How to Become a Game Warden in Florida

Florida Game Warden Eligibility Requirements

Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission employs Law Enforcement Officers to manage wildlife and marine conservation and enforcement efforts along Florida's saltwater coastline, as well as its 37 million acres of land and freshwater. These dedicated individuals balance their love of the outdoors with a passion for enforcing conservation laws.

As Law Enforcement Officers, Florida’s game wardens are responsible for basic duties that include checking licenses and enforcing hunting regulations, speaking to advocacy groups and schools, as well as offering hunting and boating safety courses. The role of a Law Enforcement Officer in Florida is a challenging one, which means that all applicants must demonstrate they have what it takes to effectively serve the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Outlined below are the minimum qualifications for Law Enforcement Officer jobs with the Commission. All officer candidates in the state will have to successfully complete extensive cadet training. As outlined on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website, eligibility criteria include:

Basic Qualifications for a Job with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Age: 19 years of age or older is required at the time of the start of cadet training

Citizenship: Proof of U.S. citizenship, or naturalization documents are required, as well as proof of Florida residency

License: A valid Florida-issued driver’s license is required.

Military Service: If applicant is a veteran of any of the United States armed forces, a discharge "Under Honorable Conditions" is required

Work Eligibility: New employees must present original documents that establish identity and eligibility for U.S. employment opportunities as per federal law – applicants must be eligible to accept employment before the process continues

Background and Legal History: Applicants must pass a background check in order to continue the application process to ensure that candidates have no legal issues that would prevent them from serving. The process is intensive and designed to ensure that candidates have:

• Never handled an illegal controlled substance
• Are not on court-ordered probation
• Never been convicted of a felony offense
• Never been convicted of domestic violence, misdemeanor or otherwise
• Never been convicted of perjury or false statement or crime of immorality
• Never been discharged or resigned under threat of discharge from any law enforcement position
• Full disclosure of driving or boating under the influence record if any

Academic Credentials: Completion of high school or GED is required. To become a FWC Law Enforcement Officer, cadets in Florida have a background in law enforcement, work with the public, or military experience as work experience, OR 30 semester hours at an accredited college or university

Additional Requirements:

• State of Florida employment application
• Supplemental Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission application
• TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education) for non-sworn applicants with a minimum score of 12
• BAT (Basic Abilities Test) for non-sworn applicants with a minimum score of 79

Being Prepared for Police Academy and Conservation Commission Training

Police Basic Training: Recruit training begins with 568-hours of basic training at the Florida’s police academy. This segment of training includes:

• Florida criminal law
• Accident investigation
• Driving techniques for patrol vehicles, ATVs and marine craft
• Firearms training
• First responder procedure
• Emergency medical procedure
• Homeland security
• Information systems
• Officer survival
• Laws and practices of arrest, evidence, and search and seizures

Game Warden Training: Following successful Police Basic Training, game warden specific training takes place over the following year and will cover:

• Florida Division of Fish and Wildlife-specific training and orientation
• Hunting, fishing, and boating regulations and statutes
• Boating and hunting accident investigations and reconstruction
• Emergency search and rescue practice and organizational procedures
• Performing vessel safety checks
• Reporting on and ceasing environmental crimes
• Small boat operations
• Extensive field training
• Prosecution procedures for environmental criminals

Training for non-sworn applicants: Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Law Enforcement Training Center

Non-sworn applicants will be offered employment and be enrolled for a 19-week basic law enforcement training course. Sworn applicants undergo an 8-week training session that includes:

• Fish and wildlife conservation laws
• Land navigation and GPS
• Water safety survival
• Man tracking
• Vessel Operation
• Species ID

Field Training: After other training components have been successfully completed, 16 weeks of training in partnership with a more senior officer is required prior to start of regular duties

Interview: Candidates will have an oral interview with three or more members of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation officers during the later stages of the application process

Medical Condition: All candidates shall be in ‘good’ physical health as per Florida state requirements

Hearing: The applicant must be able to hear adequately in long distance, directional and voice conversation situations, as well as with high ambient noise factors

Vision: The applicant must have better than 20/200 vision with both eyes, and corrected to 20/20 with or without corrective lenses or contact lenses. Full, binocular field of vision must be present. Candidates cannot be red/green color blind nor suffer from conditions that result in double vision, lack of depth perception or other disorders that might impact safety or job performance.

Physical Readiness: The applicant must successfully complete a physical readiness test showing that he or she is in excellent physical condition.

• Swim test – applicants must be able to swim 300 yards in less than 10 minutes in a pool environment
• Physical Abilities Test – In 6:04 or less, candidates must:
• Exit a truck/opening a tailgate
• Run 220 yards
• Complete an obstacle course
• Drag a 150 pound human-weight
• Complete an obstacle course
• Run 220 yards
• Dry-fire a weapon six times with each hand
• Place items in a truck
• Enter a police-issue vehicle

Psychological Condition: The applicant must be in suitable psychological and emotional health as evaluated and stated on an affidavit to begin the employment process and various phases of training

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrate effective use of English including grammar, spelling, punctuation, vocabulary, and composition; reading and comprehension for oral and verbal communication
• Demonstrate effective use of math including advanced arithmetic, basic accounting, estimating, and data collection and other business principles
• Demonstrate knowledge of any additional languages from casual to professional speaking level
• Knowledge of current principles and practices of habitat resources, law enforcement and wildlife management
• Proper use of equipment used in hunting, trapping, and fishing
• Good observation and recall
• Use, care, and maintenance of firearms, vehicles, (boats, ATVs, snowmobiles, etc.), and other outdoor equipment
• Public speaking
• Remain committed to professional development
• Effectively operate and negotiate a 4-wheel drive vehicle as well as marine craft for patrol and pursuit
• Effectively use firearms in safety and emergency situations

Game Warden Salaries and Incentives Through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

The average starting salary for a game warden with Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was $36,223 as of 2017. However, wardens in counties with a higher cost of living earn a higher starting salary:

• Broward County - $41,222
• Collier County - $39,223
• Dade County - $41,222
• Lee County - $39,223
• Monroe County - $46,222
• Palm Beach County - $41,222

Florida offers a significant benefits package for these conservation law enforcement officers that includes:

• Salary incentives of up to $130 per month for certain academic achievement and/or career development courses
• Four hours of annual leave accrued biweekly for game wardens employed for the first five years up to 6 hours accrued for officers who have worked more than 10 years
• State funded retirement of 97%
• Group health and life insurance subsidized by the state which pays two-thirds of the cost
• Tax advantaged retirement options
• College classes tuition free
• GI Bill for qualified veterans

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

620 S. Meridian St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
Phone: (850) 488-4676
http://myfwc.com/get-involved/employment/law-enforcement/