CHICAGO (CBS) — The Chicago Police Department has begun accepting applications for a new entrance exam, set to be held in April, to begin the process of hiring 970 new officers over the next two years.

With the department in the midst of a federal investigation of its policies regarding the use of force, and still reeling from a public perception problem a year after the release of the Laquan McDonald shooting video, bolstering the ranks could prove a difficult task.

“I think, in terms of the community’s outlook towards CPD, we are seeing some progress in terms of how people view us now, but I would encourage people if you want CPD to change, then come be a part of that change,” Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said. “The more new blood we get in, the more we can effect change.”

The test will be held April 1 and April 2 at McCormick Place.

In an effort to increase diversity at the department and recruit more minority applicants, the department has made some changes to its testing process, including waiving the $30 testing fee, and working with the CTA to provide more public transportation to the testing center.

“The cerebral part of it is still difficult, but we’re making it easier for people to be able to access the test. We know that we had a lot of issues with people not being able to afford the fees, or the transportation to it. So those parts we’re relaxing, and actually helping them with, because our whole goal is to recruit a population for the test that looks like the demographics of the city,” he said.

The superintendent said the city also is working with a private firm to help recruit more minority applicants.

“Two exams ago, we did a really poor job of attracting minority recruits, but the last entry exam we gave, 71 percent of the applicants were minority, so we’re getting them. We had to figure out how to best attract them. I think we’ve figured it out now,” he said.

The department also has made it easier to take the physical exam, by allowing candidates to take the POWER test at a state-approved facility if they cannot make the assigned date.

“They can actually take that with an outside vendor on their own, and be certified that they can bring those results to us, and we’ll accept that as passing the test,” Johnson said.

The 970 new positions added over the next 24 months will include 516 patrol officers, including Marine Unit and Evidence Unit, 200 detectives, 112 sergeants, 50 lieutenants, and 92 field training officers.

The 516 new patrol officers would be above the department’s current authorized strength. The remaining positions would be added through promotions from within, and promoted officers would be replaced with new hires.

CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi has said the department plans to hire 100 officers a month for 24 months starting next year, when retirements could spike, due to a contract provision that allows officers 55 and older to get a one-time offer of free health care if they retire. In recent years, the department has been able to keep pace with attrition though normal recruitment, but will need to step up hiring to do so in the next couple years.

As for who will fill those new positions, CPD said there is a pool of 8,000 eligible candidates from the last police exam, and another exam is planned for next April.

The first wave of these new officers will be in the acadamy starting in January, which means the earliest they could be on the streets is June 2017.

Applications for the next entrance exam must be filled out online. Click here to apply. Applications must be completed by Jan. 31, 2017.