The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) announced Monday it is aggressively seeking men and women who are interested in careers in law enforcement for a new Trooper Cadet Class slated to begin March 1, 2013. Applications will only be accepted online from Wednesday, Oct. 3 through Wednesday, Oct. 10.  Individuals interested in applying for the position of State Trooper must be at least 21 years old, a U.S. Citizen and have a high school diploma or equivalent.  No applicants with felony convictions will be considered. 

Following the passage of the Tennessee Excellence, Accountability and Management Act (TEAM Act), effective Oct. 1, the hiring method for becoming a State Trooper has been revised to incorporate an interview process that tests applicant’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies. As a result, selected applicants will be required to successfully pass the physical agility test prior to being admitted for an interview.  THP anticipates the agility test and interview appointments to begin Oct. 30.     

If hired, an individual must obtain a valid Tennessee driver license, and is required to successfully complete a level II background investigation, which includes a credit check and polygraph test.  Recruits must also pass a psychological and medical examination, including a drug screening.

Those interested in and qualified for the position of State Trooper should submit an employment application to the Tennessee Department of Human Resources. All applicants must apply online at http://www.tn.gov/dohr/employment/applicant.shtml  beginning Wednesday, Oct. 3. The application will not be available until that date.  Applications will not be accepted after Oct. 10.  Once approved by the Department of Human Resources, applicants will be notified of their qualification status. There is no longer an examination portion to qualify for the State Trooper position. 

There are currently 882 authorized commissioned officer positions within the THP.  Trooper recruits will be assigned to vacant positions across the state upon graduation.  The starting salary for a Cadet during Trooper School is $2,563 per month.  Upon graduation and commissioning as a Tennessee State Trooper, the salary will increase to $2,836 per month and includes other benefits such as a paid pension plan, low cost health insurance, and paid holidays. Uniform, equipment and patrol vehicles are also provided by the THP. With regular pay increases, a Trooper can earn $50,580 per year after 10 years of service under the current pay structure.  Recruits are paid while in training.  The Trooper Class will last 18 weeks.

For additional information on becoming a State Trooper, visit the Trooper School Information page at the Department of Safety and Homeland Security website (http://www.tn.gov/safety/thp/school.shtml). For more information about applications and testing, interested individuals are encouraged to contact the Tennessee Department of Human Resources Applicant Services Division at 615 741-4841.