Highway Patrol Trooper - 171st Western Basic Short School

North Carolina Highway Patrol; North Carolina; On-site; USD 60,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Referral bonus program

Job summary

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is seeking certified officers for the 171st Western Basic Short School, starting May 17, 2027, to fill statewide trooper vacancies. This continuous recruitment supports public safety on North Carolina highways and related operations.

Selected applicants will attend Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC, to complete the Short School, with a clear path for career progression and salary advancement as detailed in the posting.

Qualifications

• Currently hold North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) certification.
• Be 21 years of age by the first day of Basic School and no more than 39 years of age on the first day of Basic School.
• Possess a High School diploma or General Educational Development (GED).
• Score at or above a 10th-grade reading level on standardized testing.
• Be a United States Citizen or Naturalized Citizen.
• Have no felony convictions.
• Have no convictions for any serious misdemeanor offense.
• Possess a valid driver's license and a good driving record.
• Be willing to live and work anywhere in the State of North Carolina.
• Have 20/30 vision in each eye, with uncorrected vision no worse than 20/200 in each eye, corrected to 20/30 in each eye.

Responsibilities

• Enforce traffic laws and reduce crime on public streets and highways.
• Investigate highway accidents and apprehend violators; issue warnings as needed.
• Testify in court and assist other law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety.

Education

Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) certification

High School diploma or GED

Job description

Agency

NC State Highway Patrol

Division

NC State Highway Patrol

Job Classification Title

Highway Patrol Trooper (S)

Position Number

Grade

HP01

About Us

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol's primary mission is to reduce collisions and make the highways of North Carolina as safe as possible. The NCSHP has more than 1,600 troopers who cover nearly 80,000 miles of North Carolina roadways, more than any other state except Texas. In addition to enforcing the state's traffic laws, state troopers also guide traffic during hurricane evacuations, re-route traffic around hazardous chemical spills, and they stand ready should any act of terrorism occur. State Troopers are committed to protecting North Carolina's motoring public.

Description of Work

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is accepting applications from currently certified North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training officers for the 171st Western Basic Short School. Selected applicants will attend classes on the campus of Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina, beginning May 17, 2027. This continuous recruitment supports current and anticipated Highway Patrol Trooper vacancies statewide.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

This is a continuous (evergreen) posting used to recruit for current and anticipated Highway Patrol Trooper vacancies statewide. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Because this is an ongoing recruitment effort, not all applicants will be contacted immediately. Qualified applicants selected for further consideration will be contacted as processing opportunities become available.

171st Western Basic Short School

Certified applicants only. The 171st Western Basic is a Short School for applicants who currently hold North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) certification or are enrolled in a BLET course scheduled to graduate by May 17, 2027. Applicants who do not meet either of these requirements are not eligible for this Short School.

Application period: September 14, 2026, through January 18, 2027

First day of school and anticipated hire date: May 17, 2027

Anticipated graduation date: August 20, 2027

Training location: Belmont Abbey College, Belmont, North Carolina

Salary and Career Progression

Salary range: $60,238-$92,290

Salary increases occur as successful applicants complete the Short School and each year of service:

Career Stage / Annual Salary

• While attending the 171st Western Basic Short School --> $60,238
• Upon graduation from the 171st Western Basic Short School --> $63,250
• Completion of Year 1 as a Trooper --> $67,361
• Completion of Year 2 as a Trooper --> $71,739
• Completion of Year 3 as a Trooper --> $76,403
• Completion of Year 4 as a Trooper --> $81,368
• Completion of Year 5 as a Trooper --> $86,657
• Completion of Year 6 as a Trooper --> $92,290

As a member of our team, you will contribute to public safety by enforcing traffic laws and reducing crime on public streets and highways in North Carolina. Duties include assisting the public in emergencies; investigating highway accidents; apprehending violators of the laws and/or issuing warnings; testifying in court; and assisting other law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety.

Note: This job classification qualifies for the employee referral bonus program. If you were referred to this job posting by a current NCSHP employee, and you are eventually hired, that employee could qualify for a referral bonus.

Basic Qualifications

• Currently hold North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training certification (BLET).
• Be 21 years of age by the first day of Basic School and no more than 39 years of age on the first day of Basic School.
• Possess a High School diploma or General Educational Development (GED).
• Score at or above a 10th-grade reading level on standardized testing.
• Be a United States Citizen or Naturalized Citizen.
• Have no felony convictions.
• Have no convictions for any serious misdemeanor offense.
• Possess a valid driver's license and a good driving record.
• Be willing to live and work anywhere in the State of North Carolina.
• Have 20/30 vision in each eye, with uncorrected vision no worse than 20/200 in each eye, corrected to 20/30 in each eye.

If an applicant meets the basic qualifications listed above, then the applicant must successfully pass the following stages of the application process before being considered for employment:

• Polygraph Examination
• Extensive Background Investigation
• Review Board (Interview Panel)
• Medical/Physical Exam (including drug screening)
• Initial Assessment (Applicants must score at or above 50% on the Cooper Physical Fitness Test)
• Psychological Examination
• Colonel’s Review

A successful officer demonstrates the:

• Ability to learn, interpret and impartially apply the applicable provisions of the motor vehicle laws of North Carolina.
• Ability to collect and present information on patrol activities and investigations in oral and written form.
• Ability to deal with authority but courteously with the general public.
• Ability to read calmly and quickly under emergency conditions.

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See of oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.

High School or General Educational Development (GED) diploma.

State employees engaged in Law enforcement work, as defined by state statue, are subject to and must meet the