The Tennessee Highway Patrol will soon be accepting applications for the second lateral trooper class. Men and women interested in a career as a state trooper can begin the application process online at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, March 8 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, March 21.
Preferred qualifications for the lateral class will be Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) certified police officers and those individuals who have graduated from a POST certified law enforcement training facility (i.e.
Walter State Community College or Cleveland State, etc).
This is the second year for the lateral that is scheduled to begin Aug. 27, and scheduled to graduate Dec. 15. The class will consist of 16 weeks of training condensed from the THP’s traditional trooper academies which consist of 22 weeks.
“In the interest of public safety, I believe that the lateral trooper class will make Tennessee a safer state to work, live and play by putting highly trained troopers on Tennessee roadways,” Colonel Tracy Trott said. “Applicants with previous experience have the opportunity to become state troopers in a shorter training cycle.”
In October of 2012, legislation called the Tennessee Excellence, Accountability and Management Act (TEAM Act) revised the hiring method to incorporate an interview process that tests an 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. There is no longer an examination portion to qualify for the state trooper position.
The THP anticipates the agility test and interview appointments to begin April 18 and conclude on April 21 at the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Training Center. Individuals interested in applying for the position of state trooper must be at least 21 years old, POST certified, a U.S. Citizen and have a high school diploma or equivalent. No applicants with felony convictions will be considered.
If hired, individuals must obtain a valid Tennessee driver license prior to class graduation on Dec. 15 and are 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.
Interested and qualified candidates 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://agency.governmentjobs.com/tennessee/default.cfm beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, March 8. Applications will not be accepted after March 21. Once approved by the Department of Human Resources, applicants will be notified of their qualification status via email.
There are currently 897 authorized commissioned trooper positions within the THP. Trooper cadets will be assigned to vacant positions across the state upon graduation. The starting salary for a trooper cadet during the training academy is $2,859 per month.
Upon graduation and commissioning as a Tennessee state trooper, the salary will increase to $3,163 per month and include a pension plan, health insurance and paid holidays. Troopers are also provided a uniform, equipment and patrol vehicles. With regular pay increases, a state trooper can earn $56,412 per year after 10 years of service under the current pay structure.
For additional information on becoming a state trooper, visit
http://www.tn.gov/safety/article/trpqualifications.
For more information about applications, interested individuals are encouraged to contact the Tennessee Department of Human Resources Applicant Services Division at 615-741-4841.