Requirements

Auxiliary State Troopers are trained law enforcement officers who represent the State of Florida and the Florida Highway Patrol. As such, these members, are carefully selected and are held to the highest standards. Certified and non-certified applicants must successfully complete the screening process to be considered. Applicants can expect to undergo the following steps/stages within the selection process:

1. Meet all requirements as established by the FHPA:


• View Policy Requirements
• View Weight Requirements
• View Tattoos & Body Modification Policy


2. Contact the local FHPA Recruiter.
3. Review the height/weight matrix and complete the Applicant questionnaire. (These items will be emailed to you.)
4. Attend an FHPA Troop meeting at the recruiter's direction, meet with a recruiter, discuss topics covering the selection process / applicant's responsibilities.
5. Successfully complete the Basic Abilities Test (BAT) at a testing center. Must successfully complete this test before application access is granted. View Study Guide For Basic Abilities Test
   As of July 2022, if you are a veteran, with an honorable discharge, or if you hold an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university, you are no longer required to take the Basic Abilities Test. Simply provide us with a copy of your degree, or DD214, to begin the application process after you have attended the online presentation or local meeting.
6. Complete the online application at the direction of the recruiter.
7. Submit your application to the FHPA recruiter with all required supporting documents.
8. Application reviewed by an FHPA Supervisor then transmitted to Tallahassee.
9. Successfully complete the physical abilities test (PAT). Learn more about the PAT test.
10. Must pass the PAT test. Failure disqualifies the applicant. 1 year wait before reapplying.
11. Must pass a Polygraph examination. Failure disqualifies the applicant. 1 year wait before reapplying.
12. Pass a Psychological examination.
13. Pass a medical, an eye examination and provide fingerprints via 'Live Scan.'
14. Undergo a Background investigation. Failure will result in disqualification.
15. Passing steps 1-14 allows the applicant to begin 364 TRAINING HOURS *** administered by the FHP Academy.
16. Once the academy training is completed, the applicant must pass a State Certification Exam.
17. After successfully completing all areas, the applicant is recommended for appointment as an Auxiliary Trooper.

***Applicants who already hold a valid Florida Law Enforcement Officer Certificate and have passed the State exam, OR former Officers with less than a 4-year break in service, will only need to complete a 24-hour refresher course of the high liability areas. This is usually completed during one Friday to Sunday weekend and is administered at no cost to the applicant.

***Out of State Officers (former or retired), OR former Florida Certified Officers with more than a 4-year break in service, who wish to apply for this position and want to use their experience in lieu of sitting for the 364 hours of training, will need to attend a Florida Equivalency of Training (E.O.T.) program and pass the State Officer Certification Exam (SOCE). The two-week Equivalency of Training Academy consists of approximately 92 hours of law enforcement training at a local criminal justice training center. Note: FDLE requires at least one year of verifiable law enforcement experience in order to qualify for admission into an E.O.T. program and there can be no more than an 8-year break in employment as an officer. Enrollment and costs associated with this training are the applicant's responsibility. See the FDLE site for more information.