Fingerprints: PASS provides a fingerprint sheet that has to be sent to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (Map and directions will be provided at registration).

Basic Abilities Test (BAT): Applicants are required to take and pass this exam prior to the law enforcement academy entrance. As part of the PASS Process, Applicants are required to take and pass this exam to successfully complete the PASS Background Investigation and gain PASS POOL status. If an Applicant has already taken/passed the BAT (within a four-year time period – confirmed through ATMS), they are excluded from this requirement.

Exemptions: As of July 1, 2022, section 943.​17(1)(g) states that any candidate wishing to enter a law enforcement academy that either (i) is a veteran as classified in section 1.​01(14), F.​S.​, or (ii) holds an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university is not required to take the Law Enforcement Basic Abilities Test. Please note that a veteran is defined as being honorably discharged from military service. No other discharge classifications qualify. Please note that this does not apply to candidates wishing to enter a corrections academy.

PASS applicants maintaining active Florida Law Enforcement Certification or having successfully completed an FDLE approved EOT/Florida Re-Certification verification are by PPSC Standards excluded (waived) from taking the BAT as a requirement of the PASS Process. However, Council-affiliated agencies retain the authority to require any testing procedure to be performed as part of their individual agency employment.

BAT Testing Site: The St. Petersburg College Allstate Center offers the BAT and Applicants should directly contact the college at 727-641-7263 or 727-341-4760.

Personal History Statement (PHS): PASS utilizes POBITS (Peace Officer Background Investigative Tracking System) for applicants personal history information. POBITS is a web-based program that requires applicants to have access to a computer terminal and internet. Applicants will be provided admission to POBITS at the time of PASS registration. The staff member performing the registration process will provide guidance and instructions for the use of POBITS and the applicant will be given 10 days for the completion of the PHS.

* Deliberate misstatements and/or omissions can and often result in your application being terminated, regardless of the nature or reason for the misstatements/omissions. In fact, the number one reason individuals “fail” a law enforcement background investigation is because they deliberately withhold or misrepresent employment-relevant information from their prospective employer.

Administrative Interview: Applicants must provide all required documents (see list below from the AIP/ only original or certified copies will be accepted) by the Administrative Interview date. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to dress in business attire as their file photographs will also be taken.

Writing Sample: Applicants must write a brief un-graded essay on an assigned topic. PASS applicants maintaining active Florida Law Enforcement Certification or having successfully completed an FDLE approved EOT/Florida Re-Certification verification are by PPSC Standards excluded (waived) as a requirement of the PASS Process. However, Council-affiliated agencies retain the authority to require any one or all of these testing procedures to be performed as part of their individual agency employment.

Necessary Documents List: Be prepared to present the original or a certified copy of the following documents at the time of your Administrative Interview with the PASS Investigator conducting your background investigation. If you do not already have these documents on hand – begin gathering them immediately to avoid a delay in your processing. If available, we will accept any of the required documents at the time of registration from the list below.

• Birth Certificate or Passport
• Social Security Card
• Driver’s License
• High School Diploma or G.E.D. or Official Transcript
• College Diploma or Official Transcripts
• Naturalization Papers or Adoption Decree
• Marriage Certificate(s)
• Divorce Decrees or legal name changes
• Police or Corrections Officer Certifications
• Military Record – DD 214 and Discharge
• Certificate(s) for each completed service
• Law Enforcement or Corrections Officers must submit copies of their certification documents and the last two regular evaluations they received from their most recent Law Enforcement or Corrections employer.
• Employment evaluation from the most recent employer.
• IRS Paperwork: Visit the local office to ask for “unmasked” wage and income transcripts for the last 10 yrs. https://www.irs.gov/uac/contact-my-localoffice-in-florida
• W-2 forms for the last 5 years.
• PERT Certification or College Level Reading and Writing course credit for Corrections Officers.

Polygraph or Other Examination: All PASS candidates shall be administered a polygraph exam by a qualified polygraphist dictated by the PPSC. The initial polygraph exam cost is included within the PASS Process.

The polygraph exam shall occur no later than 10 days after the completion of the PASS Administrative Interview. The candidate is required to make immediate contact with their assigned investigator should an issue occur negating adherence to the specified timeline. The assigned investigator shall work with the candidate to resolve any potential conflicts.

Polygraph Examination Findings:

1. No significant physiological responses to relevant questions – PASS process continues
2. No opinion (inconclusive) or significant response(s) – PASS Process stops
3. Disqualifying information (known or revealed) – PASS Process stops

A candidate possessing disqualifying information is not eligible for successful completion of the PASS Process. A disqualified candidate may request reconsideration through the PASS Appeal Process (see next section). If a candidate receives a polygraph exam signifying “No Opinion (inconclusive)” or “significant response(s)” the candidate shall be required to perform a follow up “specific issue” polygraph exam. The purpose of the additional exam is to seek a potential resolution to the identified exam issue(s). A candidate not electing to perform a follow up “specific issue” polygraph exam shall have their PASS file closed. A candidate electing to perform a follow up “specific issue” polygraph exam shall be responsible for the cost of the exam but the polygraphist will still be dictated by the PPSC. If the follow up polygraph exam indicates no significant responses and no disqualifications are revealed, a candidate will resume the PASS Process. If a candidate reveals disqualification information or the follow up exam still indicates no opinion (inconclusive) or significant response(s) the PASS Process cannot continue. A candidate may request reconsideration through the PASS Appeal Process (see next section). A candidate electing not to proceed with the PASS Appeal Process shall have their PASS file closed.

PASS APPEAL PROCESS

Disqualification Appeal: Any candidate disqualified from PASS processing may submit a written appeal to the Pinellas Police Standards Council, requesting reconsideration and reinstatement. PASS will provide the required forms and timeline procedures upon request. All decisions of the Council are final.

Deferment Appeal: Deferment appeals shall not immediately require a polygraph exam for Council review and determination. Providing the deferment appeal is granted, the applicant shall submit to a polygraph exam in accordance with PASS Process Steps.

Polygraph Determined Appeal: Any candidate revealing disqualifying information within the polygraph may submit a written appeal to the Pinellas Police Standards Council, requesting reconsideration and reinstatement. PASS will provide the required forms and timeline procedures upon request. All decisions of the Council are final.

Polygraph Finding of No Opinion (Inconclusive) or Significant Response(s) Appeal: The candidate is required to perform a follow up “specific issue” polygraph exam. The candidate is responsible for the cost of the exam but the polygraphist will still be dictated by the PPSC. If the follow up polygraph exam indicates no significant responses and no disqualifications are revealed, the candidate will resume their PASS Process. If the candidate reveals disqualifying information or the follow up exam still indicates no opinion (inconclusive) or significant response(s) the candidate may submit a written appeal to the Pinellas Police Standards Council, requesting reconsideration and reinstatement. PASS will provide the required forms and timeline procedures upon request.

All decisions of the Council are final.

Background Investigation: The background of eligible applicants is investigated in detail. This is the most time-consuming part of the process and usually takes several weeks. The polygraph exam and any associated material shall be completed prior to the PASS Administrative Case Review.

Entry into Candidate Pool: Applicants who successfully complete all steps of the process will be placed in the Candidate Pool for one year from the date of file approval/completion. Participating agencies may call upon pool applicants for interviews, medical or other screening procedures. Candidates in the pool are also eligible to enter the St. Petersburg College Law Enforcement and/or Corrections Academy. After expiration from the pool, files may be re-opened at the request of a participating law enforcement agency.

POOL CANDIDACY EXPIRATION: Applicants may request a PASS UPDATE (discount fee assessed) within three years of their original PASS POOL expiration date. Upon successful completion of the PASS UPDATE, applicants will be placed back into the PASS POOL for an additional year.

To be eligible for PASS processing, you must meet at least ONE of the following qualifying education or life experiences. (All college credits must be earned at a school that is regionally accredited, or approved for Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission [CJSTC] Salary Incentives.):

1. You are currently certified as a Florida Corrections Officer having successfully completed a one-year probation – not counting academy attendance; OR
2. You are currently certified as a Corrections Officer in another state, the military or a federal law enforcement agency – meeting all requirements of a CJSTC Equivalency of Training (EOT) review, including having successfully completed at least one year of employment as a full time officer – not counting academy attendance; OR
3. For Corrections Academy entrance, you must have successfully completed/passed the PERT exam within the past two years or have attained College Level Reading and Writing course credit.

• You do not possess a current driver’s license
• You have possessed or used marijuana, hashish or its derivatives within the past six [6] months.
• You have been convicted of a criminal traffic offense (DUI, Reckless Driving, etc.) within the last five years, notwithstanding withholding of adjudication. (Law Enforcement Applicants ONLY)
• Your driver’s license has been suspended or (FTA or FTP) revoked for point accumulation within the last three years, as measured from the date on which that penalty was imposed. (Law Enforcement Applicants ONLY)
• You have been convicted of three or more moving traffic violations within the last two years, notwithstanding withholding of adjudication or violations cleared by attendance at driver’s education and/or courses. In such cases, processing will be deferred until a year has elapsed from the date of the last conviction or the date of any resulting deferment. (Law Enforcement Applicants ONLY)
• Your driver’s license has been suspended for financial responsibility (uninsured motorist violations) within the last year, as measured from the date the suspension was imposed. You must also show proof of being an insured/insurable driver prior to resumption of processing. (Law Enforcement Applicants ONLY)
• Any outstanding warrant, pending criminal court case, unpaid fine or unresolved Failure to Appear in answer to a summons will cause deferment until cleared by the court in which the matter is pending. 

• Any theft from a crime scene, victim, offender or employing agency
• Any illegal use of a controlled substance
• On-duty consumption of an alcoholic beverage, unless such consumption was permitted by the employing agency
• Any falsification of an official report, record or document
• Acceptance of any bribe, or accepting a gratuity in violation of the employing agency’s regulations.