PELLETB · what it costs
Pellet B cost: no POST fee, local charges vary
POST charges no fee for the Pellet B. Any money you pay goes to the agency or academy that runs your session, and POST doesn't set or publish those prices. So there is no single cost to quote. Here is what is fixed, what varies and what to ask before you sign up.
- No POST feetest fee
- Free POST guide (PDF)from the test's owner
- 30 dayswait before a retest
What is fixed, with sources
| Fact | Detail | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test fee | POST charges no test feePOST bills agencies only for expedited shipping of answer sheets; it publishes no fee for local test sessions | California POST: PELLETB agency FAQs (page updated 10/20/2026) | Oct 21, 2026 |
| Prep from the test owner | Free Applicant Preparation Guide from POST, with keyed sample items for each sub-test | California POST: Applicant Preparation Guide for the PELLETB (2025 form) | Oct 21, 2026 |
| Format | Paper and pencil; no online version | California POST: PELLETB applicant FAQs (page updated 9/16/2026) | Oct 21, 2026 |
| Where you test | Only inside California, at sessions run by POST-authorized agencies and academies; POST publishes no list of test datesPOST publishes a list of participating agencies that may offer entry-level testing | California POST: PELLETB applicant FAQs (page updated 9/16/2026) · California POST: California law enforcement agencies (POST participating agencies) | Oct 21, 2026 |
| Retake rule | Wait 30 calendar days, counted across all agencies; a retest within 30 days is invalidatedthe earliest retest is day 31 after the last test | California POST: PELLETB applicant FAQs (page updated 9/16/2026) | Oct 21, 2026 |
| Score valid for | No POST time limit; each agency may set its own window | California POST: PELLETB applicant FAQs (page updated 9/16/2026) | Oct 21, 2026 |
Who charges what
POST writes the test, ships the materials to authorized agencies and scores the answer sheets. Its agency FAQ says it charges no fee for the test; the only POST charge it mentions is for an agency's rush shipping of answer sheets. That leaves two kinds of session:
- Testing with the department you apply to. The department gives the test as a step of its own hiring process. Read the job posting: it says whether there is a fee.
- A session at another agency or an academy. Many departments accept a score from someone else's session, and police academies give the test to their own applicants. If such a session has a fee, the host sets it.
One cost doesn't change from place to place: the wait. A failed or invalidated attempt puts you 30 days back before you can test again, anywhere.
Trap: paying a website to “register” for the Pellet B
You can't buy a Pellet B seat from a prep website. Only authorized California agencies give the test, in person, and you sign up with them. The test is given on paper, in person. A site selling “PELLETB registration” or an online version is selling practice material.
What prep costs
The only prep from the test's owner costs nothing: POST's free Applicant Preparation Guide (PDF), with keyed sample items for each sub-test, which you can download from POST. POST also points applicants to two other sources of help: assessment centers at community colleges and free online writing labs (OWLs).
Paid books and courses are optional. Before you buy one, check that it has no CLOZE section (what changed in 2025). Our practice test and the study guide cost nothing and need no sign-up.
Questions to ask before you book a session
- Is there a fee, and is it refundable if you can't attend?
- Will the result come as a letter you can send to other departments? Some departments want it on the testing agency's letterhead.
- Have you tested anywhere in the last 30 days? If so, the new score will be invalidated, fee or not.
- Does the department you want accept outside scores at all? CHP, for one, tests every applicant itself.
The department directory shows which test each agency uses and which scores it accepts.
More on the Pellet B
- PELLETB The four sub-tests, T-scores, the 30-day retest rule and who takes the score
- PELLETB practice test Clarity, vocabulary, spelling and reading questions, every option explained
- PELLETB exam facts Format, T-scores, passing scores by agency, the 30-day retest rule, 2025 changes
- PELLETB where to take California agencies and academies only, on paper; how to find a session
- PELLETB study guide What to study for each sub-test, in what order, with POST's free guide
Pellet B cost: quick answers
How much does the Pellet B test cost?
POST charges nothing for the test itself. Whether you pay, and how much, depends on the agency or academy that runs your session, so check its posting.
Is the Pellet B study guide free?
Yes. POST's Applicant Preparation Guide, with sample items and answer keys for each sub-test, is a free PDF on post.ca.gov.
Do I pay again to retake the Pellet B?
A session fee belongs to the host, so ask whether it applies again on a retest. Either way, you can retest only after 30 days.