Job Details

Job Responsibilities

Enforce all vehicle laws and other criminal laws. Patrol the highways of the state of South Carolina. Investigate collisions. Serve as a witness in criminal and civil courts. Maintain reports concerning enforcement activities. Provide information to public regarding vehicle laws. Responsible and accountable for handling public funds.

Candidates must be hired into full-time equivalent (FTE) positions in one of the designated SCHP Critical Market Areas. The Sign-On Bonus will be paid over a series of five (5) payments as described below:

First Payment – The employee will be paid a bonus amount of $1,500 upon the successful completion of all basic training, Criminal Justice Academy Class 1 certification training, field training, and any applicable law enforcement training requirements established for the SCHP.

Second Payment – The employee will be paid a bonus amount of $2,000 after the successful completion of twelve (12) months of continuous service to the SCHP Critical Market Area.

Third Payment – The employee will be paid a bonus amount of $2,000 after the successful completion of twenty-four (24) months of continuous service to the SCHP Critical Market Area.

Fourth Payment – The employee will be paid a bonus amount of $2,000 after the successful completion of thirty-six (36) months of continuous service to the SCHP Critical Market Area.

Fifth Payment – The employee will be paid a bonus amount of $2,500 after the successful completion of forty-eight (48) months of continuous service to the SCHP Critical Market Area.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

State Minimum Requirements - A high school diploma and experience performing patrol or investigative duties with a public law enforcement agency. A bachelor's degree may be substituted for the required law enforcement experience.

Agency Minimum Requirements - Must have at least a high school diploma and the following additional requirements:

• Must be a US citizen and at least 21 years of age prior to the hire date.
• Must be able to perform all essential and marginal job functions of a State Trooper.
• Must be a resident of South Carolina and have a valid South Carolina driver's license.
• If you are an out of state applicant, you must be a resident of South Carolina and have a valid South Carolina driver's license prior to the effective date of hire.
• Selected applicants must attend and successfully complete the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) Training Program.
• While in training you are required to live at the SC Criminal Justice Academy during the week and will not be permitted to stay on the weekends.
• Selected applicants are required to pass a pre-employment physical fitness test.
• You will also be required to participate in daily physical training.

Additional Requirements Continued:

• All qualified applicants will be required to participate in an extensive background investigation to include credit check, criminal history check, driving history, history of drug use, employer and reference check, a polygraph examination, and interview board.
• The background investigation will consist of contacting your current and ALL of your former employers. Please note that if you answer "NO" on the state application to the questions asking "May we contact this employer?" this will not allow the SCHP to conduct a thorough background investigation and you will not move forward in the process. Once this has been successfully completed, qualified candidates will undergo a medical screening which will consist of a TB and respiratory test, drug test and eye examination.
• Candidates must meet 20/20 vision standards OR no more than 20/200 uncorrected, corrected to 20/100 or below. Candidates must also be capable of distinguishing, without corrections, three colors: green, yellow and red.

NOTE: Applicants must meet Additional Requirements to be considered for the position.

Additional Comments

County assignments are based on critical need areas. This means you may or may not be assigned to your county of choice. Your assignment will ONLY be based on "existing needs." Therefore, if you are unable to relocate to a critical need area, an offer of employment may be rescinded. The next step after submitting this application will be an administrative review (Credit/Criminal/Driving Checks). If you successfully pass the administrative review, you will be invited to attend a Physical Agilities Test (PAT). Start physically preparing NOW for the test as the appointment comes very quickly. For the PAT appointment, you will need to bring with you the following documents: A copy of your high school diploma, a copy of your DD-214 (member 4) military discharge (if applicable), a copy of your birth certificate (or naturalization certificate) and a copy of your South Carolina driver's license. If you do not possess a South Carolina driver's license, you must obtain one upon hire and be a resident before your effective date of hire. If you have held a license in any other state within the last five (5) years, you will be required to submit a certified copy of your driving record for each state in which you have held a license in. Start gathering these documents NOW and have them ready so you can attend the PAT appointment. In accordance with the agency's policy regarding Testing-Designated Positions, all applicants will be required to submit to a mandatory urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to employment.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, pregnancy (including childbirth or related medical conditions), or national origin. The department prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, pregnancy (including childbirth or related medical conditions), or national origin.

Benefits

Benefits for State Employees The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies. Insurance Benefits Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses. Retirement Benefits State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options. Workplace Benefits State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more. Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.