Most Common Reasons for Not Moving Forward in the SCHP Application Process
Incomplete State Application
Please be very thorough and take your time filling out every single question on application. Pay very close attention to detail. If your state application is missing dates, phone numbers, full addresses for references, or if it has unexplained gaps/dates in employment periods it will not move forward in the process.
Adding a resume does not take the place of a complete application. An incomplete state application with a detailed resume attached is not satisfactory. YES: You must list ALL Employment History.
Spelling and Grammar
An application riddled with misspellings and grammar errors may not move forward in the employment process.
Proof read your application before submitting!
Work and Education History
If you fail to disclose a past employer and one is discovered during your background investigation or polygraph, or if you have been terminated or forced to resign from any position in lieu of a termination at any time and you do not disclose this, it is considered a falsification of your application. This will lead to your application not moving forward in the process.
Be 100% honest while filling out the Application. List ALL of your education history starting with your High School/GED information (Dates, Name…..etc) and ALL Employment History.
If you have been terminated from any employment, at any time, be honest and list it. A prior employment termination DOES NOT exclude you from employment with the SCHP, but not being honest about it does!
Drug Use and Criminal History
Please fully familiarize yourself with our minimum requirements for employment. Answer all drug questions and all criminal history questions honestly. Falsifications discovered on any of these questions will lead to the termination of your employment process. Be 100% honest while filling out the application.
Check Your E-Mail’s “Junk Box or Spam Folder”
We are discovering that more and more of our e-mails to applicants that include applications, appointments, forms…etc are ending up in these “Junk/Spam" folders and applicants are missing important information from the SCHP. Constantly check your e-mail to include your “Junk/Spam” to ensure you don’t miss anything.
Hiring Process Timeline and Rejection Criteria
Hiring cycles generally coincide with the next available SCHP Patrol/Criminal Justice Academy (CJA) classes. If you are not selected you may generally be able to re-apply within six months of your rejection letter, unless your rejection was based on one of the following factors:
- ANY falsification of application discovered during process: Applicants will be ineligible to re-apply for 2 years from date on rejection letter.
- Two (2) Physical Agility Test (PAT) failures within a twelve (12) month period: Applicants will be ineligible to re-apply for 1 year from date on rejection letter.
- Two (2) Written Examination test failures within a twelve (12) month period: Applicants will be ineligible to re-apply for 1 year from date on rejection letter.
- Non-selection by the Oral Interview Board: Applicants who fail to get the minimum required score during their interview will be ineligible to re-apply for 1 year from date on rejection letter.
The employment process to become a State Trooper is one of the most rigorous and challenging employment processes in law enforcement. It all begins with your online State Application, it is the root of the process and all of the remaining steps that follow will be based from it. Meticulous attention to detail, accuracy, and honesty will ensure you move forward in this process.
If you have any questions prior to filling out your State Application online, please contact the SCHP Recruiter through e-mail at: schprecruiter@scdps.gov.