State Park Police Cadet Applicant Process

STEP 1: Application

  • Submit your application online. Applications will be open from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15,  2024.
  • 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 / Non Commissioned Employment

  • Candidates will receive a conditional job offer as a State Park Police Cadet.
  • 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 Training

  • 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 Texas Game Warden Training Academy.  
  • NOTE: Cadets attending the Game Warden Training Academy will be required to live at the Game Warden Training Center near Hamilton, Texas, for the duration of the training period, approximately 35 weeks. All rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the Academy must be followed while in residence. An emolument will be deducted from the cadet's salary for food services while at the Game Warden Training Center.

STEP 8: Commissioning Cadets

  • Candidate commissioning will be at the completion of the Texas Game Warden Training Academy.
  • TPWD reserves the right to approve or disapprove recommended appointments to cadet positions at any time.

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