Contact: Lt. Everett Clendenin 
Date: August 15, 2006
Phone: (919) 733-5027 x233 

N.C. State Highway Patrol Lowers Age for Patrol School Cadets 
 

RALEIGH – The N.C. Highway Patrol is lowering by one year the age at which recruits can enter the Highway Patrol Basic School. Recruits must now be at least 20 years of age before taking the state Basic Law Enforcement Examination which is administered during the school.

Previously applicants were required to be at least 21 years of age before attending the school. “By lowering the age requirement for applicants, we are hoping to attract candidates before they make a commitment to another job,” said Colonel W. Fletcher Clay, Highway Patrol Commander. “We want anybody interested in a law enforcement career that meets our basic qualifications to contact us for additional information.”

With the change, anyone interested in being a Trooper can apply to the Highway Patrol at the age of 19 ½ instead of waiting until they turn 20. Troopers receive state benefits including insurance and retirement. A Trooper's salary range is $32,069-$52,713.

Below is a list of basic qualifications:

Age Minimum age is now 19 1/2 years of age at date of application and 20 years of age before taking the state BLET examination. Maximum - 39 years of age or less. (The applicant may not have reached their 40th birthday on the first day of Patrol Basic School.)

Height No Maximum height.

Weight Weight must be commensurate with height and body frame.

Education As a minimum, an applicant must have graduated from an accredited high school or hold an approved General Education Development Certificate (GED); college or university level education desired.

Citizenship Must be a citizen of the United States, and must be a legal resident of or reside in North Carolina as of the date he/she reports to Basic School.

Criminal History Must not have pled guilty to, entered a plea of no contest to, or have been convicted of any crime other than a minor misdemeanor; must not, during the three years preceding the date of his/her application, have been convicted of a traffic offense which required suspension or revocation of driving privileges; or held a drivers license which was in a state of suspension or revocation; must not have accumulated more than eight points against his/her driving record during the preceding three years or anytime after the date of the application. As of the date of application or thereafter, applicant must meet the minimum standards for law enforcement officers established by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Training and Standards Division.

Acceptance of Conditions and Benefits Must be willing to live and work in any section of the state and to be transferred at the discretion of the Patrol Commander.

Vision Requirements Must have 20/20 vision in each eye; uncorrected vision of no more than 20/100 in each eye corrected to 20/20 in each eye with corrective lenses. Must not be color blind or affected by night blindness; must pass depth perception test.

The Highway Patrol recently produced a 30 second recruiting commercial that is airing on TV stations around the state. Any person interested in applying should visit www.ncshp.org or telephone or visit their local Highway Patrol office.