The hiring process from initial contact to completion ranges from two to four months depending on your background investigation, availability of appointments, and scheduled classes.
Application and Administrative Review
Apply online at employment link towards bottom of this page. Once you have applied online, your application will be administratively reviewed to ensure your suitability for employment. (This process can take four to six weeks.)
Submitting your Supplemental Application and Requirements
After passing the initial administrative review, you will be e-mailed a supplemental application and list of requirements. The e-mail will have instructions on where to mail back the supplemental application and requirements. Please start gathering these requirements now to speed up the process:
- Copy of High School Diploma or GED Certificate
- Certified copy of college transcripts if applicable
- Copy of DD214 if you have served in the military
- Copy of Birth Certificate or Naturalization Certificate if applicable
- Current full-length (head to toe) photograph
- Copy of your South Carolina driver’s license (if you have held a driver’s license in any other state within the past five years, a certified driving record for that state must also be submitted).
- If you currently possess a Driver’s License from another State, a current certified Driving Record for that State must be submitted.
State and Supplemental Applications
The links below contain helpful information on how to complete the State Application and a sample version of the Supplemental Application.
Upon receipt of your supplemental application and requirements you will undergo a second administrative review for: Credit / Criminal / Driving checks. If successful you will be notified via email of your appointment for a Physical Ability Test (PAT), Written Test, and Orientation.
Written Examination
After successfully passing The Physical Ability Test (PAT), you will be required to pass a reading comprehension exam. After this exam you will go through an employment orientation at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.
Polygraph Examination
After successfully passing the written exam, you will be given a date to report for a polygraph examination.
Background Investigation
A thorough background investigation will also begin consisting of criminal checks, school records, military records, driver license records, character references, personal references, interviewing neighbors and current and former employers.
Review Board
If you successfully pass all above phases you will be given a date to report before an Oral Review Board. The Board will consist of three members from the Bureau of Protective Services. The Board will recommend the top candidates for appointment to the next available BPS Basic Training Class to the Chief of BPS and the Director of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety.
Medical/Psychological Screening
If you are given a contingent offer of employment, you will be required to have a complete medical examination, drug test, eye exam, and Tuberculin skin test. You will also be required to take a written psychological test and will be interviewed by our psychologist. All results will be reviewed by our staff and must meet BPS standards. If you successfully complete all of the above steps in the process, you will be offered employment and given details on when, where, and what to bring to the first day of Basic Training.