This is training level police emergency radio communications work. Employees in this class work on a rotating shift and are engaged in operating a variety of communications equipment in dispatching, receiving and transmitting information to departmental units, and receiving, screening and processing calls from the general public and police personnel. Employees learn to operate the various types of communications equipment under progressively less supervision as experience is gained and the incumbents approach the full performance level. Accessing and maintaining the security of highly sensitive materials is significant to the work. Work is performed under the close supervision of a uniformed officer.
CONTACT INFORMATIONThe analyst responsible for reviewing applications and additional documentation for this job opportunity is
Stefan Koprivica
City of Philadelphia – Office of Human Resources
1401 JFK Blvd., Room 1530
Philadelphia, PA 19102-1675
Phone: 215-686-3159
Fax: 215-686-0861
Email:
stefan.koprivica@phila.govFor all other inquiries please contact Customer Service at 215-686-0880 or email
hrhelpdesk@phila.govELIGIBLE LIST: OPEN-COMPETITIVEOnly an Open-Competitive eligible list will be established as a result of this examination. Permanent City employees will receive no promotional preference in this examination.
Candidates who pass the exam and are placed on the civil service list will be retained on the list for a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years after the establishment of the Eligible List.
PLEASE NOTE: This eligible list may also be used to fill Fire Equipment Dispatcher Trainee positions and 311 Contact Center Trainee positions.RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTPhiladelphia residency is not required to submit an application. However, applicants must have established bona fide residency in the City of Philadelphia for one year prior to appointment.
PREFERENCE FOR PHILADELPHIA RESIDENTS Candidates who have maintained a bona fide residence in Philadelphia for at least one year prior to the date of the civil service examination shall have priority over all other persons receiving an identical test score. If you have maintained a bona fide residence in Philadelphia for at least one year immediately preceding the exam date listed on this announcement, you are eligible to claim residency preference.
To receive such preference, candidates must respond to the question regarding residence later in this form.
The response on this application will be used to determine eligibility for preference for residents. Documentation of residence may be required if there is any question as to whether you meet the residency preference requirements.
Candidates who have maintained a bona fide residence in Philadelphia for at least one year prior to the date of the civil service examination shall have priority over all other people receiving an identical test score.
To receive such preference, candidates must respond to the question regarding residence later in this form. The response on this application will be used to determine eligibility for preference for residents. Documentation of residence may be required if there is any question as to whether you meet the residency preference requirements.
If an applicant does not respond to the appropriate residence question, it will be assumed that the applicant does not qualify for residence preference. Eligibility for residence preference must be determined by the date of the test administration. No requests for residence preference will be granted after the test administration.
INDEBTEDNESS NOTICEAs a condition of employment with the City, any person offered employment shall be required to certify that such person either is fully current on any and all debts, taxes, fees, judgments, claims, and other accounts and obligations due and owing to the City; or has voluntarily entered into a payment agreement with the City. For so long as the person is employed by the City, the amount of the payment as set forth in the payment agreement (not to exceed, for any pay period, twenty percent (20%) of the person’s gross pay for such period, without the person’s consent) shall be withheld from each paycheck until such payment agreement is fully satisfied.
Such person shall also be required to certify as a condition of employment that he or she is fully current on any and all debts, taxes, fees, judgments, claims, and other accounts and obligations due and owing to Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) or has voluntarily entered into a payment agreement with PGW.
Failure to enter into a payment agreement shall result in the cancellation of the appointment and removal from the certification. The name of the eligible candidate will be returned to the eligible list.
PREFERENCE POINTS FOR CANDIDATES FOR OPEN-COMPETITIVE EXAMSCandidates who pass Open-Competitive exams may be eligible for additional points added to their final score. Preference Points may be claimed from the time of application until 30 days after the eligible list is established. The required documentation for the preference must be provided to receive the points.
U.S. VETERAN'S PREFERENCETen points will be added to the scores of eligible veterans. You must be honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces. Attach a DD214, member 4, or NGB-22 to your application if you wish your eligibility to be reviewed. Spouses of disabled or deceased veterans may also be considered. Veteran’s Preference may be claimed at any time before the list expires.
LEGACY PREFERENCETen points will be added to the scores of the children or grandchildren of Philadelphia Firefighters or Police Officers who were killed or died in the line of duty. Documentation is required. Legacy Preference may be claimed at any time before the list expires.
NATIONAL VOLUNTEER SERVICE PREFERENCEUp to 5 points will be added to the score of any candidate who has:
A. Successfully completed a term of volunteer service with Peace Corps, AmeriCorps NCCC (including FEMA Corps), or AmeriCorps VISTA are eligible for additional points
For Peace Corps, such candidates will be awarded five (5) points for the completion of a two-year term of service or three (3) points for the completion of a one-year term of service.
B. Successfully completed at least 450 hours of service with AmeriCorps State and National (including Teach for America).
Such candidates will have:
•1 point added to their final score if they have completed 450 Hours of the above service.
•2 points added to their final score if they have completed 675 Hours of the above service.
•3 points added to their final score if they have completed 900 Hours of the above service.
•5 points added to their final score if they have completed 1700 Hours of the above service.
PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PREFERENCEUp to 5 points will be added to the score of candidates who have completed and graduated from a career technical education (CTE) program of the School District of Philadelphia within the last three years before the examination announcement date. If the 5 additional points from the CTE preference would rank a CTE graduate above a veteran, additional points shall be applied to the CTE candidate’s passing score to rank them directly below the veteran.
CANDIDATES FOR BILINGUAL SPECIALTYWhen a single examination is announced to fill positions both in the bilingual specialty of a class and in another specialty of the same class, all candidates must take and pass all weighted parts of the same examination. All candidates who pass the weighted parts of the examination will be placed on the combined eligible list and will be eligible to fill positions in the specialty that does not require fluency in a Non-English language or in American Sign Language.
Candidates who applied for the bilingual specialty who have passed all weighted parts of the examination will be required to pass a qualifying examination as verification of their ability to communicate fluently in a Non-English language or in American Sign Language. Candidates who pass the qualifying examination will be identified on the eligible list as bilingual - fluency verified in a specified language or languages. Such candidates will be eligible to fill positions for the bilingual specialty.
Candidates who fail the bilingual qualifying examination will not be eligible to fill positions in the bilingual specialty but will remain on the eligible list and will be eligible to fill positions in the specialty that does not require fluency in a Non-English language or in American Sign Language.
ADDITIONAL CREDITS ON EXAMINATIONS FOR BILINGUAL SPECIALTYCandidates who have successfully passed all other parts of the Open-Competitive examination for this class who have verified ability to communicate fluently in any non-English language or in American Sign Language will have 3 points added to their final score
Only those competitors who have a passing grade in an examination shall receive additional credits to which they may be entitled. A maximum of three points may be awarded for each examination.
To receive the additional points, the candidate must respond affirmatively that he or she is fluent in a Non-English language or in American Sign Language while preparing the application for each examination or submit a written request for the additional points for each examination at any time prior to the administration of the first part of the examination.
The Office of Human Resources will verify the candidates’ ability to communicate fluently in the non-English language or languages or in American Sign Language).
COMPUTER-BASED MULTIPLE-CHOICE EXAMINATIONThis examination will be scheduled for May 5, 2026. Please note that this examination date is subject to change.
Candidates will need access to a desktop computer or laptop with internet access to take the examination. If you do not have internet access, please contact the analyst listed on this announcement and alternative arrangements will be made for you to take this examination.
For the qualifying typing test, candidates must be able to type 25 words per minute with 80% accuracy.Below are the links to two practice typing tests. Please note these practice tests are not affiliated with nor endorsed by the City of Philadelphia.
Candidates for Bilingual SpecialtyCandidates who pass the computer-based multiple-choice examination shall be notified to appear for the bilingual examination in such numbers and at such times as determined to be necessary. Candidates must pass the qualifying typing test to be eligible for this position.
Candidates who have passed a bilingual qualifying examination or qualifying typing test for another City of Philadelphia Civil Service title within two years of the date of this announcement will not be required to compete in the qualifying typing or bilingual examinations for this position.
Virtual Testing Will Be Utilized For This ExaminationCandidates taking the bilingual examination will have their responses recorded on the date of the examination and rated by Subject Matter Experts at a later date. Please refer all questions regarding this examination to the analyst listed below on the announcement
ELIGIBLE LIST An Eligible List will be established the week of May 18, 2026. Please note that this date may change.
TEST REVIEWIn accordance with Civil Service Regulation 9.091B, candidates will have 30 days after the results have been mailed to review their test and to file appeals to the key answers. Call 215-686-0880 if you wish to schedule a Test Review.
CERTIFICATION RULERule of Ten (10)The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Candidates must meet requirements within 30 days after the last date for filing applications.
1. EDUCATION: Education equivalent to completion of the twelfth school grade.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR THE BILINGUAL SPECIALTY
Sufficient training and/or experience to be able to understand and speak fluently and clearly in English and the designated non-English foreign language.
