Entry Level
(No Prior Law Enforcement Experience)

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree (natural resource science or criminal justice preferred)
OR
Two-year college degree + 2 years paid, full-time natural resource experience
OR
Two-year college degree + three years active military duty within the last nine years

Certain past actions can disqualify you from becoming a Fish and Wildlife Officer.

Entry level officers are required to attend the 720-hour Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center.
Upon graduation from BLEA, entry level officers are required to complete one month of in-house training at WDFW Enforcement Headquarters in Olympia.
Upon completion of in-house training, entry level officers are required to complete a 12-week (minimum) Field Training Officer (FTO) program within their assigned detachment before gaining independent status.
Entry level officers remain on probationary status for one year after completion of the FTO program.