 — Background Investigation
- Phase 6 — Polygraph Examination *
- Phase 7 — Medical Test and Drug Screen
- Extended physical
- Vision examination
- Phase 8 — Psychological exam *
The University of Texas at Austin is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, citizenship status, Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran's status, or sexual orientation. This is not a contract expressed or implied. Benefits subject to change without notice. We are not responsible for errors or changes.
