Looking for a change of pace or maybe your first step in a lifelong career? If law enforcement interests you, check out the Virginia State Police.
According to recent news reports, the state of Virginia needs almost 200 new recruits to bring the number of state troopers back up to optimal levels. The Virginia State Police (VSP) is making a strong push to recruit new men and women into their ranks.
According to the VSP website, these are the basic requirements to become a state trooper:
- You must be 21 or older.
- You must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
- You must meet height/weight, vision, and hearing requirements.
- You must be a U.S. citizen and live in a state east of the Mississippi River.
- You must have a valid driver's license and a clean driving record.
- You must pass a pre-employment background check.
- You must be willing to relocate anywhere in the state of Virginia.
Click here to view a full list of qualifications for all candidates.
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If chosen as a recruit, you will receive training at the VSP academy and are eligible to work all over the state. New for this year, you'll be able to submit a wish list of areas where you'd prefer to work after graduation. This is a significant departure from previous years when academy graduates were given assignments without any additional input.
Recruits are paid $44,290 per year during training and $48,719 per year after graduation. Once you start working, your uniforms, equipment, and a vehicle are all supplied to you. As a state employee, you will then be eligible for state benefits and pay increases when deemed appropriate.
**All of the photos in this article are courtesy of the Virginia State Police Facebook page.
For more information, visit the VSP recruiting website. You can also reach out to a recruiter directly by searching the staff directory.
Are you a Virginia state trooper or do you have one in the family? What is it like to work for VSP? Drop us a line in the comments and let us know what makes a great recruit!