Title: State Police Trooper I

State Role Title: Law Enforcement Officer I

Hiring Range: Minimum of $60,000 annual salary

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Department of State Police

Location: Chesterfield

Agency Website: https://www.VATrooper.com 

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Join the Virginia State Police – 146th Trooper Basic Session Begins June 25, 2026!

Are you ready to serve and protect Virginia with honor and dedication? The Virginia State Police is now accepting applications for the 146th Basic Session. This exciting opportunity starts on June 25, 2026.

Job Duties

The Virginia State Police is recruiting qualified applicants who want to promote highway safety, serve and protect their community, increase community involvement and partnership, keep Virginia safe by enforcing the laws of the Commonwealth, and attend one of the finest Law Enforcement Training Academies in the United States. We are actively seeking professional individuals with a desire to represent and serve the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Qualified applicants accepted into the 146^th Trooper Basic Session will be compensated $60,000 annually. Upon graduation, State Troopers will be supplied with a take home patrol vehicle, and all equipment and uniforms. State Troopers who are assigned to and living in the Northern Virginia Area shall be compensated $74,970 annually. Successful completion of the Academy will afford State Troopers accredited college credit hours that can be transferred to an institution of higher learning for completion of a degree program.

Upon successful completion of the probationary period, State Troopers will have their salary increased by 10%, and with tenure, will be added to the Career Progression Program.

ANY APPLICANT THAT IS A VIRGINIA CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MAY QUALIFY FOR A REDUCED 8-WEEK CURRICULUM AND TRAINING SCHEDULE. APPLICANTS ACCPETED INTO THE ACCELERATED ACADEMY WILL BE COMPENSATED $64,500 ANNUALLY OR $80,593 ANNUALLY IF ASSIGNED TO NORTHERN VIRGINIA, WITH ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR QUALIFIED PRIOR DCJS CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT PATROL EXPERIENCE, UP TO FIVE YEARS. NO RESTRICTIONS ON ASSIGNMENT TO FORMER HOME COUNTY. YOU MUST PROVIDE UP TO THREE JURISDICTIONS WHERE YOU ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT ASSIGNMENT OR INDICATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO BE ASSIGNED ANYWHERE IN VIRGINIA. PLEASE CONTACT A RECRUITER AT WWW.VATROOPER.COM FOR DETAILS.

The Agency offers several programs and specialty units to include the Chaplaincy and Peer Support Programs, Aviation, Executive Protection Division, K-9, Motorcycle, Search and Recovery and Tactical Team. Again, with tenure, State Troopers will be able to participate in the promotional process for Special Agent and Sergeant that include specialty areas such as Homeland Security, Criminal Intelligence, Arson/Bomb, Special Investigation and Programs, High Tech Crimes, Drug Enforcement, Safety, Internal Affairs, Motor Squad, Human Resources, CJIS, and certain positions within the Training Division. Visit our website at vatrooper.com for more details.

Minimum Qualifications

Please note: All contact will be through e-mail. Please check your spam e-mail as needed.

The minimum qualifications for a Virginia State Police Trooper:
• must be at least 21 years of age on date of graduation;
• must be a high school graduate or have a GED;
• must be a United States citizen on day of testing;
• must be in possession of a valid driver’s license;

• must be willing to travel at your own expense to the Virginia State Police Headquarters located at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235 to complete the WPT during Phase I,  Phase Three of the pre-employment process (medical examination and psychological evaluation), and while in a training status;
• must successfully pass all Phase One pre-employment testing to include a Work Performance Test (WPT) and a written exam administered by the National Testing Network;
• must successfully complete a polygraph examination and pass a background investigation to complete Phase Two;

• must successfully complete medical and psychological evaluation to complete Phase Three;
• weight must be in proportion to height on date of hire;
• must be willing to relocate anywhere in the state based on Agency needs;
• must be willing to work rotating shifts, holidays and weekends; and
• must be in compliance with the Agency’s tattoo and body modification policies.

The anticipated duration of this process is determined by the successful completion of the above items and Training Academy scheduling; however, successful completion of all three phases does not guarantee employment.

Additional Considerations

*A demonstrated commitment to community service.

Special Instructions

You will be provided with confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your Page Up account to check the status of your application for this position.

A WORK PERFORMANCE TEST, POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION, BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION, MEDICAL EXAMINATION, PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION, AND A RANDOM DRUG SCREENING SHALL BE REQUIRED. AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFIERS CAN BE FOUND ON WWW.VATROOPER.COM

Applications, cover letters and/or resumes shall only be accepted on-line through the PageUp recruitment management system at https://jobs.virginia.gov. Please limit resumes to four pages and cover letters to one page. Any additional attachments received in excess of this will not be considered.

It is the policy of the Department of State Police (the Department, Agency) to assure equal employment opportunity to all applicants for employment and current employees. The Department strongly prohibits discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, military status, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, ethnic background, pregnancy, and childbirth.

This policy shall be adhered to in all facets of Departmental employment practices. It is not the intent of this policy to permit or require the lowering of bona fide job requirements or qualification standards to give preference to any applicant for employment or employee. Affirmative measures shall be taken to recruit and retain qualified individuals at all levels of the Department and to embrace and foster diversity, opportunity, and inclusion in the workplace.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

(V)alor (S)ervice (P)ride.

Contact Information:
Name: Sworn Recruitment Unit

Phone: 804-674-2075

Division 1 Richmond: recruiter.division1@vsp.virginia.gov

Division 2 Culpeper: recruiter.division2@vsp.virginia.gov

Division 3 Appomattox: recruiter.division3@vsp.virginia.gov

Division 4 Wythe: recruiter.division4@vsp.virginia.gov

Division 5 Chesapeake: recruiter.division5@vsp.virginia.gov

Division 6 Salem: recruiter.division6@vsp.virginia.gov

Division 7 Fairfax: recruiter.division7@vsp.virginia.gov
Employment: SwornEmployment@vsp.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities, or call DARS at 800-552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.

Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. Equal Opportunity Employer