The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department offers two different options for attending the academy training: Affiliated and Non-Affiliated recruit positions.

Affiliate Recruit Position

The first option is the Affiliated Recruit position (paid position as a Deputy Sheriff Trainee). Once a candidate successfully completes the academy entry level testing process, background investigation, and interview, he/she is given a conditional offer for hire pending upon successful completion of the psychological and medical testing. The candidate will then be hired as an employee with the County of Sacramento and enter the intensive (fulltime) Sheriff's Basic Recruit Academy as a paid Deputy Sheriff Trainee (DST). While attending the Sheriff's Basic Recruit Academy, the trainee receives a base line salary and is entitled to full benefits through the County of Sacramento. Upon successfully completing the Academy, the trainee will then be assigned to a Division within the Sheriff's Department as a Deputy Sheriff. To apply for the trainee position, you must go to the Employment Opportunities page and submit an application through the County Of Sacramento Personnel Services website.

Non-Affiliate Recruit Position

The second option for attending the Sacramento County Sheriff's Academy training is the Non-Affiliated Recruit position (non-paid position). A Non-Affiliated Recruit is a candidate who has not been hired by our Department, or has not yet been sponsored by another agency. This candidate is not a County employee and therefore not entitled to a salary or County benefits while attending the Academy.

Non-Affiliated Recruits pay for all of their own materials, fees and uniforms. Once a Non-Affiliate graduates with his/her Academy P.O.S.T. certificate, he/she may apply for employment with most law enforcement agencies within the state of California including as a Deputy Sheriff, On-Call Deputy Sheriff, and a Reserve Deputy Sheriff with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department. To apply for a non-affiliated recruit position, see below.