79th Cadet Class (West Virginia State Trooper)

Cadet Class

Applications are now being accepted for the 79th Cadet Class of the West Virginia State Police. Certified Officers and traditional applicants are encouraged to apply for this class. Cadet Class testing dates and locations will be announced soon.

It is a trooper's responsibility to perform basic police services in accordance with the mission, goals and objectives of the West Virginia State Police and in compliance with governing federal and state laws. The essential functions and tasks required for the position of state police trooper, include, but are not limited to, qualification and use of firearms, providing emergency assistance, conducting investigations, report writing and presenting testimony in a court of law. Base pay at enlistment: $55,518.00 ($4,626.50 per month). Starting salary after graduation: $62,778.00 ($5,231.50 per month).

Essential functions and tasks include (but are not limited to):

• Arrest and Detain Persons
• Protect crime scene and collect evidence and information
• Enforce DUI/Traffic laws
• Operate Patrol Vehicle
• Conduct Search and Seizure
• Use physical force to control persons
• Use deadly weapon
• Provide emergency assistance
• Conduct initial and follow-up investigation of crime and events
• Write and read reports and other documents
• Present testimony
• Transport persons in custody
• Conduct interviews and interrogations
• Conduct traffic accident investigation

Qualifications:

• West Virginia State Law requires an applicant to be at least 18 years of age, but no more than 39 years of age prior to enlistment. Applicants who are 17 years of age at the onset of testing are permitted to test provided that he/she will be 18 years of age by the target date of enlistment.
• No prior police training will be substituted for cadet training.
• Applicants must have at minimum, a high school diploma or G.E.D equivalency.
• Applicants must have possessed a valid driver's license for a minimum of two (2) years prior to the date of application.
• Applicants must not have any domestic violence convictions.
• Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.
• Applicants must be able to pass a written exam, physical fitness test, and psychological test.
• Must have a successful background, polygraph, and medical exam.

Please make note of the following important items on testing day:

• Registration will start at 8:30 AM
• Testing will begin at 9:00 AM
• You will be directed to park on the Main Lot.
• Please leave all phones, smart watches in your vehicle.
• You will be required to provide photo identification upon check in.
• Please wear professional attire when arriving and bring physical fitness attire (shorts, t-shirts, running shoes) to change into for the PT test. No offensive clothing is permitted.

Order of testing phases will be as follows:

• You must successfully pass the written test to proceed to the next phases
• Applicants advancing to the suitability test will plan to stay all afternoon
• No enlistments will be made on this first day of testing

As an agency of State Government, the West Virginia State Police provides a wide variety of benefits to its employees. As a WV public employee, some benefits are mandatory to all public employees, while some are completely voluntary. Some benefits are free to employees while others require a monthly premium. Current year details regarding plan options and monthly premium costs can be obtained by logging onto the PEIA website at PEIA (wv.gov).

Life Insurance:

• PEIA offers $10,000 life insurance policies for all fulltime employees. PEIA also offers Optional Life Insurance of varying amounts that include $5,000 to $500,000 worth of coverage, subject to an insurability screening. For first time PEIA participants, PEIA allows up to $100,000 of Optional Life Insurance coverage for employees to enroll without the insurability screening. PEIA offers Dependent Life coverage, please visit the PEIA website for plans and pricing PEIA (wv.gov)
• The WV State Police also offers a $4,000 life insurance policy through UNUM Provident Life Insurance.
• The WV State Police offers a $5,000 policy to all uniformed members from the Standard Life Insurance Company at no cost. An additional Accidental Death & Dismemberment policy can be added for a small cost of $0.33 per month.

Retirement Plan:

• As WV public employees, all full-time public employees are required to participate with the West Virginia State police Retirement System (Plan B), regulated by the Consolidated Public Retirement Board. Active members of Plan B contribute 12% of their base salary into the retirement plan. The WV State Police contributes 14% of the base salary into the plan. Members of this retirement system are not covered by Social Security or Workers' Compensation. Please visit to explore the Retirement Benefits and Requirements.
• An additional retirement option is available with Empower Retirement and functions as a 457 Retirement Plan. Please visit to learn more about the retirement options for both pre- and post- tax contributions.

Additional Benefits:

• Mountaineer Flexible Benefits offers additional insurance such as Dental, Vision, Hearing, Legal, Short- and Long-term disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Health Savings Accounts (for qualifying employees who enroll in the PPB Plan C Health Plan offered by PEIA). To explore the variety of plans and prices, please visit Mountaineer Flexible Benefits (wv.gov)
• Troopers receive a salary increase with each promotion as well as a $500 yearly longevity salary increase.
• Troopers earn 15-24 paid vacation days a year depending on longevity.
• All Troopers earn 1.5 sick days a month.

WVSP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.