​The State Patrol is proud to host a variety of training programs to prepare troopers for a successful career in law enforcement​.

Types of trooper employment

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. Additionally, they must be certified as medical first responders.

Law Enforcement Training Opportunity program (LETO)

These applicants have either an associate or bachelor's degree in any discipline. The Minnesota State Patrol provides 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. It is conducted in partnership with Hennepin Technical College. Applicants must then pass the POST exam to be eligible for employment.

Hiring process

Applicants need to pass a physical fitness test and an oral interview. They must also undergo a thorough background check, and complete both physical and psychological exams.

Academy training

After completing the traditional or LETO training programs, applicants attend the State Patrol Trooper Candidate School. Candidate school is a 14-week, residential academy at Camp Ripley.  

During this time, cadets learn and demonstrate the State Patrol’s core values: respect, integrity, courage, honor and excellence. The training focuses on physical fitness, mental wellbeing and teamwork. 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 graduating from the academy at Camp Ripley, new troopers spend 12 weeks training in the field with an experienced state trooper. This is where they practice what they learned in the academy with guidance from the experienced field training officer. During this time, they are evaluated and receive feedback. Once they complete this field training successfully, they are assigned to patrol on their own.