How to Become a Game Warden in Illinois

Game warden jobs in the state of Illinois are highly sought after. Open positions are limited, so candidates are expected to be both highly trained and deeply passionate about the line of work they are pursuing.  Game warden candidates are encouraged to have some background in ecology, and additional scientific and field training is always an asset.

Candidates are also advised to develop a passion for communication and public education.  A warden's job responsibilities could include creating displays and presentations that help people understand environmental issues and conservation efforts, collecting census data on animal and bird populations, and supporting conservation efforts throughout the jurisdiction by a variety of means. Game wardens are responsible for managing all of the fishing and wildlife incidents that occur throughout their designated area.

Given the highly competitive nature of the current job market, candidates are carefully vetted through the hiring process in order to find the most suitable candidate, so it is important for potential applicants to understand the selection process, qualifications, and additional requirements in order to be as prepared as possible.

Illinois Game Warden Eligibility Requirements

The Illinois Office of Law Enforcement supports state Department of Natural Resource programs designed to protect the state’s natural resources. Thanks to Conservation Police Officers, the state is able to regulate and enforce hunting and angling regulations, as well as firearm, boating, and trapping safety. While conservation of natural resources is their primary duty, Illinois Conservation Police Officers have full police authority that is in effect state-wide. These individuals train to the same high standards that state police officers do. In addition to the above mentioned responsibilities, Conservation Police Officers lead advocacy and classes, and often support other agencies during emergency situations.

Qualified applicants that enjoy the wilderness regions of the state and who are also interested in law enforcement are encouraged to pursue Conservation Police Officer application process. However, due to the rigorous requirements of the role, applicants should be fully prepared for the process. Listed below are the minimum qualifications to apply for the role of Conservation Police Officer in the state of Illinois. A full listing of the requirements can be found on Illinois’ Department of Natural Resources website.

Illinois Conservation Police Officer Basic Job Qualifications

Age: 21 years of age or older is required at the time of the start of training

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

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

Military Service: If discharged from the U.S. military, "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 an intensive fingerprint Background check in order to continue the application process to ensure that candidates have:

  • Not been convicted of domestic violence
  • Never illegally manufactured, transported, purchased, distributed, used or sold a controlled substance
  • Are not on court-ordered probation
  • Never convicted of a felony offense

Academic Credentials:

  • Have completed a high school diploma or equivalent.
  • Have an Associate’s degree and 3 years’ experience as a police officer,
    • Or have a 4-year Bachelor’s degree
    • Or have been awarded with a medal in addition to military ‘Honorable Discharge’
    • Or finally, be an active member of the Illinois National Guard or a reservist in the US Armed Forces

Additional Requirements:

  • State of Illinois CMS (Central Management Services) Employment Application
  • POWER Scores for Physical readiness
  • Conservation Police Officer Trainee Program
  • Contingent on the success of Background, physical and educational factors, a candidate may be offered a trainee role for a minimum of one year. Training consists of:
    • Basic Law Enforcement Course: 480 hours of coursework which covers basic peace officer topics such as human behavior, patrol techniques, and police proficiency skills
    • Basic Conservation Police: 480 hours of training topics that include wildlife enforcement, watercraft safety, state park and site regulations, and endangered species protection
    • Field Training: CPOTs receive five months of on-the-job training by working with veteran field officers in a rotation of various field locations.
  • Upon successfully passing all components of the CPOT Trainee year and subsequent 4 months of probation, a candidate is considered certified as a Conservation Police Officer.

Interview: Candidates will have an oral interview to evaluate character, as well as relevant experience and

Medical evaluation: The candidate will be in ‘good’ medical health according to POST requirements

Hearing: The applicant must be able to hear without significant loss.

Vision: The applicant must have good vision in both eyes and may use corrective lenses.

The Peace Officer Wellness Evaluation Report (POWER)

Physical Readiness: The applicant must successfully demonstrate the following skills through the POWER (Peace Officer Wellness Evaluation Report):

  • Aerobic capacity through a 1.5-mile run
  • Strength using bench press weights
  • Muscular endurance as determined by the quantity of sit-ups completed in one minute
  • Flexibility measured by a sit and reach test

Upon passing POWER, a swim criteria must be evaluated:

  • Swimming 300 yards using any stroke recognized by the American Red Cross
  • Treading water for 10 minutes
  • Retrieving a 5-lb weight from at least 10 feet of water

Psychological Condition: The applicant must be in suitable psychological and emotional health as evaluated

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 mathematics including advanced arithmetic, basic accounting, estimating, and data collection
  • Demonstrate any receptive and expressive bilingual skills.
  • Knowledge of current principles and practices of habitat resources, law enforcement and wildlife management
  • Computer spreadsheet, word processing, email, GIS, and database knowledge in a networked environment is required; the state uses proprietary programs for training and information delivery
  • Establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships within and outside of the department
  • Remain committed to professional development
  • Effectively operate and negotiate a 4-wheel drive vehicle on rugged terrain
  • Effectively utilize boats and ATVs for patrol and pursuit
  • Effectively use firearms and train others on firearm usage and safety
  • Professional development or college courses in psychology, law enforcement, sociology, or natural resources management

Salaries for Conservation Police Officers with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources

The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported that conservation police officers in the state earn significantly higher wages than their colleagues in the country overall. For example, the median salary among officers in Illinois was $91,542 as of 2015 - 76% higher than the national median for game wardens.

Experienced game wardens in Illinois earned an even higher average salary - $101,214. Even the entry-level salary for a game warden in the state exceeded the national median among game wardens, with those just starting out earning an average of $62,371.

In Illinois, game wardens employed with the state’s Department of Natural Resources are known as conservation police officers. The Illinois Department of Central Management Services breaks out the salaries for these commissioned law enforcement officers, which includes significant increases for longevity.

Conservation police officers work as trainees for a two-month period earning within the range of $2,207 and $4,140 a month depending on experience. The monthly salaries for Level I and II conservation police officers as of 2017 are shown below:

  • Conservation Police Officer I: $3,136 - $6,412
    • Longevity Year – 9: $6,762
    • Longevity Year – 10: $7,158
    • Longevity Year – 12: $7,335
    • Longevity Year – 15: $7,443
    • Longevity Year – 21: $7,468
  • Conservation Police Officer II: $3,174 - $6,452
    • Longevity Year – 9: $6,846
    • Longevity Year – 10: $7,243
    • Longevity Year – 12: $7,422
    • Longevity Year – 15: $7,877
    • Longevity Year – 17: $8,243
    • Longevity Year – 20: $8,634
    • Longevity Year – 21: $8,742
    • Longevity Year – 22: $9,146
    • Longevity Year – 25: $9,569

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
Phone: (217) 782-6431
http://dnr.state.il.us/law3/career.htm

School Programs

ProgramPrograms Offered

Augustana College

639 38th St, Rock Island, IL 61201-2296
Phone: (309) 794-7000
  • Biology

Aurora University

347 S Gladstone Ave, Aurora, IL 60506-4892
Phone: (630) 892-6431
  • Biology
  • Law Enforcement Administration
  • Criminal Justice

Benedictine University

5700 College Rd, Lisle, IL 60532-0900
Phone: (630) 829-6000
  • Biology
  • Criminal Justice

Blackburn College

700 College Ave, Carlinville, IL 62626
Phone: (217) 854-3231
  • Biology
  • Environmental Biology
  • Criminal Justice

Bradley University

1501 W Bradley Ave, Peoria, IL 61625-0001
Phone: (309) 676-7611
  • Biology
  • Law Enforcement Administration

Chicago State University

9501 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL 60628-1598
Phone: (773) 995-2000
  • Biology
  • Criminal Justice

City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College

30 E Lake St, Chicago, IL 60601-2449
Phone: (312) 553-5600
  • Criminal Justice

City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College

1145 W Wilson Ave., Chicago, IL 60640-6063
Phone: (773) 907-4000
  • Criminal Justice

City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College

6301 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60621-2709
Phone: (773) 602-5000
  • Criminal Justice

City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College

10001 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL 60628-1696
Phone: (773) 291-6100
  • Criminal Justice

City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College

7500 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60652-1299
Phone: (773) 838-7500
  • Criminal Justice

City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College

4300 N Narragansett, Chicago, IL 60634-1500
Phone: (773) 777-7900
  • Criminal Justice

College of Lake County

19351 W Washington St., Grayslake, IL 60030-1198
Phone: (847) 543-2000
  • Natural Resources Management and Policy

Concordia University-Chicago

7400 Augusta, River Forest, IL 60305-1499
Phone: (708) 771-8300
  • Biology

DePaul University

1 E Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: (312) 362-8000
  • Biology

Dominican University

7900 W Division Street, River Forest, IL 60305
Phone: (708) 366-2490
  • Biology

East-West University

816 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: (312) 939-0111 x1803
  • Biology

Eastern Illinois University

600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, IL 61920
Phone: (217) 581-5000
  • Biology
  • Botany, Plant Biology
  • Zoology and Animal Biology
  • Ecology

Elmhurst College

190 Prospect Ave, Elmhurst, IL 60126-3096
Phone: (630) 617-3500
  • Natural Resources Management and Policy
  • Biology
  • Law Enforcement Administration

Eureka College

300 E. College Avenue, Eureka, IL 61530
Phone: (309) 467-3721
  • Biology

Governors State University

1 University Pky, University Park, IL 60484
Phone: (708) 534-5000
  • Biology
  • Environmental Biology
  • Criminal Justice

Greenville College

315 E. College Ave, Greenville, IL 62246
Phone: (618) 664-2800
  • Biology
  • Environmental Biology
  • Law Enforcement Administration

Heartland Community College

1500 West Raab Road, Normal, IL 61761-9446
Phone: (309) 268-8000
  • Criminal Justice

Illinois College

1101 W College Ave, Jacksonville, IL 62650-2299
Phone: (217) 245-3000
  • Biology
  • Environmental Biology

Illinois Institute of Technology

3300 S Federal St, Chicago, IL 60616
Phone: (312) 567-3000
  • Biology

Illinois State University

North and School Streets, Normal, IL 61790-1000
Phone: (309) 438-2111
  • Biology
  • Criminal Justice

Illinois Wesleyan University

1312 N Park St, Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
Phone: (309) 556-1000
  • Biology

Joliet Junior College

1215 Houbolt Rd, Joliet, IL 60431-8938
Phone: (815) 729-9020
  • Forestry
  • Criminal Justice

Judson University

1151 N State St, Elgin, IL 60123-1498
Phone: (847) 628-2500
  • Biology
  • Criminal Justice

Kaskaskia College

27210 College Rd, Centralia, IL 62801
Phone: (618) 545-3000
  • Law Enforcement Administration

Kishwaukee College

21193 Malta Rd, Malta, IL 60150-9699
Phone: (815) 825-2086
  • Criminal Justice

Knox College

2 E South St, Galesburg, IL 61401-9999
Phone: (309) 341-7000
  • Biology

Lake Forest College

555 N Sheridan Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045-2399
Phone: (847) 234-3100
  • Biology

Lewis and Clark Community College

5800 Godfrey Rd, Godfrey, IL 62035
Phone: (618) 468-7000
  • Biology

Lewis University

One University Parkway, Romeoville, IL 60446-2200
Phone: (815) 838-0500
  • Biology
  • Criminal Justice
  • Security and Protective Services

Lincoln College

300 Keokuk St, Lincoln, IL 62656
Phone: (217) 732-3155
  • Law Enforcement Administration
  • Criminal Justice

Lincoln Land Community College

5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL 62794-9256
Phone: (217) 786-2200
  • Criminal Justice

Loyola University Chicago

1032 W. Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60660
Phone: (773) 274-3000
  • Biology
  • Microbiology
  • Criminal Justice

MacCormac College

29 E. Madison, Chicago, IL 60602-4405
Phone: (312) 922-1884 x203
  • Law Enforcement Administration

MacMurray College

447 East College Ave, Jacksonville, IL 62650-2590
Phone: (217) 479-7000
  • Biology
  • Law Enforcement Administration

McKendree University

701 College Rd, Lebanon, IL 62254-1291
Phone: (618) 537-4481
  • Biology

Millikin University

1184 W Main St, Decatur, IL 62522-2084
Phone: (217) 424-6211
  • Biology
  • Law Enforcement Administration

Monmouth College

700 E Broadway, Monmouth, IL 61462-1998
Phone: (309) 457-2311
  • Biology

Morthland College

202 East Oak Street, West Frankfort, IL 62896-2742
Phone: (618) 937-2127
  • Biology

National Louis University

122 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: (800) 443-5522
  • Biology

North Central College

30 N Brainard St, Naperville, IL 60540
Phone: (630) 637-5100
  • Biology

North Park University

3225 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60625-4895
Phone: (773) 244-6200
  • Biology
  • Criminal Justice

Northeastern Illinois University

5500 N Saint Louis Ave, Chicago, IL 60625-4699
Phone: (773) 583-4050
  • Biology
  • Criminal Justice

Northern Illinois University

1425 W. Lincoln Hwy., Dekalb, IL 60115-2828
Phone: (800) 892-3050
  • Biology

Northwestern University

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208
Phone: (847) 491-3741
  • Biology
  • Ecology

Olivet Nazarene University

One University Avenue, Bourbonnais, IL 60914-2271
Phone: (815) 939-5011
  • Biology
  • Zoology and Animal Biology
  • Ecology
  • Criminal Justice

Olney Central College

305 N West Street, Olney, IL 62450
Phone: (618) 393-2982
  • Law Enforcement Administration

Principia College

1 Maybeck Place, Elsah, IL 62028-9799
Phone: (618) 374-2131
  • Environmental Biology

Quincy University

1800 College Ave, Quincy, IL 62301-2699
Phone: (217) 222-8020
  • Biology
  • Criminal Justice

Rockford University

5050 E State St, Rockford, IL 61108-2311
Phone: (815) 226-4186
  • Biology

Roosevelt University

430 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605-1394
Phone: (312) 341-3500
  • Biology
  • Criminal Justice

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064-3095
Phone: (847) 578-3000
  • Biology
  • Microbiology

Saint Xavier University

3700 W 103rd St, Chicago, IL 60655
Phone: (773) 298-3000
  • Biology
  • Botany, Plant Biology
  • Criminal Justice

Shawnee Community College

8364 Shawnee College Rd, Ullin, IL 62992
Phone: (618) 634-3200
  • Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management

South Suburban College

15800 South State Street, South Holland, IL 60473-1200
Phone: (708) 596-2000
  • Criminal Justice

Southeastern Illinois College

3575 College Road, Harrisburg, IL 62946
Phone: (618) 252-5400
  • Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Lincoln Drive, Carbondale, IL 62901-4512
Phone: (618) 453-2121
  • Natural Resources Management and Policy
  • Forestry
  • Biology
  • Botany, Plant Biology
  • Microbiology
  • Zoology and Animal Biology
  • Law Enforcement Administration

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

Il State Rte 157, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1259
Phone: (618) 650-2000
  • Biology
  • Criminal Justice

Southwestern Illinois College

2500 Carlyle Ave, Belleville, IL 62221-5899
Phone: (618) 235-2700
  • Law Enforcement Administration

Spoon River College

23235 North County 22, Canton, IL 61520-8622
Phone: (309) 647-4645
  • Natural Resources Management and Policy

Trinity Christian College

6601 W College Dr, Palos Heights, IL 60463-0929
Phone: (708) 597-3000
  • Biology
  • Law Enforcement Administration

Trinity International University-Illinois

2065 Half Day Rd, Deerfield, IL 60015-1283
Phone: (847) 945-8800
  • Biology

Triton College

2000 5th Ave, River Grove, IL 60171-1995
Phone: (708) 456-0300 x3130
  • Law Enforcement Administration

University of Chicago

5801 S Ellis Ave, Chicago, IL 60637
Phone: (773) 702-1234
  • Biology
  • Microbiology
  • Ecology

University of Illinois at Chicago

601 S Morgan, Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: (312) 996-7000
  • Biology
  • Criminal Justice

University of Illinois at Springfield

One University Plaza, Springfield, IL 62703-5407
Phone: (217) 206-6600
  • Biology
  • Criminal Justice

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

601 E John Street, Champaign, IL 61820-5711
Phone: (217) 333-1000
  • Biology
  • Botany, Plant Biology
  • Microbiology

University of St Francis

500 N Wilcox St, Joliet, IL 60435-6188
Phone: (815) 740-3360
  • Biology
  • Law Enforcement Administration

Western Illinois University

1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455
Phone: (309) 295-1414
  • Biology
  • Zoology and Animal Biology
  • Law Enforcement Administration
  • Security and Protective Services

Wheaton College

501 College Ave, Wheaton, IL 60187-5593
Phone: (630) 752-5000
  • Biology