What Empco does

Empco, Inc. is a privately held testing services company founded in 1985 and headquartered in Troy, Michigan. The company develops and administers validated employment selection and promotional examinations for public safety and municipal government agencies, with a particular concentration in law enforcement, corrections, and fire service hiring across five U.S. states (Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota).

Empco's core product is the Entry-Level Testing System, a web-based platform accessible via the EMP.ClientPortal that delivers three proprietary examinations: the National Criminal Justice Officer Selection Inventory² (NCJOSI²) for law enforcement positions, the National Correctional Officer Selection Inventory (NCOSI) for corrections, and the National Firefighter Selection Inventory (NFSI) for firefighter candidates. These computer-administered cognitive ability and behavioral exams are developed through formal job analyses and validated using industry-standard psychometric methodologies. Beyond entry-level testing, Empco provides promotional products — Written Exams (in Off-the-Shelf, Tailored, and Customized formats), structured Oral Boards, and Assessment Centers with tactical scenarios — and has extended into municipal civil service and executive-level municipal government testing.

The business operates on two revenue mechanics: a per-attempt candidate fee of $75 for entry-level written exams, and professional services revenue for promotional testing, assessment centers, oral boards, and custom exam development. Go-to-market is anchored by consortium partnerships with six state-level law enforcement associations, which collectively serve as both distribution channel and embedded regulatory access point. The company is founder-owned, employs 1-10 people, and has no disclosed outside capital, M&A activity, or subsidiary relationships.

Name

Empco

Legal name

Empco, Inc.

Website

https://empco.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Empco is a Troy, Michigan-based testing services company that develops and administers validated computer-based cognitive and behavioral examinations for public safety and municipal government agencies across five U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Safety Pre-Employment Testing Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

National/State Examination Boards & Testing Agencies (EDADAFAA)

Keywords

• Pre-employment testing
• Public safety assessment
• Law enforcement selection
• Civil service testing
• Promotional testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Troy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Written Examination Fees: Candidates pay $75 per test attempt to take written exams. This is a per-transaction fee model where candidates pay each time they register and take an examination.
2. Assessment Center Services: Empco provides assessment center services for promotional candidates in law enforcement, fire service, corrections and public safety. These are structured evaluation processes using multiple exercises.
3. Oral Board Services: Structured oral boards created for specific agencies and positions to evaluate promotional candidates through job-related questions and assessments.
4. Custom Examination Development: Development of customized and tailored examinations for specific departments, with customized examinations including department-specific content such as rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Empco, Inc. provides employment testing and assessment services for public safety and municipal government agencies. The company develops and administers validated written examinations (NCJOSI², NCOSI, NFSI), oral boards, and assessment centers used for both entry-level selection and promotional processes for Police Officers, Road Patrol Deputies, Corrections/Jail Officers, Firefighters, and municipal civil service positions. Candidates register through a web-based portal to take exams that qualify them for multiple participating agencies within cooperative hiring consortiums.

Product overview

Empco offers a unified testing platform specializing in employment testing and assessment services for public sector agencies. The core offering is the Entry-Level Testing System, a web-based platform accessible via the EMP.ClientPortal that enables candidates to test once and qualify for multiple agencies across multiple states. The platform encompasses four regional testing systems: Michigan Sheriffs' Testing System, Indiana Sheriffs' Association Testing System, Badger State Sheriffs' Association Testing System (Wisconsin), and Dakota Territories Sheriffs' Association Testing System. For entry-level positions, the platform offers three distinct written exams: NCJOSI² for Law Enforcement (Police Officer/Road Patrol Deputy), NCOSI for Corrections/Jail Officer, and NFSI for Firefighter. Beyond the entry-level platform, Empco provides promotional testing products including Written Exams (available as Off-the-Shelf, Tailored, or Customized formats), Oral Boards, and Assessment Centers for law enforcement, fire service, corrections, and municipal government agencies. The portfolio also includes Executive Level Testing Products for municipal leadership positions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Entry-Level Testing System A web-based platform that enables candidates for Police Officer, Road Patrol Deputy, Corrections/Jail Officer, and Firefighter positions to test once and qualify for multiple agencies within participating states through cooperative hiring consortiums. Delivered via the EMP.ClientPortal.
• Law Enforcement Testing System (NCJOSI²)
• Fire Testing System (NFSI)
• Michigan Sheriffs' Testing System
• Indiana Sheriffs' Association Testing System
• Badger State Sheriffs' Association Testing System
• Dakota Territories Sheriffs' Association Testing System
• Promotional Written Exams
• Oral Boards
• Assessment Centers
• Municipal/Civil Service Selection and Promotional Processes
• Executive Level Testing Products

Quantifiable outcome

• Test scores valid for 12 months (365 days) from test date, allowing candidates extended eligibility period for hiring
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Indiana Sheriffs' AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Indiana Sheriffs' Association to deliver the Indiana Sheriffs' Association Testing System for Law Enforcement (Police and Deputy) and Corrections/Jail Officer positions.
• Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police (MACP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with MACP for Michigan-based law enforcement testing coordination for entry-level Police Officer positions through the state's testing system.
• Michigan Sheriffs' Coordinating and Training Council (MSCTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with MSCTC for state-certified corrections officer testing standards. MSCTC sets standards and requirements for the Corrections/Jail Officer written exam in Michigan, including the LCOPAT physical ability test.
• Michigan Sheriffs' Association (MSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with MSA for the Michigan Sheriffs' Testing System covering Corrections, Fire Service, and Law Enforcement (Deputy/Public Safety) positions.
• Dakota Territories Sheriffs' AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Dakota Territories Sheriffs' Association to provide testing systems for Corrections/Jail Officer and Law Enforcement Deputy positions in North and South Dakota.
• Badger State Sheriffs' AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Badger State Sheriffs' Association to deliver the Badger State Sheriffs' Association Testing System in Wisconsin.
• I/O SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerI/O Solutions publishes and sells study guides and preparation materials for Empco's examinations (NCJOSI², NCOSI, NFSI). Empco refers candidates to I/O Solutions for study materials.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• I/O Solutions: I/O Solutions develops and administers public safety selection examinations (FireTEAM, POST, NCJOSI-style assessments) for fire, law enforcement, and corrections agencies. It is both a direct competitor and study-material partner of Empco in the validated public safety exam space.
• Ergometrics & Applied Personnel Research: Ergometrics develops and administers video-based and written examinations for public safety entry-level and promotional selection, closely paralleling Empco's validated exam and assessment center offerings.
• CritiCall (by Luminosity): CritiCall provides standardized assessments for emergency dispatch and 911 call-handler selection, operating in the adjacent public safety assessment market with similar validated testing methodologies.
• National Testing Network: National Testing Network operates a consortium-based public safety testing platform connecting candidates to multiple police, fire, and corrections agencies. Directly comparable to Empco's consortium model and candidate-facing portal.
• Stanard & Associates: Stanard & Associates provides assessment services and validated selection instruments for public safety agencies nationwide, including entry-level and promotional examinations. A direct competitor serving the same customer base with similar methodologies.
• Morris & McDaniel, Inc. Morris & McDaniel is a long-established public safety assessment firm offering entry-level and promotional testing for police, fire, and corrections agencies. Directly comparable to Empco in validated exam development and assessment center services.

Broad incumbents

• Frontline Education: Frontline Education provides K-12 and public-sector HR and assessment solutions, including public safety applicant management. It is a broader incumbent that overlaps with Empco's consortium-style candidate management platform.
• PSI Services: PSI Services is a large-scale assessment and testing services provider operating across certification, licensure, and employment testing. As a broad incumbent it competes for public safety assessment contracts and offers overlapping capabilities, though public safety is not its exclusive focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empco-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Empco