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CO hiring process

There are two hiring processes for becoming a conservation officer; one process for licensed officers, and a process for non-licensed officers. 

Individuals who are currently licensed through the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (or comparable in states outside of Michigan) may qualify for the licensed officer hiring process.

Step 1: Application

Submit a State of Michigan application. Make sure to use a valid email address on your application as that is how you will be communicated with throughout the entire hiring process. The following documents must be attached to your application:

  • Cover letter
  • Resume
  • References
  • Driver's license
  • DD214 long-form military discharge papers (if applicable)

If you are selected to advance in the hiring process, you will be contacted via email by the DNR Law Enforcement Division with additional instructions.

Step 2: Pre-screening interview

If selected to move forward in the process, you must participate in a pre-screening interview. These interviews will be conducted in-person. 
You will receive an email confirming your interview date, time, location, and a list of items to bring to the interview.

Step 3: Background check

Applicants who successfully complete the Step 2 pre-screening interview will be required to complete an online personal history questionnaire. 

After the questionnaire is complete, your file will be forwarded to a DNR Law Enforcement Division background investigator who will conduct an in-depth background investigation. Documentation submitted during the application process will be compared to original documents during your background investigation.

Step 4: Final interview

After the background investigation is complete, you will receive an email indicating if you will move forward in the hiring process; you may be scheduled for a final interview.

Step 5: Conditional offer

Successful applicants will receive a conditional offer of employment which requires the applicant to pass a psychological test and drug screening prior to being hired. 

Step 6: Specialized training

If the applicant accepts an offer of employment, they will be hired as a full-time DNR employee. The employee will begin specialized training consisting of equipment operation and maintenance, species identification, and related laws and regulations pertaining to:

  • Off-road vehicle, snowmobile, and marine recreational activities 
  • Fish and game identification
  • Fishing, hunting and trapping enforcement
  • Laws, rules, and regulations of the DNR
  • Water safety, search and rescue, and regulatory inspections
  • Other specialized training

This hiring process is for individuals applying to be a conservation officer who are not licensed through the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (or comparable in states outside of Michigan).

Step 1: Entry-level law enforcement exam

The written law enforcement examination evaluates an individual's skills, knowledge and abilities related to elements of law enforcement positions.

Note: The entry-level law enforcement exam is currently only administered online through the National Testing Network.

Michigan applicants

  • Applicants residing in Michigan who have successfully completed the civil service exam within the past five years can submit their civil service exam results.
  • If you have questions regarding your previous civil service examination, please call the Michigan Civil Service Commission at 1-800-788-1766.
  • Michigan applicants that do not have a valid (within five years) civil service exam must complete the law enforcement exam available through the  National Testing Network, which is valid for one year.

Out of state applicants

Out of state applicants can sign up to take the law enforcement exam through the National Testing Network. Test results are valid for one year.

A FrontLine National practice test is available for purchase.

You must pass the exam in order to advance to step 2.

Step 2: MCOLES physical fitness test

  • Applicants must take and pass the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) physical fitness test before submitting their job application.
  • Applicants must pass the physical fitness test and submit the passing score results with the application to advance with the hiring process.
  • You may submit a pre-existing MCOLES test if it is dated within 180 days from the job posting end date.
  • View the MCOLES schedule, requirements and sign-up for a test date. You will be required to contact the test site directly to schedule your own fitness test.

Step 3: Application

The next step is to submit an application. Make sure to use a valid email address on your application as that is how we will communicate with you throughout the entire hiring process. The following documents must be attached to your application:

  • Cover letter
  • Resume
  • References
  • Location preference sheet
  • Driver's license
  • DD214 (military discharge papers - long form), if applicable
  • Entry-level law enforcement exam results
  • Applicants must pass the physical fitness test and submit the passing score results with the application to advance with the hiring process

If you are selected to advance in the hiring process, you will be contacted via email by the DNR Law Enforcement Division with additional instructions.

Step 4: DNR Law Enforcement Division orientation

On orientation day, DNR Law Enforcement Division staff will answer all of your questions, including:

  • Selection and hiring process
  • Conservation Officer Recruit School Academy
  • Probationary and continued training programs
  • Expectations
  • General job information

Step 5: Pre-screening interview

If selected to move forward in the process you must participate in a pre-screening interview. These interviews may be held virtually due to COVID-19 precautions. You will be emailed information about your interview date, time, location, further instructions, and a list of items to bring with you or have available to you at the time of your interview.

Step 6: Background check

Applicants who successfully complete the Step 5 pre-screening interview will be required to complete an online personal history questionnaire. After the questionnaire is complete, your file will be forwarded to a division background investigator to complete an in-depth and exhaustive background investigation. Documentation submitted during the application process will be compared to original documents during your background investigation.

Step 7: Final interview

After the background investigation is complete, you will receive an email with the results of your background investigation and may be scheduled for a final interview.

Step 8: Medical, psychological and fitness evaluations

Successful applicants will receive a conditional offer of employment which requires the applicant to pass a psychological test, MCOLES medical, hearing and eye exam and drug screening prior to being hired.

You must also pass a second pre-enrollment MCOLES physical fitness test prior to the start of the academy, which will be administered by DNR Law Enforcement Division staff.

Step 9: Academy and training

Upon successfully completing steps 1-8, applicants will receive a conditional offer of employment. If the applicant accepts this offer and associated requirements, they will be hired as full-time State of Michigan employees and begin the Conservation Officer Recruit School Academy.

Step 10: Probationary training

Following graduation from the Conservation Officer Recruit School Academy, recruits become Probationary Conservation Officers and will spend several months working with field training officers in different areas of the state, before reporting to their permanent assigned county. PCOs will receive additional specialized training in the areas of:

  • Marine
  • Off-road vehicles
  • Fish & game
  • Waterfowl identification and enforcement