Hiring and Exam Process
Are you considering a career as a Maine State Trooper?
The hiring and exam process plays a crucial role in determining your eligibility and readiness to join our esteemed force. It’s important to note that this process may vary from person to person, depending on whether you are currently certified as an officer in your jurisdiction or if you are completely new to law enforcement.
Required
Exams
1. Alert Examination
Applicants must have already taken and passed the ALERT test prior to applying for placement on the Employment Register. This may be done by calling 207-877-8000. There is a $50.00 fee for this test. Testing is normally scheduled for the first and third Wednesday of every month at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro, Maine. This test must meet the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s minimum passing score for entrance into basic law enforcement training. Test questions are multiple choice and fall within the categories of Writing Skills and Reading Comprehension. If you are currently certified as a law enforcement officer in another state, we will waive this examination.
2. Physical Fitness Test (PFT)
Applicants must have already taken and passed the Pre-Employment PFT at the 40th percentile within the past year prior to applying for placement on the Employment Register. This may be done by calling 207-830-0665 (When participating in an academy sponsored fitness test there is a $50 fee for this test. However, if you are scheduling to take the test with a member of the Maine State Police, there is no cost to you). The Physical Fitness Test (PFT) is a Pass/Fail test. It consists of three events: Timed Push-Up Test (one minute), Timed Sit-Up Test (one minute), and 1.5 Mile Run.
3. Application Evaluation
Applications are reviewed to verify that each candidate meets the established Minimum Requirements. Candidates who do not meet these requirements are disqualified from further consideration.
4. Oral Board Examination
All candidates successfully meeting the Minimum Requirements will be scheduled for an Oral Board Examination. The Oral Board is a structured interview that evaluates applicants’ skills in the areas of Commitment & Independence; Judgment & Logic; Decision Making Decisiveness; Tact & Diplomacy; and Communication Skills. The Oral Board is a pass/fail component of the applicant process.
You are NOT required to complete any phases of the Law Enforcement Pre-Service training offered by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.
Hiring
Process
The Maine State Police hiring process is not only thorough, but extremely competitive. Candidates will be subject to the following:
Polygraph Examination
This will be conducted by one of our Certified Polygraph Examiners.
Background Investigation
The background investigator will gather information about the candidate, including military service, education, motor vehicle record, criminal history record, financial record, work history, and references.
Screening Committee Review
The screening committee will examine the results of the background investigation as well as the polygraph examination to determine if the candidate is eligible to continue. This determination will be reached by weighing all information received.
Colonel's Interview
Once the screening committee determines that the candidate should continue in the process, the candidate is then scheduled for an interview with the Chief, Deputy Chief, or Majors of the Maine State Police.
Psychological Examination
Each candidate will be scheduled for a psychological examination to determine if he/she is mentally fit to handle the intense and demanding aspects of being a Maine State Trooper.
Medical Evaluation
Each candidate at this point in the process will be scheduled for a medical examination to determine if the candidate is medically fit for the complex duties of a Maine State Trooper.
This process may differ from person to person depending upon whether you are currently certified as an officer in your jurisdiction or if you are completely new to law enforcement.