How to become a police officer in the Northern Territory
Constable, ARP, ACPO and PPSO

The Northern Territory Police Force recruits for a jurisdiction like no other in Australia: a small population spread across a huge area, with many remote Aboriginal communities. That shapes everything about joining. The pay package is strong, housing is provided or paid for, and remote service is rewarded, but you must accept a posting anywhere in the Territory, and postings are decided by organisational need, not your preference.

Pay is set by the Northern Territory Police Force Consent Agreement 2025, voted up by 92% of members in September 2025: rises of 5%, 4%, 3% and 3% over four years. The rates on this page are the ones NTPFES publishes on its recruiting pages. For every rank, including our estimates where NTPFES doesn't publish a figure, see the NT police salary guide or the NT Police profile.

Constable

Who it's for

Year 12, trade or life experience

Training

30 weeks

Probation

2 years

Starting pay

$87,005 base ($111,366 package)

Accelerated Recruitment Program

Who it's for

2+ years sworn in Australia or NZ

Training

Shorter ARP course

Probation

12 months incl. training

Starting pay

By years of service, up to $103,977 base

Aboriginal Community Police Officer

Who it's for

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; Year 10, trade or life experience

Training

24 weeks

Probation

12 months

Starting pay

$74,961 base ($95,950 package)

Police Public Safety Officer

Who it's for

Same core eligibility; town-based roles

Training

18 weeks

Probation

Not stated

Starting pay

$74,069 base ($94,808 package)

JESCC Auxiliary (communications)

Who it's for

Typing 40 wpm at 95% accuracy

Training

12 weeks

Probation

12 months

Starting pay

$71,392 base ($91,381 package)

Pathway	Who it's for	Training	Probation	Starting pay
Constable	Year 12, trade or life experience	30 weeks	2 years	$87,005 base ($111,366 package)
Accelerated Recruitment Program	2+ years sworn in Australia or NZ	Shorter ARP course	12 months incl. training	By years of service, up to $103,977 base
Aboriginal Community Police Officer	Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; Year 10, trade or life experience	24 weeks	12 months	$74,961 base ($95,950 package)
Police Public Safety Officer	Same core eligibility; town-based roles	18 weeks	Not stated	$74,069 base ($94,808 package)
JESCC Auxiliary (communications)	Typing 40 wpm at 95% accuracy	12 weeks	12 months	$71,392 base ($91,381 package)

Pay from NTPFES recruiting pages. Packages add the 23% Consolidated Allowance and the 5% General Policing Allowance, which aren't paid during training.

Most readers will take the Constable route, which this guide follows step by step. If you're already a sworn officer, jump to the Accelerated Recruitment Program. If you're Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or you want a town-based role without remote postings, read the ACPO and PPSO section before you choose.

The NT is more flexible than most forces on education: Year 12 is one option, but so is a completed trade certificate, or "considerable employment experience and life skills". There's no upper age limit, and a provisional licence is fine as long as you can drive a manual vehicle. If you've only ever driven an automatic, take some lessons before you apply.

NT Police doesn't sponsor visas, so you need citizenship or permanent residency (or NZ citizenship, including on a Special Category Visa) before you apply. Overseas officers should check our guide for UK police officers moving to Australia.

1. 1

   Online application

   Step 1

   Apply online through NTPFES. How to prepare: Gather a full history before you start: every address, job, licence and any criminal, traffic, juvenile, DVO or bankruptcy matter. NT Police says non-disclosure is likely to mean permanent exclusion, so disclose everything, even if it seems minor.

2. 2

   Suitability background checks

   Step 2

   Criminal and traffic history checks. Declared matters may go to an Integrity Committee. How to prepare: Nothing to sit, but declared matters may go to an Integrity Committee. If you have an old matter, write a short, factual account of what happened and what has changed since.

3. 3

   Cognitive assessment

   Step 3

   Computer-based cognitive and psychological testing. How to prepare: NTPFES doesn't name the test provider, so practise general reasoning (verbal, numerical and abstract) and do the psychological questionnaire honestly. Use a quiet room and a reliable computer.

4. 4

   Fitness assessment

   Step 4

   Push-ups, plank, farmer's carry, beep test and 100m swim (see fitness standards). How to prepare: Train every part, not just the beep test: a 90-second plank is longer than most forces ask for, and the 20 kg-a-hand farmer's carry tests grip. Practise the 100 m swim without stopping or touching the sides.

5. 5

   Panel interview

   Step 5

   Panel interview. How to prepare: Prepare STAR examples for teamwork, communication, integrity, resilience and working with diverse communities. Be ready to explain why the Territory, and that you'll accept a posting anywhere in it.

6. 6

   Referee checks

   Step 6

   Referee checks. How to prepare: Choose referees who know your work and character well, and warn them a call is coming. A referee who can't be reached slows everything down.

7. 7

   Pre-employment medical

   Step 7

   Against NTPF police medical standards: some conditions are disqualifying, others assessed case by case; corrected vision within parameters is acceptable; colour blindness assessed case by case. How to prepare: If you wear glasses or have a past injury or condition, bring records. Corrected vision within the standard is accepted and colour blindness is assessed case by case.

8. 8

   Probity checks

   Step 8

   Final probity checks. How to prepare: Final checks before an offer. Keep your contact details current and tell Recruitment about any change, such as a new traffic matter, straight away.

Postings are decided by organisational need, not choice. If you can't commit to going anywhere in the Territory, don't apply yet.

Step 3 combines computer-based cognitive and psychological testing. NTPFES doesn't publish the provider, the number of sections or a pass mark, and no separate interview with a psychologist is described on the pages we read. That makes general preparation the best approach.

Our free entrance exam practice tool has reasoning sets you can use to warm up, and the NT police entrance test guide explains what each kind of question looks like.

Push-ups

Standard

10 at a 2-second cadence

Prone bridge (plank)

Standard

90 seconds

Farmer's carry

Standard

20kg in each hand, 5 x 20m (100m total)

Detail

Walking pace; weights down for a maximum of 5 seconds at each turn.

Beep test (20m multi-stage fitness test)

Standard

Level 6.1

Swim

Standard

100m forward stroke without touching the bottom or sides

Detail

Constable and ARP applicants only.

Test	Standard	Detail
Push-ups	10 at a 2-second cadence
Prone bridge (plank)	90 seconds
Farmer's carry	20kg in each hand, 5 x 20m (100m total)	Walking pace; weights down for a maximum of 5 seconds at each turn.
Beep test (20m multi-stage fitness test)	Level 6.1
Swim	100m forward stroke without touching the bottom or sides	Constable and ARP applicants only.

The fitness assessment applies to PPSO, ACPO and Constable applicants (not ARP or Auxiliary per the selection lists); ARP applicants still need the swim.

The beep test level of 6.1 is middle of the pack nationally, but the 90-second plank is one of the longest holds any Australian force asks for, and the farmer's carry (20 kg in each hand, five 20 m lengths at walking pace, weights down for no more than five seconds at each turn) is a real grip test. The swim must be continuous, using a forward-facing stroke, without touching the bottom or sides.

A simple plan

Run intervals twice a week to lift your beep test level, ideally with beep test audio. Add planks, push-ups to a two-second beat and heavy carries two or three times a week. If you're not a confident swimmer, book lessons now: the swim is a pass-or-fail requirement and it's the one many land-based athletes neglect.

Free tool

Check yourself against the NT standard

Enter your beep test level, push-ups and plank time to see whether you'd pass NT Police's test today, and how it compares with the other forces.

Check my fitness →

Full training plans are in our NT Police fitness test guide, and you can practise the shuttle run with our free beep test audio.

NTPFES describes step 5 simply as a panel interview. Expect behavioural questions ("tell us about a time when…") and questions about why you want to police in the Territory. Panels want to see that you understand remote and cross-cultural policing, can cope with isolation, and have thought about being posted far from family.

Why the NT?

What to show

A realistic understanding of remote service, cultural diversity and the posting commitment

Working with communities

What to show

Times you built trust with people from a different background

Resilience

What to show

How you've coped with pressure, isolation or a setback, and what you do to recover

Integrity

What to show

A time you did the right thing when it was harder or cost you something

Teamwork

What to show

Your specific contribution to a team outcome

Likely theme	What to show
Why the NT?	A realistic understanding of remote service, cultural diversity and the posting commitment
Working with communities	Times you built trust with people from a different background
Resilience	How you've coped with pressure, isolation or a setback, and what you do to recover
Integrity	A time you did the right thing when it was harder or cost you something
Teamwork	Your specific contribution to a team outcome

NTPFES doesn't publish its interview competencies. These themes are our guidance based on the role.

Free tool

Practise your NT panel answers

Answer police-style questions by typing or speaking and get a STAR score, the top fix and a model answer. Two free scored answers a day.

Start a mock interview →

After the interview come referee checks, the pre-employment medical against NT Police medical standards and final probity checks. Some medical conditions are disqualifying and others are assessed case by case. More question ideas are in our NT Police interview guide.

Constable recruits train at the NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services College, Peter McAulay Centre, Berrimah (Darwin). The Constable page says the course runs 30 weeks, although NTPFES's PPSO FAQ calls it "the 32-week Constable course", so plan for up to 32. Graduates receive the Diploma of Policing (POL50124) once they've met its requirements.

Allowances aren't paid during training, so your income jumps sharply when you graduate. Recruits are offered barracks or departmental accommodation, or the housing allowance, and new recruits can claim back up to $20,000 in relocation costs on evidence of what they spent. That makes moving to Darwin from interstate far more affordable than it first looks.

For what a week at the College looks like and what to bring, see our NT Police College guide.

Probation for Constables runs to the second anniversary of your start date, under section 16A of the Police Administration Act. ACPOs and ARP recruits serve 12 months. The Commissioner can shorten probation or extend it, by up to six months at a time.

Once posted, you receive the 23% Consolidated Allowance, and in general policing roles the 5% General Policing Allowance. Night shift work also attracts a Night Shift Allowance of 15% of base salary (hourly equivalent) for each night shift worked. The take-home and housing figures above are our calculations from NTPFES's published package, with 2026-27 tax and no HELP. The housing allowance is taxable and only paid if you arrange your own accommodation instead of using departmental housing.

After four completed years and current operational safety training, you can become a Constable First Class, and promotion to Senior Constable follows once you qualify rather than through competition. Use the take-home pay calculator to model your own roster.

Many NT stations serve remote communities hours from the nearest town. The agreement rewards that through several overlapping incentives. The amounts below come from the 2022 Consent Agreement; the 2025 agreement isn't public, so we can't confirm whether any changed.

General Policing Allowance at isolated localities

Amount

Group A 12%; Group B 12%; Tennant Creek 5% (replaces the standard 5%)

Detail

Replaces the standard 5%

Consolidated Remote Incentive Allowance (CRIA)

Amount

Years 1/2/3: Special Category 5/5/5%; Group A 5/5/5%; Group B 6/12/12%; Tennant Creek 11/18/18%

Detail

Members at isolated policing locations (Jabiru, Adelaide River and Batchelor are Special Category)

Tennant Creek special location allowance

Amount

7% of base salary

Detail

Senior Sergeant and below at Tennant Creek; Superintendents at any isolated location

Fares Out of Isolated Localities (FOILS)

Amount

Economy airfare from the isolated locality to a prescribed destination (or vehicle allowance)

Detail

Travel out of isolated stations

Utilities

Amount

Provided in kind

Detail

At isolated stations

Extra recreation leave

Amount

Extra weeks at isolated localities and Katherine

Detail

Group A and Tennant Creek: +1 week at 24 months, +1 at 36 months and each year after

Incentive	Amount	Detail
General Policing Allowance at isolated localities	Group A 12%; Group B 12%; Tennant Creek 5% (replaces the standard 5%)	Replaces the standard 5%
Consolidated Remote Incentive Allowance (CRIA)	Years 1/2/3: Special Category 5/5/5%; Group A 5/5/5%; Group B 6/12/12%; Tennant Creek 11/18/18%	Members at isolated policing locations (Jabiru, Adelaide River and Batchelor are Special Category)
Tennant Creek special location allowance	7% of base salary	Senior Sergeant and below at Tennant Creek; Superintendents at any isolated location
Fares Out of Isolated Localities (FOILS)	Economy airfare from the isolated locality to a prescribed destination (or vehicle allowance)	Travel out of isolated stations
Utilities	Provided in kind	At isolated stations
Extra recreation leave	Extra weeks at isolated localities and Katherine	Group A and Tennant Creek: +1 week at 24 months, +1 at 36 months and each year after

From the 2022 Consent Agreement (scanned copy). Some Group B percentages are hard to read in the scan and were checked against the 2019 agreement.

Leave is also more generous than in most forces. The main NT salary table is labelled "seven weeks leave", and isolated stations earn extra weeks on top, as does Katherine after three years. After two years' service elsewhere, the 2022 agreement lets you seek a posting of choice in Darwin, Katherine or Alice Springs. Compare remote packages nationally in our guide to remote and rural policing incentives.

The Accelerated Recruitment Program (ARP) is for current or recent police from Australia or New Zealand. You need a Diploma of Policing or equivalent and at least two years' service at Constable or above, and if you've left, less than five years since your last sworn service. Military Police and Protective Service Officers aren't eligible.

Constable

Step

Constable 1 (graduation to end of 12 months)

Base

$87,005

Package

$111,366

Constable

Step

Constable 3

Base

$90,520

Package

$115,865

Constable

Step

Constable 4

Base

$92,330

Constable First Class

Step

Constable 1/C 5

Base

$94,175

Constable First Class

Step

Constable 1/C 6

Base

$96,059

Constable First Class

Step

Constable 1/C 7

Base

$97,980

Constable First Class

Step

Constable 1/C 8

Base

$99,942

Constable First Class

Step

Constable 1/C 9

Base

$101,939

Constable First Class

Step

Constable 1/C 10

Base

$103,977

Package

$133,090

Rank	Step	Base	Package
Constable	Constable 1 (graduation to end of 12 months)	$87,005	$111,366
Constable	Constable 3	$90,520	$115,865
Constable	Constable 4	$92,330	–
Constable First Class	Constable 1/C 5	$94,175	–
Constable First Class	Constable 1/C 6	$96,059	–
Constable First Class	Constable 1/C 7	$97,980	–
Constable First Class	Constable 1/C 8	$99,942	–
Constable First Class	Constable 1/C 9	$101,939	–
Constable First Class	Constable 1/C 10	$103,977	$133,090

Packages add the 23% Consolidated Allowance and 5% GPA, which aren't paid during training. ARP recruits are paid at the increment matching completed years of service (3 completed years = 4th-year Constable), capped at 10+ years.

The ARP process is shorter: an application with a detailed police service record, background checks, cognitive assessment, panel interview, referee checks, medical and probity. NTPFES lists no fitness test for ARP applicants, but the swim is still required. Probation is 12 months including training, and you must spend at least a year in General Duties before applying for specialist roles. NTPFES published graduation material for ARP Squad 5 in April 2026, so the program is active.

Aboriginal Community Police Officer (ACPO)

The ACPO pathway is for applicants of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. You need Year 10 or equivalent, or a trade or life experience, then complete 24 weeks of paid training at Berrimah and 12 months' probation. ACPOs received an extra 5% structural pay rise in the first year of the 2025 agreement, on top of the general increases.

Police Public Safety Officer (PPSO)

Announced on 18 June 2025, PPSOs merge the former frontline Auxiliaries, Public Housing Safety Officers and Transit Safety Officers. Up to 212 are planned. PPSOs work only in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, with no remote postings, which suits people who want a policing career without the remote commitment. Training is 18 weeks on $74,069, and you earn a Certificate IV in Protective Services on completing probation.

PPSO Squad 1 began training on 23 February 2026 and started duty on 29 June 2026; Squad 2 started on 11 May 2026. For First Nations pathways across all forces, see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander police pathways.

NTPFES doesn't publish how long the process takes from application to College. Training is 30 weeks (possibly 32), probation runs to your second anniversary, and the posting of choice comes after two years elsewhere. The next pay rise under the 2025 agreement is 3%, expected around August 2027 (our inference from the agreement's start date).

Comparing small forces? Read how to join SAPOL and how to join Tasmania Police, or take the which force should I join quiz.

The full text of the 2025 Consent Agreement, including any changes to remote allowances. It isn't publicly available.

Who can confirm it

NT Police Association or the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment

Constable course length: the Constable page says 30 weeks, but NTPFES's PPSO FAQ calls it 'the 32-week Constable course'.

Who can confirm it

NTPFES Recruitment

The cognitive test provider and format.

Who can confirm it

NTPFES Recruitment

Whether a $6,500 retention payment and a milestone retention bonus apply to new officers. Both are reported but unconfirmed.

Who can confirm it

NTPA

The PPSO probation period and full pay structure beyond the starting rate.

Who can confirm it

NTPFES Recruitment

Employer super rate (believed to be the 12% Superannuation Guarantee into your chosen fund).

Who can confirm it

NT Treasury or NTPFES

Retirement age: the Police Administration Act says 67 since December 2023, but the recruiting FAQ still says 65.

Who can confirm it

The Act is the authority; NTPFES can confirm

Open question	Who can confirm it
The full text of the 2025 Consent Agreement, including any changes to remote allowances. It isn't publicly available.	NT Police Association or the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment
Constable course length: the Constable page says 30 weeks, but NTPFES's PPSO FAQ calls it 'the 32-week Constable course'.	NTPFES Recruitment
The cognitive test provider and format.	NTPFES Recruitment
Whether a $6,500 retention payment and a milestone retention bonus apply to new officers. Both are reported but unconfirmed.	NTPA
The PPSO probation period and full pay structure beyond the starting rate.	NTPFES Recruitment
Employer super rate (believed to be the 12% Superannuation Guarantee into your chosen fund).	NT Treasury or NTPFES
Retirement age: the Police Administration Act says 67 since December 2023, but the recruiting FAQ still says 65.	The Act is the authority; NTPFES can confirm