The State Patrol is proud to host a variety of training programs to prepare troopers for a successful career in law enforcement.
Traditional Hiring Process (applicants who are eligible for POST licensure)
These applicants have a college degree and have completed a law enforcement skills program from a regionally accredited university or community college. They have taken their Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) exam and are eligible for licensure. Applicants are also required to be certified medical first responders.
Law Enforcement Training Opportunity Program (LETO)
These applicants have either an associates or bachelor's degree in any discipline. The Minnesota State Patrol will then provide LETO candidates with the educational requirements necessary to meet the POST licensure requirements. POST licensure training consists of 23 weeks of classroom and practical training conducted in partnership with Hennepin Technical College. Applicants must then pass the POST exam to be eligible for employment.
Hiring Process
Applicants must pass a physical fitness test and an oral interview. Applicants then must complete a thorough background investigation, physical and psychological exam.
Academy Training
All applicants who progress through the traditional and LETO training program then attend the State Patrol Trooper Candidate School. The 14-week residential academy takes place at Camp Ripley. Cadets learn and display the core State Patrol core values of respect, integrity, courage, honor and excellence. Physical fitness, mental wellbeing and teamwork are all critical components to successful completion of training. State Patrol instructors and other experts teach the courses.
Coursework is broken down into 46 areas — totaling more than 700 hours — including:
- Cultural diversity
- De-escalation
- 21st century policing
- Ethics
- Victim impact
- Implicit bias
- Mental health awareness
The training programs are constantly evaluated and adapted to meet the current needs of the agency.
Field Training
After graduation from the academy at Camp Ripley, new troopers complete 12 weeks of field training with an experienced State Patrol field training officer. It is here where new troopers can apply their academy training to real world situations with the assistance of an experienced field training officer. New troopers are evaluated and provided feedback during this training period. Upon successful completion of the field training program, troopers are assigned to solo patrol duties.
