Frequently Asked Questions​

Yes. Select the course icon to see its curriculum. Oral Boards Made Easy “PLUS” means exactly that, updated and improved content has been added to the Silver, Gold, and Platinum versions of the original Oral Boards Made Easy – the original course is preserved in its entirety in the PLUS version. The Silver has new content, the Gold has even more new content than Silver, and Platinum has more than Gold.

With the release of Oral Boards Made Easy PLUS, The three access levels differ in content and cost. Platinum and Gold come with 4 months of access; Silver has one month of access.

A Learning Element is a piece of the course. It can be as simple as a 15-second post or it may be a more detailed course video. Oral Boards Made Easy PLUS is an on-demand version of a successful one-day seminar, formatted for user flexibility. It is packed with valuable information. Yet, unlike a live seminar, you have the benefit of picking and choosing which Learning Elements you want to view. More Learning Elements give you more learning options. Bottom line, YOU retain control of your priorities, time management, and learning needs.

Oral Boards Made Easy PLUS concepts worked for me multiple times (sergeant, lieutenant, captain, assistant chief), which is why I believe in its design and content. Of course, corporal and captain questions are very likely to be different, but that does not mean the core elements change much. My Oral Boards Made Easy PLUS On-Demand Seminar acronyms are built on those core elements. And now, with the PLUS version, there are lieutenant and captain level demonstration videos for the acronyms in addition to the demonstration videos for first-line supervisor candidates.

Police agencies across the United States – for the most part – are trained in a similar manner and perform similar tasks. Candidates certainly benefit from knowing applicable laws and department regulations, but the core functions of police supervisors, mid-managers, and managers remain mostly the same.

Yes, because there is a near infinite number of possible questions that may be asked of you. That’s why my approach focuses on categories of questions rather than specific questions. When you identify the category and apply the relevant acronym, your preparation is made “easy”. Conversely, there are many, many unique questions that may be asked at any process, for example: “What are the six pillars in the President’s Task Force Report on 21st Century Policing?”. While I do not have an acronym for such a specific question, my course does have over 200 hyperlinks to find topic information quickly on contemporary police topics, including the six pillars. Having that type of shortcut can be a tremendous timesaver for you as you do your research.

Yes. Each of the packages are appropriate for assessment center exercises as well as oral boards. That said, the Gold and Platinum packages provide more assessment center materials than Silver.

Yes and no. This course is designed for oral assessment exercises; written exercises such as the in-basket and essays fall outside of the area. However, the Platinum access level does have written scenarios and in-basket “point earners”.

Point earners are those little difference makers that when applied can increase the likelihood of your score being nudged upward. Essentially each of the Point Earner modules offered in the Platinum access are a listing of approximately 2 dozen things for you to do, or consider, to help give you an edge.

The biggest mistake you can make is trying to memorize a specific answer for every single scenario. Instead, you need a dynamic, repeatable framework. Our course teaches you a step-by-step system that ensures you never miss a critical element on a hot call. No matter the scenario—be it an active shooter, a barricaded suspect, or a major accident scene—this framework prompts you to systematically address life safety, scene isolation, notifications, resource staging, and follow up steps in a logical sequence that is easy for the evaluators to score.

Assessment panels consistently focus on four major areas:
Operational Critical Incidents: Handling high-risk, fast-moving tactical calls.
Internal Personnel Issues: Dealing with a subordinate’s policy infraction, performance drop, or misconduct.
Community Relations: Resolving an aggressive citizen or business-owner complaint.
Administrative Conflicts: Managing shifting priorities, budget constraints, or conflicting directives from upper management.
The PLUS Platinum tier features specific “Hot Call” and assessment center video breakdowns that show you exactly how to handle these specific scenarios by rank.

The number one failure is answering like a front-line officer instead of a supervisor. When given a problem, candidates often explain how they would personally handle the situation rather than how they would lead, delegate, and hold others accountable. Panels look for a complete shift in your professional identity—moving from “doing the work” to ensuring the work is done safely, ethically, and aligned with department policy. Our video demonstrations explicitly highlight this supervisor mindset.

While Sergeant boards focus heavily on tactical response and direct subordinate supervision, Lieutenant and Captain boards shift to high-level administrative risk management. At the manager level, you are expected to answer questions through the lens of fiscal responsibility, policy development, political navigation, liability reduction, and long-term community relations. The PLUS version of our course includes advanced demonstrations specifically tailored to meet these higher-level expectations.

Do not treat this question like a categorical reading of your resume. A high-scoring opening statement is a strategic pitch that briefly highlights your past achievements, demonstrates a clear understanding of the target rank, and explains exactly how your leadership style will benefit the agency moving forward. You can watch a live, high-scoring demonstration of this exact technique inside Module 1, which is completely free to preview on our site.

Yes, absolutely. Your closing statement is your final opportunity to seal your position at the top of the promotional list. It should never sound like an afterthought or a generic “thank you.” A powerful closing statement synthesizes your passion for the position, reinforces your readiness for leadership, and leaves a lasting impression of professionalism. Our downloadable action guide gives you the exact scripts and formulas to build a memorable closing.

ABSOLUTELY! Because Oral Boards Made Easy Plus is a digital e-learning course that provides immediate access to proprietary video modules and downloadable guides, we are unable to offer refunds or credits once a purchase is finalized. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of our Free Module 1 Preview to get a feel for the teaching style before buying. If you have any concerns that develop while you are enrolled, I want to know. I have been helping police professionals achieve their promotions for more than 2 decades, something that I would never have been able to achieve if I did not have a solid product that I stand behind 100%