Police Entry-level Tests in Michigan
Every applicant for the Police Academy in Michigan must pass two exams required by MCOLES (the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards): (1) the MCOLES Reading and Writing Test and (2) Pre-Enrollment Physical Fitness Test.
There is more, however. Most agencies have additional entry-level requirements and conduct testing beyond the MCOLES minimum requirements.
On this page, learn about the best way to prepare for any of the hiring paths you may follow in your quest to become a law enforcement officer in Michigan.
All Applicants Must Pass the MCOLES Exam
The MCOLES Reading and Writing Test includes:
Reading Comprehension
Writing - Vocabulary
Writing - Spelling
Writing - Punctuation
Writing - Grammar and Clarity
Additional Questions Included on EMPCO
Behavioral & Attitudinal Traits
Many police agencies in Michigan use a third-party provider, EMPCO, to administer their entry-level testing. The Reading and Writing portion is similar to the MCOLES shown above. The questions are from a popular police exam known as NCJOSI. There are also 120 Work Style or Personality questions. Each statement is followed by a five-point agreement scale: Strongly Agree (1); Agree (2); Not Sure (3); Disagree (4); Strongly Disagree (5). Applicants mark the number that best reflects your attitudes, actions, preferences and opinions.
Additional Questions on the Michigan State Police Exam
The Michigan State Police (MSP) include a Situational Judgement Test (SJT) that measures how you respond to different problems or scenarios. MSP uses Frontline administered by NTN for their entry-level testing. The Frontline test includes a section on English proficiency that is very similar to the MCOLES Reading and Writing Test described above,
Best Prep Course for all Michigan Police Tests
Finally, there is a prep course that covers all of these test topics found in Michigan that eliminates your need for three separate study guides. Based upon over 1000 5-star reviews on ShopperApproved ™, the best prep course for Michigan police entry-level tests is by Sgt. George Godoy. Reasons students rate Michigan Police Prep Course so highly include:
- Video Study Guides with Insightful Tutorials
- Hundreds of Online Practice Questions
- MCOLES Reading and Writing Prep
- EMPCO Behavioral Questionnaire
- Frontline's Situational Judgment Test
- Bonus Courses:
- Managing Your Job Search
- Passing the Background Investigation
- Optional Advanced Courses
- How to Not Fail the Polygraph
- Best Practices for the Psych Exam
- How to Impress at the Oral Interview
- Lifetime access for a one-time fee
- Mobile-friendly
- Personal support from a veteran cop and police recruiter
Learn more about Michigan Police Prep Course.