By: All Criminal Justice Schools Staff
Updated: January 2, 2026
Learn how to become a state trooper in Florida
After California, Texas and New York, Florida has the fourth largest employment of police and sheriff’s patrol officers in the U.S. according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS also reported that the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolitan area held the fourth spot for the highest employment of police, troopers and sheriffs in the country, with an estimated 19,300 officers in the field.
In Florida, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) serves as the primary law enforcement agency responsible for state troopers. The FHP is a division of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), which oversees its operations. The FHP is tasked with enforcing traffic laws, investigating traffic crashes and promoting safety on Florida’s highways.
Here are the education and training steps you’ll need to take in order to join this group of law enforcement officers in Florida.
In this article
Requirements for state troopers in Florida
Basic eligibility requirements
- Age: Must be at least 19 years old by the time of graduation from the FHP Academy.
- Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen. All Naturalized citizens must present documentation with their application.
- License: Must have a valid driver license at the time of application.
- Vision: Corrected vision must be at least 20/30 in each eye, with normal color distinction and a minimum field of vision of 140 degrees.
- Relocation: Must be willing to serve anywhere in the state of Florida.
Preferred experience requirements
- Employment preference is given to Florida Certified Law Enforcement Officers with one year of sworn law enforcement experience.
- Veterans’ preference is given to veterans and spouses of veterans as outlined in the Florida Statutes.
- Preference is given to qualified applicants who have two years of continuous U.S. Military service with an honorable discharge.
- Two years of public contact experience. This may include customer service, security or public-facing roles in government or the private sector.
Physical fitness requirements
Candidates must pass a timed Physical Abilities Test (PAT) designed to assess their ability to perform job-related tasks. The PAT includes the following components:
- Hurdles: Candidates must clear three hurdles of varying heights spaced five feet apart.
- Low crawl: Candidates must crawl under a 27-inch-high area for 15 feet.
- Dummy drag: Candidates must drag a 150-pound dummy for 25 feet, maneuver around a cone and return to the starting position.
- Sled push: Candidates must push a 180-pound weighted sled for a total of 60 feet, pushing it 30 feet and pushing it back 30 feet.
- Battle ropes: Candidates must perform 15 repetitions of raising and lowering battle ropes to shoulder level in a wavelength manner.
What disqualifies you
- Criminal record: Conviction of any felony or a misdemeanor involving perjury or false statements disqualifies an applicant.
- Military discharge: A dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the U.S. is disqualifying.
- Vision impairments: Visual disabilities that prevent the performance of essential duties and cannot be reasonably accommodated will disqualify an applicant.
- Height and weight standards: Weight must be within the established height/weight standards posted on the Be a Trooper website, or proportionate to height.
Education requirements
State troopers in Florida need to meet the following educational requirements:
- Must have a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma (GED).
- 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours from an accredited college or university is strongly preferred. There is no requirement for a specific major, but degrees or coursework in criminal justice, public administration, sociology or related fields may be advantageous.
Helpful to have, but not mandatory education may include:
- Completing criminal justice courses, especially if pursuing a long-term law enforcement career.
- Certifications in first aid, CPR, defensive tactics or firearm safety.
- Any prior academy-level training or law enforcement certifications, especially if moving from out of state.
Knowing the difference between Florida law enforcement officers
Since law enforcement officials in Florida perform different duties and are supervised by potentially different agencies, it’s important to understand the basic differences between the types of law enforcement personnel using the name. Here’s a brief overview:
State troopers:
Jurisdiction: Statewide, primarily patrolling interstates, highways and state roads
Employer: Florida Highway Patrol (FHP)
Main duties: Enforce traffic laws on state roads, investigate traffic crashes, support local agencies during emergencies and DUI enforcement and high-speed chases
Reports to: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV)
Uniform: Tan/gray uniform with dark brown campaign hat
Police officers:
Jurisdiction: Cities or municipalities, e.g., Miami PD, Orlando PD
Employer: City government
Main duties: Enforce state and local laws, respond to 911 calls and patrol neighborhoods, conduct investigations and arrest suspects and community policing and crime prevention
Reports to: Police Chief, who is appointed by city government
Uniform: Varies by city; typically navy or black
Sheriff’s patrol officers:
Jurisdiction: Countywide, including unincorporated areas not served by city police
Employer: County government
Main duties: Patrol rural and suburban areas, manage county jails and transport inmates, serve civil processes such as evictions and subpoenas and courtroom security and warrants
Reports to: Elected County Sheriff, who is a publicly elected official
Uniform: Usually brown, tan or green, but varies by county
Next steps after applying
After applying to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) to become a state trooper, here’s what typically happens next:
Application review
- Your application is reviewed for minimum qualifications.
- You’ll be contacted by a recruiter or background investigator if you pass this initial screen.
Pass the basic abilities test
- A basic abilities test (BAT) may be required, especially for non-certified applicants.
- The BAT tests general knowledge, reading comprehension and reasoning skills.
Pass the physical abilities test
- You must complete the timed fitness course including the physical fitness exercises described above.
- This ensures you’re physically capable of performing essential job duties.
Undergo a background investigation
The following checks will be performed:
- Criminal history
- Driving record
- Employment and personal references
- Social media screening
- You’ll also be required to submit your fingerprints
Oral panel review
- You’ll be interviewed by the FHP command staff.
- Questions may cover your background, judgment, law enforcement scenarios and ethical standards.
Polygraph test
- You must pass a lie detector test to confirm the truthfulness of information you have provided.
Medical and psychological evaluation
- Pass a medical exam to verify your physical health and your ability to perform duties.
- Pass a psychological screening to ensure you’re mentally fit for high-stress law enforcement work.
Once you complete all of the above steps you’re ready to enter the Florida Highway Patrol training academy.
What happens at the FHP Academy?
Once you’ve passed and completed all of the requirements, if you’re selected, you’ll receive an official academy class offer. You’ll spend six months—or 28 weeks—at the FHP Academy in Havana. You will receive pay and benefits while you attend.
Key training areas while in attendance:
- Firearms training
- Defensive tactics
- Traffic law
- Crisis intervention
- Driving
What happens after graduation?
- After graduation, you’ll be assigned a Field Training Officer (FTO).
- You’ll then complete a 12-week field training program to learn real-world applications of your academy training.
- Once you successfully complete your field training you’ll be assigned to a troop location based on staffing needs and will have officially become a Florida State Trooper.
Advancing in your state trooper career
Advancing your career as a Florida State Trooper means taking proactive steps in training, education, performance and leadership. Here’s a typical roadmap for rank, responsibility and pay:
Continue your education
Earn a degree if you don’t already have one:
- Consider pursuing an associate or bachelor’s in criminal justice, public administration, law enforcement or emergency management.
- Higher education is often required for specialty units, such as training, investigations and command staff, or if you want to be considered for promotions to sergeant, lieutenant or captain.
Pursue advanced certifications
You may consider pursuing certifications, which are offered by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) or other accredited law enforcement bodies, in areas such as:
- General Instructor Certification, so you may teach within the agency or academy
- Firearms Instructor
- Driving or Defensive Tactics Instructor
- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training
- Advanced Traffic Crash Investigation
- Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Certification
Join a specialty unit
Joining a specialty unit may help build experience, credibility and leadership potential. Units in Florida may include:
- K-9
- Aviation
- Criminal Interdiction Unit
- DUI Enforcement
- Motorcycle Unit
- Honor Guard
- Special Response Team (SRT)
Apply for promotions
Consistent high-performance evaluations and a clean disciplinary history are essential for promotions and leadership roles. The typical rank progression for Florida State Troopers starts with Trooper and progresses to Corporal → Sergeant → Lieutenant → Captain → Major → Lieutenant Colonel → Colonel. Being considered for promotion often includes:
- Years of service
- Performance evaluations
- Written promotional exams
- Oral boards and interviews
- Education earned and certifications
Florida state trooper salaries and job outlook
The annual median wage of state troopers in Florida may not be as high as other states like California, Illinois, Washington and even Alaska, but salaries may vary greatly based on factors such as location, experience and education level, said the BLS. Here are median salaries for Florida police and sheriffs officers:
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
10%$52,500
25%$60,510
50%$76,190Median
75%$94,500
90%$117,940
Median Hourly Wage$37
Job growth3.1%
Total Employment48,340
| Metro area | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $94,290 | $62,450 | $188,430 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $77,980 | $61,380 | $101,250 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $76,990 | $60,510 | $94,500 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $76,720 | $56,200 | $94,670 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $74,970 | $58,740 | $105,220 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $73,990 | $51,580 | $93,110 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $73,900 | $62,050 | $98,060 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $70,530 | $52,750 | $93,420 |
| Ocala, FL | $67,230 | $54,750 | $91,750 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $66,790 | $52,500 | $85,590 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Job outlook for Florida
The job outlook for state troopers in Florida is slightly better than the national average for job growth, said O*Net, a subsidiary of the BLS. While the national job growth rate for police and sheriff’s patrol officers is 3.1% through 2034, O*Net reported a 6% projected growth through 2030, adding an additional 3,350 state troopers to the field.
Guides to becoming a state trooper
Take a look at the steps you’ll need to take to become a state trooper in other states: