Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  If I am currently or have been a certified Peace Officer in Wyoming or another state, do I apply for Trooper I or Trooper II?  

A:  In order to determine if your prior law enforcement experience will qualify you for Trooper II, please contact the Wyoming Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) office at (307) 358-8213.  Your training and experience must qualify you for Wyoming Professional Peace Officer Certification before you will be considered for Trooper II. 

Q:  Which training pipeline do I qualify for if I'm hired?

A:  Every Wyoming State Trooper must successfully complete either the full 20-week Trooper Basic Academy or the 6-week accelerated onboarding academy.  Only those who have qualifying law enforcement experience and qualify for a Trooper II position upon being hired may elect to participate in the 6-week accelerated onboarding academy.  All others are required to complete the 20-week Trooper Basic Academy. 

Q:  Does the Wyoming Highway Patrol offer out of state testing or am I required to travel to Wyoming for the testing process?

 A:  The initial stages of the application process to become a Wyoming State Trooper may be completed online and do not require you to travel.  However, upon your successful completion of the initial application and written test, the remainder of the testing process (in-person interview, physical abilities testing, eye detect test, psychological examination, etc.) require your presence in Cheyenne, WY during a scheduled testing event.   

Q:  Do Wyoming State Troopers work alone or with a partner? 

A:  Wyoming State Troopers routinely work on their own without any readily available assistance from other law enforcement. Oftentimes, a Trooper is many miles away from a city or town. Therefore, a Trooper must be mentally and physically prepared to deal with any situation until additional assistance (backup) can arrive. As with every other aspect of law enforcement, we train our recruits to handle all types of situations on their own using critical thinking and problem solving skills. A Wyoming State Trooper must be self reliant and possess emotional intelligence, physical fitness, and good communication skills in order to safely and competently perform their duties. 

Q:  Do I have to reside at the academy during training?

A:  Yes.  The academy is a paramilitary, college-style environment. In order to maximize the effectiveness of training, recruits are required to reside at the academy from Sunday evening through Friday afternoon.  Those electing to travel home or to stay at another location on weekends may do so at their own expense. 


Q:  Does the Wyoming Highway Patrol have an aviation program?

A:  We do not have typical pilot positions within the Wyoming Highway Patrol.  Our agency does maintain an excellent Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (drone) program which is comprised primarily of members of our Crash Investigation Team and Crash Investigation Team Technicians. 

Q:  What type of shifts do Troopers work?

A:  Which shift a Wyoming State Trooper works depends on their duties, rank, and responsibilities.  A typical Trooper on the road works ten hour shifts, four days per week, followed by a three-day weekend.  Typical day shifts are from 06:00 hours to 16:00 hours.  Typical afternoon shifts are from 14:00 hours to midnight.  Schedules are designed to maximize coverage throughout the state.  Troopers work days, nights, weekends, and holidays.  Federally-funded grant overtime shifts are also available for Troopers to work, during which time they focus their enforcement on things like impaired driving, speeding, seat belt usage, and commercial motor vehicle violations.   

Q:  Do Wyoming State Troopers get to choose where they live or are they assigned to a specific area of the state?

A:  Where a Wyoming State Trooper lives is determined by a set of factors to include their individual and family needs and wishes, the needs of the agency, and the needs of the public.  Upon applying, Trooper Recruits are given a list of available locations and asked to complete a wish list of their desired duty stations.  Troopers are then assigned to a specific duty station referred to as a "Troop".  While stationed in that Troop, a State Trooper will primarily patrol and respond to calls on the highways throughout that geographic area.  If the need arises, or to attend training, court, meetings, or conduct special enforcement details, Troopers may routinely travel throughout the state of Wyoming.  

Troop assignments are given as part of a Trooper's final offer of employment once all the necessary testing processes have been completed - before beginning the training academy.  The Wyoming Highway Patrol does allow Troopers to voluntarily transfer from one Troop to another as vacancies permit.        

Q:  How can I request to do a ride-along with a Wyoming State Trooper? 

A:  Any request for a ride-along must be coordinated through the Captain for the District in which you intend to have the ride-along.

Q:  Is a Detention Officer or Corrections Officer considered a certified peace officer?  

A:  No.  Detention and/or Corrections Officers do not qualify as certified peace officers in the State of Wyoming.  Contact WY P.O.S.T. for further information.


Q:  My driver's license has been suspended/revoked/cancelled.  Can I become a Wyoming State Trooper?

A:  If your driver's license has been suspended/revoked/cancelled, you must have your license reinstated and wait three (3) years from the ending date of any suspension/revocation/cancellation period before you are eligible to test to become a Wyoming State Trooper.