Highway Patrol Certified State Trooper

Job Responsibilities

Enforce all vehicle laws and other criminal laws. Patrol the highways of the state of South Carolina. Investigate collisions. Serve as a witness in criminal and civil courts. Maintain reports concerning enforcement activities. Provide information to public regarding vehicle laws.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

• State Minimum Requirements - A high school diploma and experience performing patrol or investigative duties with a public law enforcement agency. A bachelor's degree may be substituted for the required law enforcement experience.

• Agency Minimum Requirements - Must have at least a high school diploma and the following additional requirements:

  • In-State Applicants - Must have graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy as a Class One Certified Officer.
  • OR - Out-of-State Applicants - Must have graduated from or completed a basic law enforcement course or equivalent (including Military/Federal Training) based on the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy requirements and be able to provide documentation of completion, in addition to the curriculum or syllabus showing the hours and topics of the training, a completed Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) letter from your current or most recent agency; and a letter of good standing from your current or most recent agency.

• Additional Requirements - Must be a US citizen and at least 21 years of age prior to the hire date.

• Must be able to perform all essential and marginal job functions of a State Trooper.

• Must be a resident of South Carolina and have a valid South Carolina driver's license.

• If you are an out-of-state applicant, you must be a resident of South Carolina and have a valid South Carolina driver's license prior to the effective date of hire.

• Selected applicants must attend and successfully complete the South Carolina Justice Academy (Special Basic Class) and the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) Training Program.

• While in training you are required to live at the SC Criminal Justice Academy during the week and will not be permitted to stay on the weekends.

• Selected applicants are required to pass a pre-employment physical fitness test.

• You will also be required to participate in daily physical training.

• If you are an out-of-state applicant, you will also be required to supply the employment office with the following documentation to be considered for the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy Special Basic (Out-of-State Transfer);

  • Certificate of Completion - Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) course
  • A copy of the curriculum/syllabus showing hours and topics of training
  • A completed letter (POST) from your current or most recent agency
  • A letter of good standing from your current or most recent agency

Additional Comments

• County assignments are based on critical need areas. This means you may or may not be assigned to your county of choice. Your assignment will ONLY be based on "existing needs."

• The next step after submitting this application will be an administrative review (Credit/Criminal/Driving Checks). If you successfully pass the administrative review, you will be invited to attend a Physical Agilities Test (PAT).

• For the PAT appointment, you will need to bring with you the following documents:

  • A copy of your high school diploma
  • A copy of your DD-214 (member 4) military discharge (if applicable)
  • A copy of your birth certificate (or naturalization certificate)
  • A copy of your South Carolina driver's license (you will also need the official original copies of any out of state driver's license records you have held in any other state within the past five (5) years)

• The South Carolina Department of Public Safety is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, pregnancy (including childbirth or related medical conditions), or national origin. The department prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, pregnancy (including childbirth or related medical conditions), or national origin.

Benefits for State Employees

• The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.

• Insurance Benefits

  • Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.

• Retirement Benefits

  • State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.

• Workplace Benefits

  • State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.

Additional Questions

• Are you interested in being assigned to a designated Critical Market Area upon hire?

• An assignment to Troops 1 – 7 includes a Critical Assignment Differential Pay (CADP) of $3,400 for the ranks of Trooper Trainee to Corporal or $1,500 for the ranks of Sergeant to First Sergeant. The CADP has already been included in the base salary as indicated at https://scdps.sc.gov/careers/sctrooper/benefits. I acknowledge that should I vacate my assignment to Troops 1 - 7, I will no longer be eligible to receive the Critical Assignment Differential Pay. Please type your full name in the box below to indicate you acknowledge and understand this statement.

• Please select (all) of the counties in which you are interested. If you are not interested in being assigned to one of the critical market areas, please select "None of the above."

• Please rank your selections in order from greatest to least interest. If you are not interested in being assigned to one of the critical market areas, please write "N/A."

• Do you authorize the South Carolina Department of Public Safety to obtain your consumer credit report and understand that it is part of the employment process?

• Are you willing to participate in the pre-employment physical fitness test?

• Have you read the SCDPS' automatic disqualifiers regarding tattoos at www.scdps.sc.gov/careers/disqualifiers?

• Do you understand that the annual salary for a State Trooper listed in this vacancy announcement is NOT negotiable?

• Have you been employed with SCDPS in the past six (6) months?

• Have you ever been employed with SCDPS?

• If you answered yes, please list the Agency/Division, your title, and dates of employment. If you answered no, please write N/A.

• Will you be at least 21 years old by January 8, 2027?

• For a criminal record check, please list the city, state, and country where you were born.

• Have you ever applied to any of the three SCDPS Divisions: SC Highway Patrol, State Transport Police, and/or Bureau of Protective Services?

• If you answered yes, please list the DPS division(s) that you have applied to and date(s) applied. If you answered no, please write N/A.

• Have you ever used any name(s) other than what is listed on the application, such as a maiden name, nicknames, or name changes?

• If you answered yes, please list the name(s). If you answered no, please write N/A.