If you were looking for information on how to become a Game Warden in Florida, you have come to the right place. Here we will provide you with the information you need to be up to date on Florida Game Warden requirements.
Requirements to Become a Game Warden in Florida
Age: Must be 19 years or older to start cadet training for Florida Game Wardens.
Permit: A legal Florida-issued driver’s license is needed.
Military Service: Prospective Florida Fish and Game Wardens that were formal involved with the military must have left “Under Honorable Conditions”.
Work Qualifications: Applicants should be eligible for employment throughout the United States.
Legal and foundation History: All aspiring Florida Fish and Wildlife Officers will need to under go a background check. Applicants should not have any of the following on their records:
- Never found with a controlled substance
- Aren’t on court-ordered probation
- Never been convicted of a felony violation
- Never been convicted of misdemeanor, domestic violence or otherwise
- Never been discharged or resigned from any law enforcement agency under threat of dismissal
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Florida Game Warden Education Requirements
Prospective Florida Fish and Game Wardens need to have at least a high school diploma or it’s equivalent. To become an FWC Law Enforcement Officer, cadets must possess military work experience, public service experience, law enforcement experience or 30 semester hours at an accredited school or university.
Florida Game Warden Training
Authorities Basic Training: Game Warden recruit basic training takes place at the Florida’s police academy. The training is comprised of:
- Firearms training
- First responder medical aid
- Incident investigation
- Driving techniques for ATVs, patrol vehicles and marine crafts
- Information systems
- Crisis medical procedure
- Homeland security
- Law enforcement survival
Following Authorities Basic Training, Game Wardens will be able to receive specialized training that includes:
- Florida Section of Wildlife and Fish – orientation and special training
- Performing boat security tests
- Hunting, fishing, and boating legislative acts and regulations
- Boating and hunting reconstruction and accident investigations
- Reporting and stopping environmental crimes
- Substantial field training
- Crisis search and rescue practice
- Prosecution of environmental offenders
Non-sworn applicants will be offered employment and registered for a 19-week basic law enforcement training class. Sworn applicants get an 8-week training session that features:
- Water security survival
- People tracking
- Boat Operation
- Species Identification
Area Training: 16 weeks of learning partnership with a senior officer is required after other training elements have been finished.
Interview: Nominees are going to have an oral interview with three or more members of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Department during the later phases of the application procedure.
Hearing: The applicant must have the ability to sufficiently hear long distance and voice dialogue with high ambient noise variables.
Eyesight: Total, binocular vision is required. Nominees cannot be red/green color blind nor suffer from insufficient depth perception, illnesses that result in double vision or other illnesses may not be accepted, as well.
Physical Preparation: The applicant must complete a physical preparation test showing she or he is in superb physical condition.
Swim evaluation – applicants have to have the ability to swim 300 yards in a pool in under ten minutes
Nominees must be able to complete an additional physical fitness test that simulates job duties. All applicants must complete the following in 6:04 or less:
- Sprinting 220 yards
- Evacuating a vehicle and opening the trunk
- Finish a series of obstacles in a course
- Human carrying simulation
- Firearm handling
- Moving items to and from a vehicle
Mental Illness: The applicant must have a clean bill of mental health as verified by a doctor.
Additional Requirements for Game Wardens in Florida
BAT (Basic Skills Test) for non-sworn applicants must complete the test with a minimum score of 79.
Desirable Abilities and Qualifications to Become a Florida Game Warden
- Present an effective utilization of English including grammar, spelling, punctuation, vocabulary, and writing; comprehension and reading for verbal and oral communication
- Demonstrate effective usage of mathematics including data collection, basic bookkeeping, estimating, and advanced arithmetic and other company principles
- Knowledge of wildlife management, law enforcement, and habitat resources
- Appropriate usage of gear found in fishing, trapping, and hunting
- Great observation and recall
- Public speaking
- Stay dedicated to professional development
- Efficiently work a 4-wheel drive vehicle in addition to marine crafts for pursuit and patrol
- Efficiently use firearms in crisis and security scenarios
Florida Game Warden Salary
Game Wardens in Florida take home a great salary while pursuing a fulfilling career protecting fish and game of his or her state. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average Game Warden in the state of Florida make a median salary between $40,000 and $60,000 per year.
Contact Info:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 S. Meridian St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
Phone: (850) 488-4676
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Choose an area of study & concentration and receive free information about programs you are interested in. Federal and state game wardens are law enforcement officers and wildlife conservation specialists, so having a degree in an area like environmental science or wildlife management is just as important as experience in law enforcement.