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  Careers   >   Employment Information   >   Career FAQs

Career FAQ's

SWORN POSITIONS

Yes.  Positions are opened and closed on the website periodically based on vacancies.  Please check the Law Enforcement and Law Enforcement Support pages for information on each position.
 

By attending a law enforcement academy on your own.  Many schools offer evening academies.

Processing for all positions is very thorough and can take 3 – 6 months.

Law enforcement is a highly demanding job, both physically and mentally.  All candidates are required to pass a rigorous medical exam (including treadmill EKG).  Academy sponsorship candidates also participate in a Physical Ability Test, which includes a 1.5 mile run, push-ups, and sit-ups.  For requirements and methods for preparing, refer to the Law Enforcement page.   
 

No.  However, in order to take home your agency vehicle, you must live within 20 miles of the county line.

 Yes.  Occasionally Field Training is expedited for candidates with experience.  Candidates for Court Security Deputy participate in the Basic Recruit Training, with additional training at the Court House.
 

The shifts are fixed and do not rotate; most newly hired deputies will work evenings or nights.

Yes.  All of our candidates go through the same background check.

Yes, however, sponsorship opportunities are very competitive.  We receive over 1,500 applications each year for sponsorships, but only about 50 people are sponsored.
 

All candidates must have at least 2 years of college (60 credit hours), military or law enforcement related experience or any combination thereof, or two years of full-time law enforcement experience.

 

Additional requirements include:

  • H.S. or GED diploma 
  • At least 20 years of age 
  • U.S. Citizen
  • Valid drivers license for the last year and have no more than two moving violations over the past the past 3 years.  No DUI convictions for the past 5 years.  Other driving history will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
  • Must not have been convicted of a felony. Must not have been convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral character, false statements, perjury or domestic violence.
  • Must never have received a dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the United States.
  • No illegal drug usage over the past 3 years.  Other drug usage will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
  • Good physical condition
  • Vision of 20/40 corrected or better
     

Candidates must be 21 years old to apply for deputy; 18 to apply for civilian positions.  There is no upper age limit and we hire people of all ages, based on their qualifications. 
 

Yes.  For information on tattoos click here, go to page 4, section C, number 6 in our Appearance, Uniforms, and Equipment Policy.

 Two years. 
 

 Yes.  This standard is required by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

Yes, however, you must first complete the FDLE/ Equivalency-of-Training course.  Law enforcement officers from the military or Puerto Rico may also be eligible.  See the Careers/Out-of-state link on our website.
 

SPONSORSHIP POSITIONS

Yes, however, sponsorship opportunities are very competitive.  We receive over 1,000 applications each year for sponsorships, but only about 50-75 people are sponsored.

It varies per academy, but the cost of tuition plus equipment is approximately $3,500 ($6,500 for out-of-state candidates).
 

Yes, along with a multitude of other financial benefits.  Contact your local VA representative for details.
 

The full-time/day academy is approximately 5 months long.  The part-time/night academy is about 9 months long.

Every academy has the exact same FDLE curriculum and has similar FDLE testing pass rates. The OCSO sends all sponsorships to the academy at Criminal Justice Institute at Valencia College.  We recruit and hire candidates from academies all over the state. 

CIVILIAN/SUPPORT POSITIONS

See the Civilian Positions dropdown for detailed information about vacancies.  This list changes occasionally, so please check back periodically.
 

We receive thousands of applications for our civilian positions each year.  We attempt to make contact with each candidate, so please check your emails periodically (remember to check your “junk” mail).  All positions are very competitive. 
 

 No.  Candidates for civilian positions may be registered aliens.
 

 We look for candidates with solid work history, college, military and/or experience related to the position sought.

GENERAL

 We consider all aspects of a candidate’s work history and experience.  We also review criminal history, credit, driving history and character.
 

The Orange County Sheriff's Office has a modern approach towards benefits. Not all employees have the same protection requirements. By design, our package allows individual tailoring to personal needs and desires. As circumstances change, our employees can modify their personalized program. Follow the below instructions to evaluate this state-of-the-art benefit package.

For more information, go to the top of this page and hover over Services. Under Human Resources Division, Select Employee / Retiree Benefits.