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SCRANTON, CITY OF 100 S. WASHINGTON AVENUE SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA 18503 570-348-4130 https://www.scrantonpa.gov
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Bookmark: http://nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs/fullJobDetails.cfm?agencyjobid=2367&jobid=1&agentid=1303
Updated: November 20, 2025
The Scranton Civil Service Commission for the City of Scranton (“Commission”) hereby announces the commencement of testing for the position of Patrol Officer with the Scranton Police Department.
The first step of the testing process is the initial examination which will be administered through National Testing Network (“NTN”). To register with NTN and schedule a test, go to www.nationaltestingnetwork.com, select ‘Find Jobs’, then select Law Enforcement Jobs and sign up for The Scranton Police Department. The first date for the enrollment is Saturday, November 15, 2025. The closing date for this testing period is Saturday, February 28, 2026.
When you visit the www.nationaltestingnetwork.com website:
Complete the NTN registration process and schedule your test.
Review all information related to the Scranton Police Patrol Officer, including minimum requirements, salary, and benefits.
Review detailed information about the testing process.
Review the Frequently Asked Questions and take an online practice test (if desired).
National Testing Network (NTN) is an independent company that the City of Scranton uses to conduct standardized, online testing. The online NTN test is competitive. There are five (5) parts to the online NTN test: Video, Writing, Reading, Public Safety Self-Assessment Part 1 (PSSA Part 1), and Public Safety Self-Assessment (PSSA).
You must score a minimum of seventy (70) percent on both the "Writing" part of the test and the "Reading" part of the test to be eligible for the next steps of the testing and application process.
You must also score a minimum of seventy (70) percent on the average of the Video part of the test and the Public Safety Self-Assessment (PSSA) part of the test to pass the test. This average is your "Weighted Score." Your "Weighted Score" is the average of your "Video Score" and the "PSSA Score." To calculate your "Weighted Score" simply add your "Video Score" and your "PSSA Score" together and divide by two (2). This "Weighted Score" must be seventy (70) percent or higher to move forward in the testing and application process.
Your scores will be available online at www.nationaltestingnetwork.com when scoring is completed. Applicants are advised to obtain scores online. Please do not contact the City of Scranton for scores.
The top 50 applicants with the highest scores on the NTN test will be eligible to proceed to the next step in the selection process. If candidates tie then the earlier examination completion date and time will break the tie.
The National Testing Network test does not replace the Scranton Civil Service Commission and/or Scranton Police Department’s responsibility and decision making in the testing process.
The City of Scranton is located in Northeast Pennsylvania and has a population of more than 76,000 residents. The Scranton Police Department currently has 152 sworn, full-time officers and 20 non-sworn civilian personnel.
Entry level applicants/candidates are NOT required to have completed Pennsylvania’s ACT 120 Municipal Police officer’s Training program prior to a conditional offer of employment. ACT 120 Certification and the courses necessary to obtain certification will be paid for by the City of Scranton for any entry level applicant/candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment who does not have ACT 120 certification.
The following prorated minimum requirements will apply to applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment with the Scranton Police Department and receive a paid sponsorship from the City for ACT 120 courses/classes:
-any individual who receives a paid sponsorship for a class(es) taken and leaves the Scranton Police Department within one year of the conditional offer of employment will have to pay back 100% of the costs of the class(es)
-any individual who receives a paid sponsorship for a class(es) taken and leaves the Scranton Police Department within two (2) year of the conditional offer of employment will have to pay back 75% of the costs of the class(es)
-any individual who receives a paid sponsorship for a class(es) taken and leaves the Scranton Police Department within three (3) years of the conditional offer of employment will have to pay back 50% of the costs of the class(es)
Successful candidates of this portion of the testing process will be individually responsible for costs related to the Doctor’s Physical and Psychological portions of the testing process. At this time, there is no fee for the physical agility exam, but this is subject to change.
The current salary of a first year Police Officer is $64,188 which increases to $80,235 in the third year under the current contract. Some applicants with law enforcement experience may be permitted to start at full salary based on their experience. Officers are also entitled to an employee benefits package; plus, scheduled longevity increases.
Pennsylvania Certified (Act 120) Police Applicants
Applicants who currently hold the certification as a police officer by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under the Municipal Police Officer Education and Training Commission (MPOETC) pursuant to 53 Pa.C.S. §2161 et seq., are not required to take the NTN test and should contact the humanresources@scrantonpa.gov or go to https://scrantonpa.gov/spd-application/.
Applicants who have passed the online NTN test with scores at or above seventy (70) percent for both "Writing" and "Reading", and seventy (70) percent for the weighted average of the "Video Score" and the "PSSA" score will then be required to undergo Physical Agility Testing, an Oral Examination, Psychology testing, Lie Detector (CVSA), Background Investigation and Drug Screening.
Each applicant must successfully attain a passing score on EACH element of the examination to be considered for employment subject to such other weighing, preferences and criteria required by the Civil Service Commission’s Rules and Classifications and by law. Successfully hired officers MUST establish residency within twenty-five (25) air miles from Scranton City Hall within 6 (six) months of permanent hire date.
Each applicant must review, attached to the employment application, the Scranton Police Department policy on Tattoo and Grooming and meet those requirements upon a conditional offer of employment.
1. OVERALL SCORING:
Element
Passing Score
Weighting
Written (NTN) Examination
70%
75%
Oral Examination
25%
Background Investigation
Pass/Fail
Medical Examination
Physical Agility Testing
Psychological Examination
Polygraph/CVSA Testing
Applicants who receive passing scores for their Oral Examination will receive written notification, which is a letter of invitation, advising them that they have been scheduled for one day of processing. In order to pass the Physical Agility Testing, applicants must be able to perform the following:
30% Standards
Male Standards by Age
Female Standards by Age
Age Range
18-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60+
Sit Ups (1 min Rep)
35
32
27
21
17
30
22
12
4
300-meter Run (time)
62.1
63
77
87
75
82
106.7
Push Ups (1-min rep)
26
20
15
10
13
9
7
1.5-mile Run (time)
13:15
13:44
14:34
15:50
15:46
16:42
17:29
19:10
Individuals who have previously completed a physical agility exam within a specified time period as part of the ACT 120 process or through a similar police academy MAY be entitled to waiver of the Physical Agility exam requirements.3. MANDATORY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
In order to be an eligible candidate for appointment to the position of Police Patrolman, an applicant must have the following qualifications:
U.S. Citizenship, evidence by a copy of a Birth Certificate or Naturalization Papers, with a copy attached the candidate’s application.
High school diploma or GED completion, with a copy of diploma or GED attached to candidate’s application.
Valid driver’s license in good standing, with a copy attached to candidate’s application.
At least 20 years of age on the date of the written examination; Be of excellent moral character.
Pay all fees associated with the Medical, Psychological and Strength & Agility Testing.
Pass an extensive background check
In addition, a candidate must attain a residence within twenty-five (25) air miles from Scranton City Hall within 6 (six) months of permanent hire date, proven by deed, rent receipt, lease and/or utility bills.4. GROOMING POLICY
All new hires must follow the grooming standards for the Scranton Police Department. The grooming standards are set forth in Scranton Police Department Policy 14-001, which covers hair, facial hair, tattoos, fingernails, and other grooming standards. Most notably, all new hires are prohibited from any visible, offensive, tattoos or any body art or tattoos on the face and/or neck or below the wrist on the hands/finger.
5. VETERANS’ PREFERENCE
Qualified veterans who receive a passing score on both the written and oral examination will receive an additional ten (10) points added to their total score in recognition of their military service. A photocopy of service discharge, DD Form 214, or other military document(s) showing date of entry, successful completion of basic training, character of service, and completion of military service commitment must be provided at the time of application. Failure to provide this documentation will result in loss of Veterans’ Preference Points.6. LEGACY PREFERENCE
Persons, male or female, who was the child of a Scranton Firefighter or Police Officer who was killed or died in the line of duty shall be given an additional credit of an additional ten (10) points and preference in appointment provided for by law.
Any applicant claiming the Legacy Preference must furnish documentary proof of their right to such preference before the preference will be granted. The following kinds of evidence will be accepted as documentation of Right to Preference:
A. Documentary proof of relationship to the deceased parent,
B. Death Certificate of the parent,
C. Such other proof as may be acceptable to the Civil Service Commission.
Legacy Preference, properly claimed, may be granted at any time between the date the eligible list is established and the date the eligible list expires.
7. DURATION OF LIST
The list of the successful candidates for appointment may be maintained for a period of two (2) years from the date that said list is certified by the Commission, unless extended by the Commission for good cause shown. The list will be certified by the Commission after the compilation of all eligibility criteria described above and in accordance with the Commission’s Rules and Classifications. The Commission reserves the right to de-certify the list after the expiration of six (6) months.8. PLACEMENT ON COMMISSION’S LIST
Placement on a list certified by the Commission does not guarantee an appointment as a Patrol Officer. Appointment is at the discretion of the appointing authority within the rule of three (3).
9. REASON FOR TESTING
This Police Patrol Officer Examination is being offered at the request of the appointing authority to permit the filing of vacancies as they occur.
10. FALSE INFORMATION
Providing false information on an application, cheating or any other attempt to defraud the Commission’s examination process is strictly prohibited and will result in disqualification, decertification and/or criminal prosecution as determined by the Commission and by law.11. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT NOTICE
Any applicant seeking accommodation under the Americans With Disabilities Act in any examination must submit a written request with supporting documentation from a treating physician or other qualified professional to the Commission at the below address:
Civil Service Commission Municipal Building
340 North Washington Avenue Scranton, PA 18503.
THE CITY OF SCRANTON IS AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
THE CITY OF SCRANTON ENCOURAGES APPLICATIONS FROM CANDIDATES FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS. THE CITY OF SCRANTON IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A WORKING ENVIRONMENT THAT IS FREE FROM HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION.
