Ohio State Highway Patrol is looking for qualified candidates to join their force. 

OSP is hiring troopers, dispatchers, motor vehicle inspectors and electronic technicians all across the state.

Recruitment officers said they’re down a "good number" of troopers are looking for more applicants to join their paid cadet program, where they spend six months preparing for every aspect of the job. 

“We’re going to give you all the training in firearms and driving and law and self defense tactics to make you safe, to make you qualified and to make you serve with a purpose everyday,” Sergeant Adam Shonk of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. 

Trooper applicants have to meet high standards, including testing requirements and top notch physical fitness. With those requirements only a fraction of people will be accepted.

“The patrol believes strongly in what we’ve been doing for many, many years,” Sergeant Shonk said. “I’m looking for people that understand that there is a value to law enforcement. That there is a value to public safety and there's a value to what we do every day and pushing the mission forward.”

To apply for a trooper position, applicants take a written test. Applicants must get 37 of 50 the questions correct in 75 minutes. If they pass, they will take a physical test. 

Physical test requirements:

  • Males 20 - 29 years old, 1.5 mile run in 13 minutes 58 seconds, 22 push ups in 1 minute, 33 sit ups in one minute. 
  • Males 30 - 39 years old, 1.5 mile run in 14 minutes 33 seconds, 17 push ups in 1 minute, 30 sit ups in one minute. 
  • Females 20 - 29 years old, 1.5 mile run in 17 minutes 11 seconds, 10 push ups in 1 minute, 24 sit ups in one minute. 
  • Females 30 - 39 years old, 1.5 mile run in 18 minutes 18 seconds, 8 push ups in 1 minute, 20 sit ups in one minute. 

“You may be in a critical incident in which you need to be able to run after someone for a long distance of time. You might be in the fight of your life and in that instance you want to make sure that you are fit and taking care of your own self,” Sergeant Shonk said. 

Applicants will also have to pass a polygraph and a drug screening.

Outside of the trooper position, their electronic technician is a key role that's the hardest to fill because applicants need an electronics degree and an FCC license. 

“Their job is really to help us on the road whether it be looking at the electronic speed measuring devices, whether it be helping us making sure that our lights are wired,” Sergeant Shonk said. “But the most important part of their job is our radios. They are our lead radio communications team as well as our phones.”

Wages for the electronic technicians start at $29.00 an hour, dispatchers start at $22.32 an hour, and motor vehicle inspectors start at $22.02 an hour. Cadets ages 18 to 20 years old in training to become a trooper are paid $19.87.

The OSP hiring event will be held at the Ohio Means Jobs building at 280 N Park Avenue in Warren from 10 a.m. to 2p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8. 

More information on open positions for the Ohio State Highway Patrol and requirements visit here.