The West Virginia State Police, the fourth oldest police agency in the United States, employs sworn personnel who provide statewide law enforcement (criminal and traffic) services that are designed protect the safety of all citizens and visitors throughout the state, including the state’s roads, streets, and highways.
If you want to learn how to become a West Virginia State Trooper, there are a number of steps you must take:
- Meet all minimum requirements
- Submit an employment application
- Complete entry-level testing
- Meet with the Cadet Section Board for an oral review
- Complete a suitability examination, online personal history questionnaire, and a background investigation
- Undergo a psychological assessment
- Undergo a complete medical physical
- Complete cadet training at the West Virginia Police Academy
Step 1: Meet all minimum qualifications for employment
Before applying for West Virginia State Trooper jobs it is important to first review the Department’s minimum requirements for employment. All State Troopers in West Virginia must:
- Between 21 and 40 years old
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid driver’s license for no fewer than two years prior to applying for the West Virginia State Trooper job
You may not be eligible for a West Virginia State Trooper job if:
- You have any domestic violence convictions
- You are not eligible to work in the United States
- You have been convicted of a felony crime
- You have been dismissed from any public service for delinquency, misconduct, or similar causes in the past
- You have any convictions of serious traffic offenses (DUIs, negligent homicide, etc.)
- You have body art (piercings, tattoos, etc.) that are visible while wearing the West Virginia State Police uniform
Step 2: Submit an Employment Application to the West Virginia State Police
You must complete an employment application to be considered for a position as a State Trooper in West Virginia. You can download the West Virginia State Trooper application here. You can either mail it or deliver it in person to the personnel department address listed on the application.
The Personnel Section reviews all applications and, if you meet all minimum criteria for employment, your application will be filed as an active applicant, and you will be notified by mail of your status as soon as testing dates are announced.
Or, if current testing dates are available, you may complete the West Virginia State Trooper application and bring it, along with your valid photo identification, running shoes, and fitness attire to the testing site on the date of testing. The Department announces the acceptance of applications and testing dates through a number of local newspapers and other forms of public media.
Step 3: Complete entry-level testing
All entry-level testing for West Virginia State Trooper jobs are held at the West Virginia State Police Academy in Institute, West Virginia. This testing, also referred to as Phase 1, includes a physical ability assessment and a written examination.
Only those candidates who pass the physical ability assessment can take the written exam. The physical ability assessment includes performing: sit-ups, push-ups, and a 1.5-mile run.
Step 4: Meet with the Cadet Section Board for an oral review
Candidates who pass both sections of Phase 1 testing can move onto Phase 2, which includes appearing before a board of officers for an oral review. Questions asked by the Cadet Section Board involve decisiveness, maturity, and other job-related interview questions.
Upon completion of the oral review, the Cadet Section Board will review your scores from both Phase 1 and Phase 2 to determine if you are eligible to move onto the next phase of the recruitment process.
Step 5: Complete a suitability examination, online personal history questionnaire, and a background investigation
Before the background investigation begins you must undergo a pre-employment suitability examination and an online personal history questionnaire. The suitability examination includes reading, writing, and mathematics testing.
Upon completion of the suitability exam, the online questionnaire, and the background investigation process the Cadet Selection Board will review your file to determine if you will move onto Phase 4 of the recruitment process.
Step 6: Undergo a psychological assessment
All psychological assessments, which take place at the West Virginia Police Academy, consist of an interview with a psychologist.
Step 7: Undergo a complete medical physical
The complete medical physical includes blood work, a urinalysis, an electrocardiogram, a through medical history, and an examination performed by a West Virginia State Police physician.
Step 8: Complete cadet training at the West Virginia Police Academy
All applicants selected for enlistment are notified via mail, and resident training for West Virginia State Trooper training begins immediately for 30 weeks. All Cadets are required to reside at the Academy during the resident training period. All candidates must earn at least a 75 percent in their academic course training to become a West Virginia State Trooper.