page updated:
12/22/05

Recruitment Resources

If you have any questions you may contact your nearest Ohio State Highway Patrol facility or the Recruitment office at 740 E. 17th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43211-2472, Phone: 614/466-6019 or toll free 1-866-TROOPER.	How to become an OSHP Trooper - applicant information pamphlet (.pdf) **NOTE**Open enrollment for Trooper applications has been extended until further notice
	Women in the OSHP pamphlet (.pdf)
	How to become an OSHP Police Officer
	Other OSHP Jobs - State of Ohio Job Search
	Upcoming job fairs
	Meet your local recruiter
	Download an OSHP Recruitment poster - ¿Tu eres la persona que estamos buscando? (Español)

If you are a US citizen between the ages of 21 and 34, with a valid driver's license and have graduated from high school or can show satisfactory completion of the G.E.D., you can begin the applicant process in one of several ways:

1. Contact the Field Recruitment Officer in your area;
2. Contact your nearest Patrol post during open recruiting;
3. Call the Recruitment Hotline at 1-866-TROOPER or e-mail them at beatrooper@dps.state.oh.us.

In the future, you will be expected to successfully complete a series of assessments and to pass a thorough screening process. You will be notified of dates, times, and locations where you must appear to fulfill these requirements.

A detailed explanation of these assessments and the screening procedures is included below.

You will be given notice of your acceptance or rejection for training as soon as possible after completion of the application process.

Applicant Information - Table of Contents

I.	Preliminary Screening
II.	Written Examination
III.	Preliminary Qualification Appraisal/Conditional Offer of Employment
IV.	Initial Screening Committee Review
V.	Background Investigation
VI.	Secondary Screening Committee Review
VII.	Medical Examination/Physical Fitness Assessment
VIII.	Psychological Assessment
IX.	Psychological Assessment Interview
X.	Final Acceptance for Employment

I. Preliminary Screening:

Once you complete an application and it has been received by the Recruitment Section, you will be scheduled for the written entrance examination. Along with written notification of the date, time and location you are scheduled for the test, you will receive information about our vision and weight requirements. If you wear corrective lenses, or are uncertain of your current vision status, it will be necessary for you to have an optometrist complete an Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) Vision Specialist’s Report. If your weight exceeds OSHP weight requirements, you may have your percent of body fat determined by a trained professional in performing body composition analysis. It will then be necessary for you to bring this completed Vision Specialist’s Report and Body Composition Analysis with you when you report for the written examination. To assist you in preparing for the written test, a study guide will be sent to you.

Upon appearing for the written examination you will be weighed and measured to determine if you fall within the Division’s weight standards. Any completed body fat composition analysis report brought by you to the test location will also be reviewed for compliance. If your weight does not fall within the Division’s weight standards, and you do not bring a Body Fat Composition Analysis with you at the time you appear for the written examination, you will not be permitted to take the exam. In addition, your vision will be checked to ensure your vision is 20/20 uncorrected. If your vision is not 20/20 and you do not bring a completed OSHP Vision Specialist’s Report with you at the time you appear for the written examination, you will not be permitted to take the exam. You must have uncorrected vision no worse than 20/125 in each eye separately, correctable to 20/20 monocular vision.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol has an appearance standards policy that includes information to address tattoos and body art. The policy reads as follows: “Tattoos or body art shall not be visible while in uniform.” Applicants who have tattoos or body art that fit these criteria will be required to have them removed, if it is deemed to be offensive, in order to continue in the application process.

II. Written Examination:

The entrance examination is a four-part written test that evaluates the following skills:

• Mathematics
• Reading Comprehension
• Grammar
• Incident Report Writing

Written notification of your examination results will be sent to you within three to four weeks from the date you take the examination. You must score seventy percent or higher on each of the four parts of the test to be considered for processing for a class. The test scores will remain active for future consideration for three years from the date you take the test. If you are successful in passing the examination, you will not be permitted to take the written examination again for three years.

If you are unsuccessful in passing any of the four segments of the test, you are encouraged to seek outside training in the area(s) that you are deficient in before reapplying. You may take the written examination a total of two times.

Applicants are selected for processing according to their median score determined from the results of each of the four-part examination. The number of applicants continuing on in the screening process will be based on test scores and the number of applicants needed to fill a training class.

You must successfully complete each phase of the screening process before progressing to the next step.

III. Preliminary Qualification Appraisal/Conditional Offer of Employment:

Applicants who are selected for processing will be required to complete an on-line Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ). The content of the questionnaire will be reviewed and, if acceptable, Recruitment will forward the completed questionnaire to Investigative Services to schedule a pre-employment polygraph examination.

A conditional offer of employment will accompany the Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ). The applicant must acknowledge the conditions set forth in the offer prior to continuein the application process.

Questions asked during the polygraph examination will be taken from your completed questionnaire. Refusal to take the polygraph examination when requested will result in the rejection of your application.

IV. Initial Screening Committee Review:

The polygraph report is furnished to a Screening Committee which will review the information and make an initial determination as to your suitability to proceed in the application process.

V. Background Investigation:

Ohio State Highway Patrol investigators will conduct a complete and thorough investigation of your background to determine your suitability for employmnet as an Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper.

Your family, friends, neighbors, present and former employers, fellow employees, school officials, physicians, firm with which you have done business, courts and local law enforcement agencies, etc. will be contacted as part of this investigation. An in-depth interview will be held with you at a location of the investigator's choosing.

The following occurrences in your background could result in rejection of your application.

1. Felony conviction or felony conduct.
2. Non-compliance to law.
3. Illegal use of drugs or conviction for a drug-related violation.
4. Intemperate use of alcohol.
5. Anti-social behavior.
6. Poor work record.
7. Poor driving record. For instance, numerous crashes or numerous convictions for moving traffic violations, or currently have six or more active points on your driving record within the past two years.
8. Numerous debts which are not regularly being paid. Your background will also be considered in terms of moral character, emotional stability, reputation in the community, and your interest in serving people.

As a result of the background investigation you may be asked to submit to a second polygraph examination to clarify areas in question. Questions asked during this second polygraph examination may include any of the above-mentioned areas. Refusal to take the polygraph examination when requested will result in the rejection of your application.

VI. Secondary Screening Committee Review:

The completed background investigation will be presented to the Screening Committee which will review the information and make a determination of your qualifications for employment as an Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper.

VII. Medical Examination/Physical Fitness Assessment:

A complete medical examination will be conducted by a licensed physician at the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy in Columbus, Ohio to determine your fitness to perform the duties of a state trooper.

Applicants will be required to meet the basic requirements partially outlined below.

Weight shall be in proportion to height in accordance with established standards.

Vision requirements will be based in part on visual acuity, color perception. An applicant must have uncorrected vision no worse than 20/125 in each eye, correctable to 20/20 monocular vision. Adequate color vision is required.

Applicants currently wearing corrective lenses will be required to submit a completed OSHP Vision Specialist's Report that is current at the time of the medical examination. The applicant must have been tested within one year of the medical examination date.

There are other physical, medical, and psychological conditions which could affect your application to include hearing.

You may be required to furnish additional information from your personal physician or other health practioner at your own expense.

At the time an applicant appears for their medical examination they will be tested on the following areas of the Physical Fitness Assessment by a Division's certified exercise physiologist: percentage of body fat, VO2 (cardio-respiratory endurance), strength (bench press-single repetition max and leg press-single repetition max) and flexibility.

The Physical Fitness Assessment is administered under the guidelines of the Aerobics Institute of Dallas, TX. Applicants must attain, as a minimum, a score in the 30th percentile for age and gender to receive further employment consideration. The following are the minimum acceptable levels for entrance into the training academy.

Males	% Body Fat	Bench Press	Leg Press	Flex	VO2
20-29	19.5 %	.93	1.74	15.5	39.53
30+	22.3	.83	1.59	14.5	37.37
Females	% Body Fat	Bench Press	Leg Press	Flex	VO2
20-29	25.4 %	.56	1.27	18.3	32.31
30+	27.0 %	.51	1.15	17.3	30.51

Fitness Assessment

The remaining areas of the Physical Fitness Assessment, endurance test, timed push-ups, and sit-ups will be scheduled on a separate date along with the Grip Strength Exercise.

Endurance Test

You will be required to run the entire length of a one and one-half mile course within a minimum allowance.

One-minute timed push-ups and one-minute timed sit-ups.

• 12 strong-handed.
  work the action
• 9 strong-handed.
• 9 strong-handed.
• 9 weak-handed.
  work the action two times
• 12 strong-handed.
• 6 strong-handed.
  work the action two times
• 6 strong-handed.
• 8 strong-handed.
  work the action and lock the slide back

You must "work" the pistol action between each sequence.

The trigger pull of the model P226 is approximately 9 1/2 pounds.

VIII. Psychological Assessment:

You will be required to take a battery of psychological tests which will last approximately four hours. These tests will be evaluated by a licensed psychologist.

IX. Psychological Assessment Interview:

Each applicant will be scheduled to participate in a personal interview with a licensed psychologist to discuss the results of the psychological tests. This interview will last approximately one-half hour.

X. Final Acceptance for Employment

Upon approval by the Screening Committee, correspondence will be sent to each applicant indicating their final acceptance into the training academy. The entire selection process generally takes sixteen to eighteen weeks.

Written Notification

If you fail to successfully complete any phase of the selection process you will be notified in writing following the completion of that phase.

If you have any questions, you may contact the Ohio State Highway Patrol Recruitment Section:

740 E. 17th Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43211-2774
(614) 466-6019 or toll free 1-866-TROOPER
email address: beatrooper@dps.state.oh.us