• Home
• Divisions
  • Administrative Services
  • Communications
  • Criminal Identification
  • Driver License
  • Fire Marshal
  • Forensic Services
  • Highway Patrol
  • Highway Safety
  • Homeland Security
  • Investigations
  • POST
• Commissioners
• Media
• Contact
• Employees

Highway Patrol

• Highway Patrol Home
• UHP Highlights
• Employment
• Public Information & Education
• Safety Inspection
• Programs
• What You Should Know
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Memorial
• UHP History
• Sections
• Find UHP Offices
• Contact UHP

Minimum Qualifications For Highway Patrol Trooper

Please read the following information carefully:

• Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Applicant must be at least 21 years of age as of initial test date.
• Applicant must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• An employee in uniform is prohibited from having a tattoo anywhere on their body that is visible while in a short sleeve uniform.
• Applicant may not have received more than three (3) minor traffic violations within two (2) years prior to the initial test date.
• The following are not considered minor traffic violations and may be used to determine the moral character of the applicant: driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; automobile homicide; reckless driving; evading a police officer; driving on suspension or revocation; negligent homicide; failure to maintain automobile insurance.
• Applicants may not have been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or pled guilty to a lesser change within two (2) years prior to the initial test date.
• Applicants may not have been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or pled guilty to a lesser charge within two (2) years prior to the initial test date.
• Any activity involving the abuse of alcohol may be considered in determining the eligibility of peace officer certification.
• Applicants may not have been convicted of, or used hard drugs within five (5) years prior to the initial test date. Hard drugs include the following listed drugs, their chemical derivatives and synthetic equivalents: heroin, cocaine, peridan, tai sticks, amphetamine, barbiturates, Chelates, crank, morphine, LSD, crack, mescaline, peyote, opium, Demerol, methadone, Quaaludes, Methamphetamine, Hallucinogens, narcotic Analgesics, Central Nervous System depressants and stimulants, PCP or any of it's analogs.
• Applicants may not have been convicted of, or used other drugs not classified as hard drugs within two (2) years prior to the initial test date. Other drugs include the following listed drugs, their chemical derivatives and synthetic equivalents: marijuana, anabolic steroids, hashish, amy1 nitrates, tolune, cannabis, inhalants.
• Applicants may not have been convicted of, or involved in the sale, manufacturing or cultivation of illegal drugs within five (5) years prior to the initial test date.
• Applicants may not have been convicted of a felony as an adult. Felony convictions as a juvenile will be individually evaluated.
• Applicant may not have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. This includes any offense - whether or not explicitly described in a statute as a crime of domestic violence - which has, as its factual basis, the use of attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by the victim's current of former domestic partner, parent or guardian.
• Applicants may not have been convicted of, or involved in crimes of dishonesty within four (4) years prior to the initial test date. Crimes of dishonesty include, but are not limited to, the following: theft; fraud; tax evasion; issuing bad checks; financial transaction credit card offenses; deceptive business practices; defrauding creditors; robbery; bribery or receiving a bribe; perjury; extortion; arson; criminal mischief; falsifying government records; custodial interference; forgery; receiving stolen property; firearms violations; burglary; criminal trespass; vandalism; kidnaping; furnishing or permitting minors to use tobacco or alcohol; violations of the computer crimes act; offenses against the administration of government; violations against the public order and decency act; violations of the pornographic and harmful materials and performances act; violations of the racketeering enterprises act; violations of the cable television programming decency act; violations of the communications fraud act; violations of wildlife laws.
• Applicants may not have been convicted of, or involved in crimes of unlawful sexual conduct within four (4) years prior to the initial test date.
• Applicants may not have been convicted of, or involved in crimes of physical violence within four (4) years prior to the initial test date.
• Applicants may not have been convicted of, or involved in minor crimes other than traffic within one (1) year prior to the initial test date. In cases where arrest warrants are issued, the one year time will begin at the time of the warrant service.
• Applicants may not have a military discharge other than honorable.

All of the information listed above will be verified through documentation, background investigation or other screening methods. If you do not currently meet these requirements, we would encourage you to reapply when the time frames have elapsed. Failure to disclose information which may affect your employment eligibility will be grounds for termination if it is discovered after employment has begun. An applicant providing false or misleading information will not be considered at any time in the future for employment with the Utah Highway Patrol and this information will be released to Peace Officer Standards & Training and any other law enforcement agency upon request.