Tennessee Highway Patrol to Begin Accepting Applications for New Trooper Cadet Lateral Class

NASHVILLE –- The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) is announcing the first ever lateral trooper class for the agency.

THP will soon begin accepting applications for the next Trooper Cadet Academy. Men and women interested in a career as a state trooper can begin the application process online only, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, March 9, through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, March 15.

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.).

As stated, this lateral class is the first of its kind for THP and is scheduled to begin Thursday, September 1, 2016, and scheduled to graduate Friday, December 16, 2016. 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 with a faster turnaround”, said Colonel Tracy Trott.

Legislation enacted in October 2012, 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 mid-April, 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, a U.S. Citizen and have a high school diploma or equivalent. Current Peace Officer Standard Commission (POST) certified law enforcement officers and/or graduates from an academy that allows eligibility to be POST certified by our agency are preferred. No applicants with felony convictions will be considered.

If hired, individuals must obtain a valid Tennessee driver’s license prior to class start date September 1, 2016, 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.

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://agency.governmentjobs.com/tennessee/default.cfm beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, March 09. Applications will not be accepted after Tuesday, March 15. Once approved by the Department of Human Resources, applicants will be notified of their qualification status via email.

There are currently 884 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 $2,733 per month.

Upon graduation and commissioning as a Tennessee state trooper, the salary will increase to $3,024 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 $53,928 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.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to serve, secure, and protect the people of Tennessee.

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