The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will begin accepting applications Dec. 1 for the 69th Game Warden and State Park Police cadet class.
The application period will close Dec. 31.
The program trains law enforcement officers responsible for enforcing criminal and conservation laws across Texas.
Game wardens and park police officers are fully commissioned peace officers who patrol both urban areas and remote regions, enforcing hunting and fishing regulations, patrolling waterways, and providing public safety in state parks.
Col. Ron A. Vander-Roest, TPWD Law Enforcement Director, said Texas Game Wardens play a key role in both community safety and conservation.
Officers live in the counties they patrol, teach hunter and boater education courses, host outreach events and assist in emergency response, including search and rescue operations on land, water and in the air.
State Park Police Chief Wes Masur noted that officers also help manage the safety of nearly 10 million visitors to Texas State Parks annually, often working alongside local law enforcement agencies.
Applicants must be at least 21 years old by the start of the academy and hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution by June 30, 2026.
Candidates must pass a background check, psychological and medical evaluations, and a physical readiness test that includes handgun stability, a 2,000-meter row and a swim test.
Accepted cadets will live at the Game Warden Training Center near Hamilton during the 35-week program, scheduled to begin Oct. 1, 2026.
Interested applicants can apply online. Additional information is available on the TPWD website, including career pages for Game Wardens and State Park Police, or by contacting park police recruiter EJ Rivera at ej.rivera@tpwd. texas.gov TPWD is funded in part by the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, or gender.
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