The candidates for Alaska State and Wildlife Trooper positions who understand the hiring process, prior to applying, tend to be more successful than those who don’t. We want you to be successful in this process. Don’t let the process get in the way of having an amazing career. On this website, and partiularly on this page, you will find a complete roadmap of our hiring process. Please take advantage of this information. We recommend you watch the Candidate Assistance Video Series, first, all the way through. Then you will want to read this entire page. Refer back to this information as much you need. Follow the steps as explained and you will have the best chance of success.
The hiring process for the Alaska State and Wildlife Troopers is a comprehensive process and the applicant must provide significant details going back ten years or more. Documentation requirements are rigid and expectations are high. Those who are inattentive to details will not pass through the application process.
In order to be successful, a candidate should follow directions, timelines, and keep the recruitment office notified of changes that occur during the hiring process. For most, this will be a challenging process, unlike anything they have accomplished before. Will you rise to the challenge?
1. Evaluate whether or not you meet the Minimum Qualifications.
2. Watch the Candidate Assistance video series, just above, on this page.
3. Apply Online (APPLY NOW link at bottom of nearly every page on this site).
4. After receiving the invitation, complete the Personal History Questionnaire and associated documents through the Guardian portal. At this time you will also complete the Initial Physical Fitness Test.
5. Complete the final physical fitness test. The is completed at your choice of facilities and by your choice of proctor (must be an adult). Recruitment staff will verify that you have successfully passed the proctored PFT through video evidence.
6. After receiving the invitation, travel to Anchorage for the Hiring Board Interview, Psychological Written/Interview, Physical Examination/Drug Screening and Polygraph Examination.
7. Wait for the Department to complete the Final Review and call you with a firm job offer!
The minimum qualifications for the position of State Trooper Recruit/Lateral are outlined below.
General Qualifications
Must be a citizen (including US Nationals) of the United States of America.
Must be 21 years of age or older* at the start of the academy.
Must be conversant in both spoken and written English.
Must possess a high school diploma or have passed a General Education Development (GED) test.
* There is no upper age limit; if you can pass the physical fitness test and medical screening, you could be hired.
Court Services Officer Qualifications
Must be a citizen (including US Nationals) of the United States of America.
Must be 18 years of age or older* at the start of the academy.
Must be conversant in both spoken and written English.
Must possess a high school diploma or have passed a General Education Development (GED) test.
Driving
Must possess a valid driver’s license issued within the United States or its Territories.
Must be free of excessive moving violations and recent license actions (canceled, revoked, suspended, limited, or SR-22 requirement).
Drugs
Drug use/abuse is closely scrutinized and recent drug use may be cause for elimination from the hiring process, including:
Marijuana use within the last year
Use of illegal narcotics within the last ten years
Manufacture/sale of illegal narcotics as an adult
Illegal drug use while employed in a law enforcement position
Prescription drug use without a prescription, unless there was an immediate, pressing, or emergency medical circumstance to justify the use
Criminal History
Adult criminal history is closely scrutinized and the following may be cause for elimination from the hiring process:
Felony conduct as an adult
Misdemeanor convictions within the last ten years
Any conviction related to domestic violence
The above qualifications constitute a summary of major elements in both the Alaska Police Standards Council regulations and Department of Public Safety Selection Criteria. More specific questions should be directed to our DPS Recruitment Unit office at dps.recruit@alaska.gov or by calling (907) 269-5976.
Lateral Pay
Lateral starting pay varies depending on the experience and education of the applicant. Certified officers must have at least one year of experience in patrol from a full-service law enforcement agency and have attended a state-certified training academy with at least 650 hours of training. See the Pay & Benefits page for more information.
Qualification Process
1. Completed lateral entry form
2. Evidence of current (or within the past 5 years) police certification.
3. Evidence of twelve months of patrol experience (this is often a letter from your department, a recent evalution, or something similiar).
4. Training records with description of courses (syllabus if available) taken, total of hours of academy training and subsequent training after academy.
Email above documents to dps.recruit@alaska.gov – after our review we will forward them to the Alaska Police Standards Council. If approved, you will be waived from taking the written test and, if ultimately hired, will start at a higher pay rate.
In-State Laterals
Those applicants who are currently certified by the Alaska Police Standards Council (APSC) and have one year of full-time experience at a full-service law enforcement agency will be considered for a lateral hire position with DPS. Pay is determined by how many years of similar service the applicant has prior to DPS hire. If the applicant has attended the Alaska Law Enforcement Training (ALET) academy in Sitka, they would not need to attend the full ALET academy again. Prior ALET graduates will likely complete DPS specific training prior to starting the Field Training Experience Program (FTEP). Depending on the applicant and their performance, FTEP may be full length or possibly abbreviated. This determination is made on a case by case basis. In-state laterals who have not attended and graduated from ALET will be evaluated to determine what training is needed. This may include a 2-week course in Anchorage and a 2-week APSC recert course in Sitka within the first year of employment.
DPS realizes each Alaska-certified police officer comes with unique experience, training and skills and will work with each applicant to craft the appropriate course of training. DPS wants to be certain the lateral officers we hire are properly trained, equipped and supported to be successful in the field. DPS can also work with you up front to determine where you would start your career in Alaska, prior to hire.
Out-of- State Laterals
Law enforcement in rural Alaska is different than most places in the “Lower 48.” Many officers from the Lower 48 have come to Alaska expecting a similar work environment and are often surprised they don’t have the necessary skills or training to be successful here. We want to ensure lateral hires are trained and equipped to succeed and to use their past training and experience in a way that helps them thrive.
Applicants who are currently certified by their state’s police certification process (POST, *COLES, etc.), have attended a state certified training academy, with at least 650 hours, and have one year of full time experience at a full-service law enforcement agency, will be considered for a lateral position with DPS. Pay is determined by how many years of similar service the applicant has prior to DPS hire. DPS realizes that each certified police officer comes with unique experience, training and skills and will work with each applicant to assess the proper course of training. DPS wants to be certain the lateral officers we hire are properly trained, equipped and supported to be successful in the field. DPS will, on a case by case basis, work with the Alaska Police Standards Council to determine if a candidate will need to attend our full Alaska Law Enforcement Training (ALET) academy in Sitka for 17 weeks or if an abbreviated training regimen (2-week course in Anchorage and a 2-week APSC recert course in Sitka within the first year of employment) will be approved.
The successful applicant may need to complete field training for the entire process. We have had many lateral hires tell us, after they attended our full ALET academy, they were indeed not ready for the challenges of Alaska before the academy training; they were grateful for the opportunity to receive more training, all while being paid as a lateral state trooper. DPS will pay full lateral wages to the out-of-state lateral applicant if they attend our training academy. Every applicant is encouraged to voluntarily attend our training academy. By doing so, you will earn the respect of your academy mates, instructors, chain of command, and troopers in the field. Most out-of-state laterals should be prepared mentally and physically, before they apply, to attend our 17-week training academy. The applicant will not learn if they will be “waived” from attending our full training academy until much later in the hiring process.
Military Security Forces/MP
Soldiers who are military police, security forces, or civilians such as Department of the Army Civilian Police do not meet the definition of a lateral hire by the Alaska Police Standards Council. However, applicants with such training and experience tend to do well in our training academy, field training, and as troopers in the field. Such training and experience will be a huge benefit to the applicant. Those who fit this description are encouraged to apply as an Alaska State Trooper Recruit.
Training Records
Often, comprehensive training records from lateral applicants cannot be obtained from past training academies, or may not be sufficient to determine if the officer was trained in a manner that meets our training standards. If an applicant cannot obtain detailed records that document his/her past training, the applicant will be required to attend our training academy as a lateral hire. A syllabus from a past academy will be required for APSC to determine if an applicant meets their lateral requirements. However, a syllabus is not a sufficient training record that would allow us to determine if the applicant’s training is sufficient to waive our training academy. The responsibly for obtaining thorough training records is on the applicant.
Reciprocity
The council may enter into reciprocity agreements with states that regulate or supervise the quality of police training and that require a minimum of 650 hours of classroom and practical training for police officers.
Alaska Administrative Code:
13 AAC 85.050. Basic police officer academy
13 AAC 85.060. Waiver and reciprocity
To view the initial online application, click the APPLY NOW button below and you’ll be taken to the Workplace Alaska job posting.
Upon completing this initial on-line application, the DPS Recruitment Office will send an applicant, via e-mail, an invitation to complete a Personal History Questionnaire and associated documents, through a separate online portal; various forms and paperwork must be completed within 15 days. Timelines are very important and must be followed.
Applicants, upon completing the online application, will be required to complete a Personal History Questionnaire and submit additional supporting documents through an online portal.
Make sure you have these documents in your possession prior to submitting your online application, to ensure you will meet your deadline. Failure to provide ALL required documents by your deadline will result in your application being eliminated from the process. Instructions for submitting these documents will be furnished after you have completed the initial online application.
1. Certified high school transcripts or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, recognized by a state. (If home-schooled, provide documents from your school district that basic education standards were met.)
2. College transcripts for ALL post-secondary education. If a degree was obtained, official transcripts are required.
3. Photocopy of official birth certificate issued by a government agency (with court documents showing any name changes). Passport or hospital certificates will not be accepted in lieu of official birth certificates.
4. If a naturalized US citizen, a photocopy of naturalization certificate with photo.
5. Former military members must provide discharge or separation papers showing date and type of discharge for all periods of services for each branch of military (i.e. DD-214 Member-4 Form or NGB-22 Form, which include the separation and re-entry codes).
6. Long form/lifetime driving record(s) from all states and U.S. territories in which you have held a driver’s license and/or received a citation (whether convicted or not). You can find that information at: https://www.usa.gov/motor-vehicle-services
7. Male applicants must go to https://www.sss.gov/ their SSS Verification Letter, and uploadthat into the online portal.
NOTE: The testing and interview phase is the last phase of the application process. If invited to interview and test for the position, applicants must travel to Anchorage, Alaska. The applicant is responsible for all travel costs (airfare, lodging, transportation, meals) during the testing and interview phase. On average, testing and interviews requires a 3-5 day stay in Anchorage. Travel to Anchorage from the continental U.S. for 3-5 days averages around $1,500 to $2,000, depending upon the state of origin.
The hiring process takes between 3 and 6 months. This is an extensive hiring process that will require you to gather ALL of your current and past employment, residential, driving, and criminal history. Unlike some employers, we require that you be prepared to go far beyond a 10 year history.
Upon receiving the applicant’s completed application and background information, a background investigation will be started. Upon successful completion of a background investigation and command file review, successful applicants will be invited to Anchorage to complete the final applicant testing. This will occur in Alaska and is scheduled over a 3-to-5-day period (approximate) in Anchorage.
Physical Fitness Selection Standards
Before your background investigation can move forward, you must pass the initial Physical Fitness Test (PFT). Detailed instructions for completing your initial PFT will be provided by your assigned background investigator. You may download the initial PFT Form and instructions here.
During the final testing phase, prior to arriving in Anchorage, you will take the final PFT. The final PFT will be proctored by a responsible adult and video recorded. The video files will then be uploaded to a link provided by recruitment staff and then reviewed to ensure passing standards have been met.
The Department of Public Safety has established physical fitness standards that must be met in order to be considered for selection as a State Trooper Recruit in the Division of Alaska State Troopers or Division of Wildlife Troopers. The Department recognizes the importance of physical fitness for success at the State Trooper Academy and in job performance.
These physical fitness entrance standards help ensure the successful applicant can undergo both the physical and academic demands of the academy, and the law enforcement work environment without undue risk of injury or fatigue.
In an effort to best prepare applicants, please review the following information intended to answer the basic questions pertaining to all aspects of the fitness testing process.
What is Physical Fitness?
Physical fitness for law enforcement officers may be defined as the ability to perform essential tasks with vigor, alertness and little or no fatigue, with a rapid recovery period after high levels of exertion.
During and after periods of physical exertion, a law enforcement officer must be able to maintain good judgment and make correct decisions.
Good physical conditioning has been shown to:
1. Reduce the incidence of back injury (the most common injury suffered by law enforcement officers) and heart attack (major cause of death of law enforcement officers over 35 years old)
2. Reduce the amount of sick leave needed and retirements due to disability
3. Enhance recovery from injury
4. Provide additional options besides the use of deadly force
5. Provide an outlet for relief from stress
Physical fitness has been demonstrated to be a bona fide occupational qualification for law enforcement officers. Job analyses on law enforcement officers have demonstrated that fitness is an underlying factor in determining the physiological readiness to perform a variety of critical physical tasks necessary in law enforcement work. Physical fitness has been shown to be predictive of job performance and use of sick time.
Physical fitness can be an important area for minimizing liability. The unfit law enforcement officer is less able to respond fully to strenuous physical activity and may be a danger to him or herself, colleagues, or the public.
How will Physical Fitness be Measured?
The Department of Public Safety’s Pre-Employment Physical Fitness Test includes push-ups, sit-ups and a 1.5 mile run.
Push-Ups to Failure
The subject must begin with their hands placed about shoulder-width apart, fingers pointing forward, and their feet about 6-8” apart. A test administrator will place a 3-inch block under the subject’s sternum. Starting from the up position (elbows extended), the subject must lower their body to the floor until their chest touches the 3-inch block. The subject then returns to the up position. This is one repetition. Repositioning of the hands or feet is not allowed at any time during this test. When the subject moves their hands or feet, the test will be determined finished. Resting is allowed during this exercise in the up position only. While resting, the subject must remain in up position with their arms fully extended and their back straight. If the subject fails to keep their back straight or repositions their hands or feet during a period of rest, the test will be determined finished. Pushups performed without the back essentially straight are not counted. The minimum number of acceptable pushups is 25.
1 Minute Sit-Ups
The subject starts in the down position by lying on their back, knees bent, heels flat on the floor, with their fingers laced and held behind their head. A partner holds the subject’s feet down firmly. The subject then performs as many correct sit-ups as possible in one minute. In the up position, the individual should touch their elbows to their knees, or pass the plane of their knees with their elbows. The subject then returns to the down position (until their shoulder blades touch the floor.) Resting is allowed in the up position only. During this exercise, the subject’s neck should remain in a neutral position, their elbows must be in parallel to the sides of their body and their hips must remain on the floor. The minimum number of acceptable sit-ups is 27.
1.5-Mile Run
This is a timed run over a measured course. The course may be completed outside, on an oval track, or inside on a treadmill (1% incline required). The minimum acceptable time is 15 minutes, 12 seconds (15:12).
Retest
Applicants who do not meet the minimum acceptable standards will not be allowed to retest during the same recruitment cycle. Every applicant will be allowed one opportunity to complete the physical fitness test.
Note: Before starting any physical exercise program, it is recommended that you see a medical doctor.
Preparation for Testing
The Department of Public Safety wishes you success on the physical fitness portion of the State Trooper Recruit selection process. We recommend you take the time to properly prepare, by starting a personal fitness program that includes both strength and aerobic exercises.
Applicants who pass the final PFT will move forward in the testing and hiring process.
Applicants will be asked a series of 10-15 behavioral-based interview questions by a panel of three Alaska State Troopers of varying rank. Applicants are scored on the quality, detail, and the delivery of their answers. Applicants are encouraged to research behavioral-based interview questions on-line, and practice delivering thorough and comprehensive answers out loud. Communication skills are very important, and we measure the applicant’s ability to answer questions with examples, and provide detail about their training, experience, and skills/character traits. An interview typically lasts about 45 minutes.
Applicants will take a written psychological test and will be interviewed by a licensed psychologist. The applicant will not be provided the results of this test.
Applicants will be required to have medical screening completed by our contracted medical professionals while the applicant is in Anchorage. The applicant will also be required to complete a drug screening test. Other than the color perception section below, we cannot answer specific questions regarding your health or what might be a barrier to employment with us. Questions about other medical related issues should be directed to our contracted medical service:
Beacon Health
Anchorage, Alaska
(907) 222-7612
info@beaconohss.com
Visual Color Perception
Color vision testing will be completed as part of the medical screening process. According to the Alaska Police Standards Council, there is no exact standard regarding color deficits in the state of Alaska. However, ability to distinguish colors associated with the position is important and part of the screening process. Applicants often ask, ‘what if I am partially color blind?’ Each person is assessed by medical personnel and color deficits can vary from mild to moderate to severe. In most cases, those who have color deficits will be referred to an ophthalmologist for evaluation. Each candidate is evaluated and a recommendation is made to the Alaska State Troopers, on ability to perform the scope of work safely.”
Applicants will be required to take a comprehensive polygraph examination, conducted by an experienced examiner. Topics covered will include criminal activity, inappropriate behaviors, drug use, and falsification/omission of information on application forms.
Those applicants who pass through this entire process with adequate scores will be considered for hire by the division director for the DPS training academy. For applicants who are hired, DPS will do it’s best to give at least 3-4 weeks notice before the next training academy.
Candidate Assistance Video Series
State of Alaska Department of Public Safety, 5700 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99507, Phone: (907) 269-5511