Live the Legacy.
Become a trooper
Missouri State Highway Patrol is accepting applications for our next recruit class.
Traditional Academy
Join the Missouri State Highway Patrol as a Trooper and play a vital role in promoting safety and enforcing traffic and boating laws. Responsibilities include assisting motorists, investigating traffic crashes, aiding local law enforcement, and enforcing criminal laws. Additional opportunities include specialized roles like Aircraft, Criminal Investigations, SWAT, K9, and more. Training includes 25 weeks of intense academic and physical training in Jefferson City. Trooper's starting pay is at $59,856 and $64,968 upon graduation.
Minimum Requirements
You must be at least 21 years of age upon graduation from the Academy.
Be a citizen of the United States and a resident of Missouri when recruit training begins.
High school diploma or equivalent.
Be of good character, with no felony convictions or crime involving moral turpitude, no pending indictments, or certain misdemeanor offenses including any involving aggressive or violent behavior (i.e., domestic violence, criminal assault, etc.), disregard for the safety of others, or the misuse of deadly weapons.
Possess a valid Missouri Driver License at the time of appointment.
Members will not have tattoos or brands that a reasonable person would find offensive, such as tattoos or brands depicting or supporting criminal behavior, drug usage, nudity, profanity, promiscuity, subversive groups, bigotry, etc. Members will not have tattoos or brands on the head, neck, wrists, or hands. The sole exception is that one traditional band style ring tattoo may be displayed on a single finger. Any such ring tattoo will not extend beyond the proximal phalanx. Tattoos and/or brands on any other part of a member’s body, which would be visible during movements in the performance of their duties while wearing any official uniform or civilian attire, will be completely covered and not visible while on duty. If the tattoos and/or brands are visible, members must keep them covered by wearing the Class A uniform year-round, which includes a long-sleeve shirt and tie.
Upon graduating from the Patrol’s Academy, troopers are eligible to earn 46 credit hours through Mineral Area College in Park Hills, MO, or 30 credit hours through the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO, toward a degree, or 57 credit hours through Missouri State University in Springfield, MO, toward a degree. During the Academy, recruits may also be eligible to receive an associate of applied science degree at Mineral Area College by completing an additional 16 general education credit hours through online courses with Western Governors University.