The Arkansas State Police have almost 600 troopers enforcing state and federal laws throughout Arkansas. The Highway Patrol Division ensures that the roadways of Arkansas are safe for use, while the Criminal Investigation Division manages major investigations. Arkansas State Police jobs are rigorous and demanding but can be highly fulfilling for those individuals who wish to uphold the law and ensure public safety.
If you would like to learn how to become an Arkansas State Trooper, start by reviewing the following steps.
- Assess your basic qualifications
- Submit an application to the Arkansas State Police
- Pass the screening exams
- Complete Arkansas State Police training
Step 1. Assess Your Basic Qualifications
Only those candidates with following qualifications may join the Arkansas State Police.
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Be a United States citizen
- Possess a valid driver’s license
- Possess a high school diploma or a GED
- Possess normal color vision with a minimum of 20/100 uncorrected, as well as peripheral vision of 140 degrees
- Male applicants must have registered with the Selective Service System
If you have any of the following issues, you may be disqualified from serving with the Arkansas State Police.
- Been convicted of a felony
- Have tattoos that are visible while wearing an ASP uniform
- Conviction of domestic violence
- False or inaccurate information on the Initial Contact Form
Step 2. Submit an Application to the Arkansas State Police
To begin the application process, applicants must accurately and completely fill out an Initial Contact Form. These may be submitted online at the Arkansas State Police website or obtained from any ASP headquarters and proffered through the mail or in person to the Administrative Services Division, Recruiting Section.
Step 3. Pass the Screening Exams
There are a series of 7 tests that must be successfully passed in order to obtain an Arkansas State Police job.
- Physical Assessment Test requires successive completion of these five tasks in order
- Standing vertical jump: Within three attempts the candidate must be able to jump 13 inches
- Sit-ups: The candidate must complete at least 24 sit-ups within one minute
- Push-ups: The candidate must complete at least 17 pushups within one minute
- 300 meter run: This distance must be covered in 78.4 seconds or less
- 1.5 mile run: This distance must be covered within 18 minutes, 37 seconds
- Written examination is a multiple choice test that evaluates general writing, comprehension and math skills
- Polygraph examination will be used to determine the candidate’s moral character and history
- Background investigation will assess the past education, employment, reputation, financial solvency and character of the candidate; will be submitted to the ASP Commission for review
- Interviews
- Arkansas State Police Applicant Interview Board
- Director of Arkansas State Police
- Medical examination
- Psychological examination
Step 4. Complete Arkansas State Police Training
If you are accepted into the Arkansas State Police, you must attend a 23 week training program at the Arkansas State Police Training Academy in Little Rock. Among the topics covered there are
- Criminal justice law
- Crash investigation
- Ethics
- Interpersonal communication
- ASP history and organization
- Firearms
- Driver training
- First aid
- Defensive tactics
Following completion of the training programs, you will be assigned to a Field Training Officer for a six week transitional period before receiving your job posting.