Officer Hiring Process

TWRA Wildlife Officer Hiring Process

The position of Wildlife Officer with TWRA is a highly coveted career that requires hard work and dedication to achieve. Our Officers are professional, commissioned law enforcement officers who have completed rigorous training and met the standards of the Peace Officer Standardized Training Commission.

To be considered, an applicant must be a graduate of an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in wildlife or fisheries management, wildlife biology, or other related acceptable field as well as meet the special requirements listed on this page below.

The TWRA hires once a year, this year we will be taking applications in the Fall of 2024.

A career in Wildlife Law Enforcement is an exciting, rewarding, ever-changing work path for those that are dedicated, highly motivated, and eager to serve the sportsman and boaters of the great state of Tennessee.

Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicants for this class must:

1. Be willing to and able to qualify with, carry, and use assigned weapons;

2. Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age on the date of application;

3. Be a citizen of the United States;

4. Have a good moral character, as determined by investigation

5. Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority;

6. Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority;

7. Supply a fingerprint sample in a manner prescribed by the TBI for a fingerprint based criminal history records check;

8. Have no conviction for a felony or have been discharged under any other than honorable conditions from any branch of the United States armed forces;

9. Pass a physical examination administered by a licensed physician that is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that relates to the essential functions of the position;

10. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a licensed mental health professional that is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that relates to the essential functions of the position;

11. Have visual acuity of 20/100 in each eye, separately without glasses, and each eye corrected to 20/30 or better with corrective lenses;

12. Possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment in some positions upon appointment, successfully complete a prescribed course of instruction at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Academy or have successfully completed the equivalent of the prescribed course

Minimum Requirements for TWRA Boating and Wildlife Law Enforcement

Application & Interview

The TWRA hires once a year, applications will be open in the Fall of 2024. If chosen Academy training starts the first week of January.

Once the application period ends, all documents will be reviewed by management and those selected for an interview will receive an invitation to interview by email. Two rounds of in-person interviews will be held in Nashville in October and November.

Academy Training

If selected for a position Cadets are then required to complete a 23-week resident academy at the Tennessee Wildlife Officers Training Academy (TWOTA). Cadets are housed on-site Monday through Friday and will receive instruction and evaluation in all aspects of professional Wildlife Law Enforcement.

During the academy phase of training Cadets will be required to meet standards of evaluation in numerous categories including; physical aptitude, classroom instruction, firearms, defensive tactics, operation of off-highway vehicles, operation of Patrol Vehicles both Trucks and Vessels along with numerous other proficiencies required to successfully perform their duties.

Job Description

This is the entry working class in the field of wildlife enforcement and management. An employee in this class is responsible for a variety of law enforcement and wildlife management activities in an assigned area.

Examples of Duties

Patrols an assigned area making inspections for boating, hunting, fishing, littering, and pollution law violations; checks hunting and fishing licenses; inspects vehicles for possession of illegal game; apprehends and arrests violators of wildlife laws; collects and preserves evidence; serves as state's witness at court cases; Performs public safety functions on public waterways primarily by enforcing boating safety laws and investigating boating incidents; collects and prepares wildlife research data using such techniques as browse surveys, wildlife call counts, field bag checks, and aging and collecting parts of harvested animals; presents wildlife conservation educational programs to civic clubs, sportsman associations, and school groups; teaches hunting and boating safety education classes; assists landowners in the development of a wildlife management plan for their property; investigates wildlife damage complaints; operates a variety of equipment including motor vehicles, boats, motors, firearms, cameras and two-way radios.

Education and Experience Required

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife or Fisheries Management, Wildlife Biology, or other related acceptable field. Related acceptable fields include General Biology, Zoology, Forestry, Ecology, Vertebrate Biology or Vertebrate Zoology, Agriculture, Agricultural Science, or Animal Science; provided the applicant has an additional twenty semester hours of Wildlife related coursework. OR One year of full-time working experience as a Wildlife Manager 1 with the State of Tennessee.

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