State Park Police Advanced Academy Applicant Process

Police vehicle pulled behind a car. An officer stands beside the car's driver's window.Officers in good standing with one year TCOLE Commission experience as a Texas Peace Officer are eligible to apply for the Texas State Park Police Advanced Academy.

STEP 1: Application

  • We are accepting applications for the 2026 State Park Law Enforcement Advanced Academy. Apply online until Aug. 15, 2025. 
  • Your application will be reviewed and you will be notified by email if you qualify for physical readiness testing. Medical release and consent forms will be included with email notification.

 STEP 2: Physical Readiness Test (Pass/Fail only)

  • Complete State Park Police Applicant Medical Release form signed by your physician.
  • Complete State Park Police Applicant Consent for Physical Readiness Test.
  • Candidates must bring driver's license and completed forms.
  • Candidates must have required documents prior to being allowed to participate in the Physical Readiness Testing.
  • Candidates must successfully complete all components of the physical readiness test on the assigned day of testing.
  • Travel and hotel accommodations will be your responsibility and at your expense.

STEP 3: Law Enforcement Interview (Pass/Fail only)

  • Candidates will be contacted by the Regional Captain or designee to schedule an interview.
  • Travel and hotel accommodations will be your responsibility and at your expense.

STEP 4: Background Investigation (Pass/Fail only)

  • Only the top candidates will advance to this step.
  • Candidates are required to furnish the background investigator with official sealed college transcripts, DD214 if applicable, a copy of a valid Driver's License, and verification of U.S. citizenship.
  • All forms and documents must be submitted before the law enforcement interview.

 STEP 5: State Park Police Director Review

  • Only candidates who successfully pass the background investigation, Law Enforcement Interview and Physical Readiness Test will advance to this step.

STEP 6: Conditional Job Offer / Commissioned Employment

  • Candidates will receive a conditional job offer as a State Park Police Officer Trainee.
  • Candidates are required to pass a medical and psychological evaluation by a department-selected physician as a condition of law enforcement employment prior to entry into the Academy. This is pass/fail only. Failure will result in termination from the position.
  • Times and locations of testing to be announced.

STEP 7: Academy Training / Basic TrainingMan firing a rifle is followed closely by a firearms instructor.

  • Candidates that pass and complete all of the above phases are eligible for academy training at the discretion of the State Parks Division.
  • Candidates will be given the opportunity to successfully complete the State Park Police Advanced Academy.  
  • NOTE: Trainees attending the State Park Police Advanced Academy will be required to live at the Bastrop State Parks barracks in Bastrop, Texas, for the duration of the training period, approximately 12 to 14 weeks. All rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the Academy must be followed while in residence. 
  • Training facility and lodging for selected candidates will be paid by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Selected applications will be responsible for their meals for the duration of the academy.

STEP 8: Commissioning Trainees

  • Agency commissioning will be at the completion of the State Park Police Advanced Academy.
  • TPWD reserves the right to approve or disapprove recommended appointments to State Park Police Officer Trainee positions at any time.

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