The Wisconsin State Patrol (608-266-3212), through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, promotes highway safety and provides law enforcement services. Since its inception in 1939, Wisconsin State Troopers have provided dedicated law enforcement services to the residents and visitors of Wisconsin.
This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to become a Wisconsin State Trooper:
- Verify employment eligibility
- Fill out an online information request form
- Apply for employment
- Take the Trooper/Inspector exam
- Complete physical agility testing
- Undergo a background check and fingerprinting
- Undergo psychological testing and a physical examination
- Attend the Wisconsin State Patrol Academy
Step 1: Verify Employment Eligibility
Before applying for Wisconsin State Trooper jobs you must ensure you meet all minimum eligibility requirements as set forth by the State of Wisconsin, Law Enforcement Standards Board (LESB) and the Division of State Patrol, which include:
- You must be authorized to work in the United States (Form I-9 lists acceptable documents)
- You must be registered with the Selective Service system (males between the ages of 18 and 25).
- You must have no felony convictions.
- You must have a valid Wisconsin driver’s license (upon the completion of training)
- You must be at least 18 years of age
- You must possess a high school diploma or a GED
- You must have an associate’s (two-year degree) from an accredited college or university OR have no fewer than 60 associate-level credits (College credit may be waived for military service school courses and skills; prior learning or advanced standing; and preparatory law enforcement, jail, and secure detention officer training courses).
Step 2: Fill out an Online Information Request Form
The Wisconsin State Police have several application periods throughout the year. If you want to be notified of the next open application period and exam administration, you must fill out the online info request form. Complete the form in its entirety, and check the box at the bottom marked “State Patrol Trooper” to be sent a notification for the next open application period.
Step 3: Apply for Employment with the Wisconsin State Patrol
The Division of State Patrol will notify all individuals seeking Wisconsin State Trooper jobs of the upcoming application period. Once you have completed the job application, the Division of State Patrol will contact you with date and time of the exam administration.
Step 4: Take the Trooper/Inspector Exam
The Wisconsin State Trooper/Inspector Exam consists of a multiple-choice exam that includes an assessment of your:
- Ability to read and interpret complex written materials, such as procedures, laws, and policies
- Analytical skills, including reasoning and problem solving
- Basic mathematical skills
- Effective work habits
- Interpersonal responsiveness and reliability
- Observation and recall
- Oral and written communications
Step 5: Complete Physical Agility Testing
All candidates for Wisconsin State Trooper jobs must complete physical agility testing to be considered for a career with the Wisconsin State Patrol. This comprehensive physical agility assessment includes:
- The completion of an obstacle course
- Traffic hazard removal and aid (lifting and carrying 60 pounds)
- Rescue simulation (carrying a dummy weighing 165 pounds from a car and for a distance of 60 feet)
- Arrest resistor (exit a car, sprint 15 yards, and pull the arms of an arrest resistor together)
All candidates must wear appropriate fitness attire and bring a towel and gym shoes to the physical agility test. Additional information on the State Patrol’s physical fitness performance standards can be found here.
Candidates for Wisconsin State Trooper jobs must also complete the following:
- Bench press
- Vertical jump
- Sit-ups
- Push-ups
- Maximum pull-ups
- 1.5-mile run
- 300 meter run
Each event is scored individually, with a minimum sore of at least one point per event required to be considered for employment.
Step 6: Undergo a Background Check and Fingerprinting
All candidates for Wisconsin State Trooper positions must undergo a criminal background check, which includes fingerprinting. The Law Enforcement Standards Board makes case-by-case decisions regarding misdemeanor convictions.
Step 7: Undergo Psychological Testing and a Physical Examination
Both physical and psychological testing is performed by physicians who are approved by the State of Wisconsin.
Step 8: Attend the Wisconsin State Patrol Academy
Upon completion of all pre-employment testing, the Wisconsin State Patrol will invite a select few candidates to attend the Wisconsin State Patrol Academy in Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. Successful candidates must complete 21 weeks of basic training.