How to Become a State Trooper

Becoming a state trooper requires several tests.

Serving as a state trooper can be an honorable position because of the responsibilities you have of protecting others. It also can be stressful and even dangerous, which is why extensive screening of applicants is required. Increase your chances of being hired for this profession by learning more.

Instructions

1. Pass an entrance exam. One of the first requirements to become a state trooper is to pass a written test that gauges your knowledge and measures your ability to understand certain concepts. It is a pass or fail test--meaning, if you fail the test, you may not proceed to becoming a trooper until you have retaken it and passed.

2. Ensure you are physically fit. Although you may only see state troopers patrolling highways in their vehicles, the demands of their job require them to be in excellent physical condition. This is why a physical condition assessment is required to become a trooper. Expect to have your physical strength and endurance tested, as well as certain senses such as eyesight and hearing.

3. Get a background check. This ensures that you don’t have prior criminal behaviors that might contribute to you not performing your job to the high standards set forth by the state troopers’ organizations.

4. Interview with the state trooper organization. Once you have passed a background check, physical fitness assessment and the entrance exam, the state trooper organization can interview you for any open positions it might have. This doesn’t guarantee you will get a job because there are some additional steps that must be completed before you are hired as an official state trooper.

5. Pass a medical exam, drug test and psychological evaluation. If the interview was a success and they are interested in hiring you, a medical exam, drug test and psychological evaluation will be required. Some states do these things before the interview, as the results can automatically weed out candidates who won’t be able to fulfill their obligations as a trooper.

6. Attend the trooper academy. Each state has an academy for troopers to provide initial and ongoing training. The length of the training varies from state to state, and your state trooper organization can provide you with the details. Most often, you will be required to live at the academy for a certain time period while undergoing initial training.

7. Accept a position as a state trooper. Once you have met all requirements, passed all the needed tests and exams and completed the academy, you can officially become a state trooper.

Tips & Warnings

• Some states do require that you take a polygraph as part of your background check.

• The steps listed are the general requirements for most states. Contact the human resources or a personnel office for state troopers in your state to get a full list of requirements.