The Illinois State Police (ISP) Lateral Entry Training Program provides an opportunity for current certified police officers to become Illinois State Troopers through participation in an accelerated training program. Lateral Cadets will receive Trooper 1 pay while attending the State Police Academy ($7,035/month, as of 7/1/2024). The Lateral Entry Training Program is approximately 12-weeks.   

Lateral Cadets will still report to the Illinois State Police Academy for the first three weeks of the Cadet Class, receiving an introduction into Illinois State Police Cadet life.  Cadets will then return home, where they will report to a regional location daily for continued instruction, returning to their residence at the end of the day.

Lateral Cadets will return to the Academy during specific phases of their training, such as Emergency Vehicle Operations Course, however, Lateral Cadets will not be required to attend the Academy for more than three weeks in a row (home for the weekends) and for no more than 5-6 weeks total throughout the entirety of the Cadet Class. 

Lateral Cadets will not be required to relocate upon graduation and Troop assignments. 

Lateral Program Eligibility

NOTE: Applicants applying under Option Three of the Merit Board's Pre-Employment Requirements (successfully completed basic law enforcement training, with at least three (3) years of continuous, full-time service as a peace officer with the same police department, and currently serving as a peace officer) would be eligible to be considered for the Lateral Entry Training Program. 

SEE IF YOU QUALIFY

The Illinois State Police Merit Board has set the following minimum requirements for persons applying for the Illinois State Trooper position. All requirements must be met at the time of application submission to be deemed an acceptable applicant.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS:

1.  Must be twenty-one (21) years of age.

• An applicant twenty (20) years of age may apply if they have successfully completed an associates degree or 60 credit hours at a regionally accredited college or university.

2.  Cannot have been convicted of a felony.

3.  Must be a citizen of the United States.

4.  Must possess a valid driver's license.

5.  Must be willing to accept an assignment anywhere in the State of Illinois.

6.  Completed ONE of the following options: 

OPTION ONE

Associate degree or at least 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university with at least a C average.

OPTION TWO

No education needed if applicant meets ONE of the following:

• Honorably discharged AND awarded at least one of the qualifying medals by the United States Armed Forces.  

• An active member of the Illinois National Guard or a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces AND been awarded at least one of the qualifying medals as a result of honorable service during deployment on active duty.

• Honorably discharged AND served in a combat mission by proof of hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay during deployment on active duty. 

• Three years of full active and continuous United States Armed Forces duty, which also includes a period of active duty with the State of Illinois under Title 10 or Title 32 of the United States Code pursuant to an order of the President or the Governor of the State of Illinois, and received an honorable discharge. 

OPTION THREE

No education needed if applicant meets ALL of the following at the time of application:

1.  Has successfully completed basic law enforcement training

2.  Has at least three (3) years of continuous, full-time service as a peace officer with the same police department

3.  Is currently serving as a peace officer. 

College or university must be accredited by one of the following:

• Middle States Commission on Higher Education

• Higher Learning Commission

• New England Commission of Higher Education

• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

• Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges

• WASC Senior College and University Commission

Qualifying Military Medals:

• Southwest Asia Service Medal

• Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia

• Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

• Kosovo Campaign Medal

• Korean Defense Service Medal

• Afghanistan Campaign Medal

• Iraq Campaign Medal

• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

• Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

• Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal

For those who apply under Option One: official, sealed transcripts showing a degree or credit hours earned is required at the time of application submission.

For those who apply under Option Two: a DD-214 Long Form must be provided at the time of application submission. 

For those who apply under Option Three: a copy of your law enforcement officer certificate must be provided at the time of application submission. 

Any person who fails to meet the standards or show the required proof at the time  of application will be deemed an unacceptable applicant.

Applicants should be prepared to participate in each of the following:

• Pre-Employment Application Form 

• Physical Fitness Inventory Test "PFIT" 

• Recruitment Examination

• Application 

• Background Investigation

• Oral Interview

• Certification

• Medical Evaluation (including drug screening)

• Psychological Evaluation

• 28-week Academy Training

In order to be deemed an acceptable applicant, candidates must meet all Pre-Employment Requirements.

Any candidate who does not meet the Merit Board's Pre-Employment Requirements at the time of application submission will be automatically disqualified.

To begin the application process, submit the online Pre-Employment Application Form.  The form allows you to pick a cadet applican testing date.  Candidates will complete the PFIT first then the online Recruitment Exam. 

Once a Cadet Class has been scheduled, the Merit Board will schedule applicant testing events. Candidates may select their testing date and location when completing the Pre-Employment Application Form. Approximately one week prior to testing, applicants will receive an e-mail from the State Police Merit Board confirming their date, time, and location for the Physical Fitness Inventory Test ("PFIT").

The PFIT is mandatory to continue in the Selection Process. Applicants who do not successfully complete the PFIT or fail to participate will be removed from the process and required to resubmit a Pre-Employment Application Form.

Practical exercise performance requirements are fitness activities related to law enforcement tasks. The following practical exercise performance requirements have been identified and must be satisfactorily performed for successful completion of the State Police Merit Board's PFIT requirement. 

• Sit & Reach Test

• One Minute Sit-Up Test

• One Repititon Maximum Bench Press

• 1.5 Mile Run

ISP PFIT PREP GUIDE

PFIT DEMONSTRATION VIDEO

PFIT STANDARDS

Applicants who successfully complete the Physical Fitness Inventory Test (PFIT), are immediately administered the online Recruitment Examination. The Recruitment Exam is administered on the same day as the PFIT.   

The Merit Board will notify each applicant of their Recruitment Exam score via e-mail. Applicants who meet the benchmark score on the Recruitment Exam are placed in the eligibility pool based on their Recruitment Exam score. 

Applicants who do not meet the benchmark score on the Recruitment Exam may request to retest. Instructions on how to submit a retest request are provided to applicants via e-mail.  

An optional study guide is available for purchase at the link below.  Practice tests are also available for purchase. This material is not required to participate in the Recruitment Test. Candidates will be required to take the "LST Exam".

LST EXAM STUDY GUIDE

Applicants who successfully complete the PFIT and the online Recruitment Exam will have a thorough, comprehensive background investigation conducted by the Illinois State Police.

The background investigation may include but is not limited to, the following areas: education, personal, and employment reference check; traffic, criminal, and credit history check; and a personal interview conducted by one or more background investigators.

Once all background investigation information has been compiled, a Background Review Committee comprised of State Police Merit Board Members will meet to review the background investigation to determine whether an applicant advances to the Oral Interview Process.

Polygraph testing may be required at this, or any other stage of the Selection Process.

Applicants deemed eligible by the Background Review Committee will be invited to participate in the Oral Interview Process.  The Oral Interview consists of two parts. 

Part one of the interview process consists of an interview with a State Police Merit Board Member and an Illinois State Police Colonel.

Part two of the interview process includes a written assignment and an oral presentation to a panel of Illinois State Police Officers.

Qualified applicants are then ranked based on their Oral Interview score. Military Veterans are given five veterans preference points at this step in the process.  

Applicants who successfully complete all of the above steps will be Certified as a qualified applicant for appointment as a sworn officer to the Illinois State Police. 

The Board may certify more applicants than the number of vacant positions at the time of certification. All Certified applicants shall be eligible for appointment for a period of time designated by the Board. 

After Certification, the Illinois State Police will make a conditional offer of employment to enough applicants to fill the vacant positions in the next scheduled Cadet Class. Applicants are then scheduled for a medical examination, psychological examination, and drug screening. These exams are administered by the Illinois State Police.

All Illinois State Police Cadets are required to attend the Illinois State Police Academy in Springfield, Illinois.

Cadets will be required to successfully complete PFIT the first week of Academy training.

The Academy is a 27-week, para-military environment. Cadets are required to stay at the Academy Sunday through Friday each week.

During the training period, cadets are furnished lodging, meals and most necessary supplies and equipment. Most weekends, Cadets are free to travel home.

The Illinois State Police Recruitment Section is interested in engaging with potential applicants and answering any job-related questions. Please use the contact information provided below to speak with an Illinois State Police Recruiter.

MEDICAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL STANDARDS  FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE ACADEMY

VIEW STANDARDS

Questions regarding these requirements should be directed to the Illinois State Police Division of the Academy and Training at: 217-786-6903.

Traditional cadets currently earn $3,968/monthly while attending the Illinois State Police Academy. Upon successful completion of the Academy, the Trooper's salary is increased to $7,035 per month. 

Lateral Cadets will receive Trooper 1 pay while attending the Illinois State Police Academy ($7,035/month, as of 7/1/2024).

Beginning 7/1/2024

Upon successful completion of the Academy, the Trooper's salary is increased to Trooper 1 pay, $7,035 per month. 

Personal health and dental insurance are provided at a nominal cost. Also, basic life insurance and vision coverage are provided at no cost. Additional coverage for family members is available at group rates.

The following information is provided on the Illinois State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) website

Please contact the Merit Board's third-party vendor, IOS Recruitment, at recruitment@iosolutions.com or at 708-410-0200 for assistance with all Trooper application technical questions or issues.

All applicants may request a waiver of any application and/or testing fee by submitting the appropriate form as prescribed by the Board. Applicants shall be eligible for a waiver of the application and/or testing fee if they meet one of the following requirements:

1. His or her available income is 200% or less of the current poverty level; or

2. He or she is, in the discretion of the Board, unable to proceed in an action with payment of application fee and payment of that fee would result in substantial hardship to the person or the person’s family.

The current poverty level shall be the poverty guidelines enumerated by the federal department of Health and Human Services.  Applicants seeking a fee waiver must show proof of their current income levels or a statement explaining the substantial hardship to the person or the person’s family.

The Merit Board shall make a determination of eligibility and notify the requester if the request is granted or denied as follows:

1. Requests based on the income level of the applicant shall receive a determination of eligibility within 30 days of receipt of the request by the Board.

2. Requests based on substantial hardship to the person shall be reviewed by the Board at its next regular Board meeting after receipt of the request, except that requests received within seven business days of the next regular Board meeting shall be considered at the second subsequent regular Board meeting.  The Board shall vote to accept or deny the request for a fee waiver by a majority of the Board Members voting.  Requests approved by a majority of the Board shall be granted.  In the event of a tie vote, the request for fee waiver shall be denied.  The applicant shall be notified of the Board’s determination within 10 days following the determination of the Board.

FEE WAIVER APPLICATION