Promotional Process Update

Participation in the SPEAR P3 Ratings Process is no longer a requirement to be eligible to participate in the State Police Merit Board’s Promotional Testing Process.  Moving forward, including the 2026 process, P3 rating scores will no longer be used in calculating final promotional test scores. 

Previously, final promotional scores were calculated using three components: Job Knowledge Exam, Assessment Exercise, and P3 Rating score, which together comprised 95% of the final score.  The remaining five points were awarded for seniority, calculated at 0.2 points for each month served in an officer’s current hard-rank.

Promotional certification scores will now be based solely on the Job Knowledge Exam score and Assessment Exercise results, which together comprise 95% of the final score.  The calculation for seniority remains unchanged and has a maximum of five points.

Additionally, the Merit Board will utilize statewide certification lists for each rank, rather than work unit specific lists (such as Troops, Zones, or regions).  The top 65% of each statewide list will now be considered equally eligible for promotional consideration.  These changes promote fairness and consistency by ensuring all candidates are held to the same certification score threshold, rather than varied thresholds based on list placement.