Highway Patrol Officer Overview

Required Education and Training To Become a Highway Patrol Officer

Best Schools to become a Highway Patrol Officer in U.S. 2024

Eastern Gateway Community College

Steubenville, OH

In-State Tuition:$4,115
Out-of-State Tuition:$7,727
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:31%
Total Enrollment:30,364

Rio Salado College

Tempe, AZ

In-State Tuition:$2,040
Out-of-State Tuition:$7,824
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:10%
Total Enrollment:17,078

CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College

New York, NY

In-State Tuition:$4,800
Out-of-State Tuition:$7,680
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:24%
Total Enrollment:17,444

Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, CA

In-State Tuition:$1,104
Out-of-State Tuition:$8,712
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:27%
Total Enrollment:23,852

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA

In-State Tuition:$9,795
Out-of-State Tuition:$33,960
Admission Rate:90%
Graduation Rate:71%
Total Enrollment:39,049

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI

In-State Tuition:$13,608
Out-of-State Tuition:$13,608
Admission Rate:88%
Graduation Rate:49%
Total Enrollment:10,072
Highway Patrol Officer Job Description:
  • Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances.
  • Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts.
  • Includes police officers working at educational institutions.

Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Highway Patrol Officer

Job Duties for Highway Patrol Officers

  • Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.

  • Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.

  • Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.

Technologies and Skills Used by Highway Patrol Officers

Data base user interface and query software

  • Database software
  • Microsoft Access

Graphics or photo imaging software

  • Computer aided composite drawing software
  • SmugMug Flickr

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Basic Skills

  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • Talking to others

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

  • Changing what is done based on other people's actions
  • Understanding people's reactions

Current Job Market and Opportunites for a Highway Patrol Officer

Additional Resources To Help You Become a Highway Patrol Officer

FAQs About Becoming a Highway Patrol Officer