Selected applicants who meet or exceed basic qualifications for employment will be scheduled for written testing.

The written examination will be administered after resume review.

The position of Police Officer requires applicants to meet minimum physical agility standards necessary for the performance of police duties.

• 1 bench press: 57% of your body weight
• Agility run: 20.6 seconds
• 300 meter run: 92 seconds
• Push-ups: 12
• 1.5 mile run: 19 min 45 sec

State requirements may supersede Amtrak Police physical standard requirements.

New York State residents will be subject to passing both Amtrak Police Physical Agility Standards and New York State Police Cooper Physical Agility Standards.

Candidates will be scheduled for a structured oral interview.

For all positions: The Amtrak Police Department conducts an in-depth background investigation to determine an applicant’s eligibility and suitability for employment.

For Police Officer positions: applicants may not be selected for further employment consideration if their background includes one or more of the following issues. This list is not intended to be all-inclusive and is provided for informational purposes to assist prospective candidates in assessing their qualifications.

• A conviction for one or more felonies.
• A conviction for one or more serious misdemeanors within the past 24 months from the date of application. A serious misdemeanor is any offense punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. (NOTE: A candidate will not be considered even if the actual sentence imposed was less than one year imprisonment.)
• A conviction uniquely related to issues of public trust and a candidate’s fitness to fulfill the duties of a police officer position; for example, assault, perjury, illegal possession and use of drugs, DUI, crimes involving children or the elderly, etc.
• Having an open arrest warrant, being on probation for a crime, or while any criminal charge is pending.
  
  

• A conviction for one or more of the following offenses within the past 24 months: Reckless Driving or similar offense, Hit and Run, DUI or Refusal to Submit to a DUI test, Driving on a Revoked License or Driving Without Required Insurance.
• A poor overall driving record as evidenced by license suspensions, at-fault accidents and/or multiple moving violations in the past 5 years.
  
  

• A record of poor overall work performance, including evaluations and supervisory reviews.
• Discipline and/or specific violations involving abuse of leave, theft, insubordination, dereliction of duty, workplace violence, acts constituting workplace harassment or discrimination, or a persistent failure to follow established policies and regulations.
• Dismissal, or voluntary separation in lieu of discipline, related to work performance or conduct.
  
  

Dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the United States.

An established pattern of financial irresponsibility resulting in debts going to collection absent unexpected or unusual expenses (ex. health care), unexpected business losses, or employment layoffs, reductions in force or other reasonable problems which can result in financial difficulties.

• Any falsification of information or facts in a document or in an oral statement.
• Any material misstatement of facts, alteration or manipulation of records.
• Lack of candor by failing to disclose relevant facts or information, omitting facts or information, or failing to produce requested information during the application and background investigation process.
• Missing any scheduled appointment during the process without prior notification and an acceptable reason.
  
  

The following information is intended as guidance to help applicants better understand the applicable state railroad police laws and regulations and their impact on the Amtrak background investigation process:

Amtrak police officers derive their legal authority from the railroad commissioning laws in each state. Typically an Amtrak police officer is commissioned in either the state of their residence or the state in which they will work. Where states have created minimum hiring, training or certification requirements, candidates must meet the minimum hiring standards for both Amtrak and the state in which they will be commissioned. State laws and state agency procedures for an applicant to obtain a railroad police commission vary and often establish a separate and distinct set of criteria for getting a railroad police commission. In addition, the state may perform its own background investigation or review the Amtrak Police Department’s background investigation. If you are selected, your background investigator will review with you the state statutes, regulations and requirements for becoming a commissioned railroad police officer in the applicable state.

Candidates must successfully pass a post-offer psychological examination, including an interview with a psychologist.

The Chief of Police or designee(s) will review the applicant package of candidates who successfully complete all stages of the selection process. When a vacancy exists, the selected candidate(s) will be offered a position by a Human Resources Department representative.

Candidates must successfully pass a medical examination by a licensed physician and pass a drug screening test for use of controlled and/or illegal substances.

Education Assistance: Tuition reimbursement plan. Continue your learning and expand your knowledge. After six months of service, we may provide financial assistance if you wish to pursue a formal course of study for professional development.

Amtrak offers a variety of health and wellness benefit choices for all of employees, spouses, dependents and life partners.

You can choose from:

• Medical, Every Day Wellness, Vision, Dental, and Prescription Drug.
• Eligibility for up to 12 weeks of leave per year.
• Employee Assistance (EAP): We want to help you and your family to the fullest extent possible.
• Family & Medical Leave: You may be eligible for up to 12 weeks of leave every 12 months to use for different medical reasons, from illness to care of your newborn or newly adopted child.

Paid life insurance.

• Free rail travel privileges for yourself and your dependents on Amtrak trains nationwide.
• We want your work at Amtrak to be more than just a job. You, your spouse and eligible dependents are entitled to unlimited rail transportation on Amtrak, in addition to discounts from other travel industry providers.

• Tier I portion consist of any Social Security credits that an employee may have earned combined with your Railroad Retirement credits.
• Tier II portion is based on Railroad Retirement credits only.
• Tier I is equivalent to the current 7.65% social security tax.
• Currently employees contribute an additional 4.9% toward Tier II.
• Employees are vested in contributions after 60 months of compensated railroad service.
• Tier II contributions are forfeited if you do not render 60 months of compensated railroad service.
• In addition to the retirement annuities payable to employees, the Railroad Retirement Board also provides benefits for the spouses of retired employees. Payment of a spouse benefits is made directly to the wife or husband of the employee. In certain instances, divorced spouses may also qualify for benefits. (Please contact RRB for requirements).
• Participation in a 401K retirement plan.
• A variety of investment options.
• The Amtrak 401(k) plan provides you with a variety of investment options to help you save money for retirement.

• Higher retirement benefits for you.
• Federal law provides that railroad employees pay taxes under the Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA) rather than the Social Security Act, providing you with a higher retirement benefit.

Options for all employees to save money:

• Health Care Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Parking Commuter Reimbursement Account
• Transit Commuter Reimbursement Account

Amtrak vacation and holiday benefits give you a generous amount of paid time away from work each year.