How to Become a Florida Fish & Wildlife Officer

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is a law-enforcement agency specializing in upholding state boating regulations and the laws protecting Florida's natural resources. Officers employed by FWC have more authority than any other law-enforcement officers in Florida, as they not only have statewide jurisdiction to enforce all Florida laws, but may also impose federal fish and wildlife laws. Becoming a Florida Fish and Wildlife officer requires the successful completion of several steps.

Instructions

1. Apply for a vacancy at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Register for People First, Florida's online employment database. Search for vacancies at FWC and submit an electronic copy of the general application for state employment. Complete and submit the FWC supplemental application, and include all required supporting documents.

2. Pass a physical fitness assessment. Fitness tests are given only to applicants deemed qualified by FWC upon a review of the state application and supplemental application.

3. Participate in an oral interview and submit to additional physical and psychological examinations at the Florida Public Safety Institute in Tallahassee. FWC also performs a background investigation on each applicant.

4. Graduate from the prescribed training program. If you are already a sworn law-enforcement officer, report to the FWC Law Enforcement Training Center for specialized FWC training. If you are not a sworn law-enforcement officer, you must complete basic law-enforcement training before beginning the specialized FWC training. According to the FWC, specialized training lasts approximately six weeks and basic law-enforcement training lasts approximately 19 weeks.

5. Complete 14 weeks of field training. During field training, a new officer performs the everyday duties of an FWC officer under the close supervision of a veteran officer who specializes in training new employees. After successful completion of field training, the new officer may work as a full-fledged member of FWC.

Tips & Warnings

• FWC has a reserve officer program which allows sworn law-enforcement officers to volunteer under the direct supervision of full-time FWC officials. Requirements for that program can be found at http://tinyurl.com/yar8b6h.

References

• FWC Guidelines for Becoming a Certified Officer
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement

Resources

• State of Florida Job Registry and Application
• FWC Supplemental Application