Game Warden Training and Educational requirements
Game wardens, otherwise known as wildlife or conservation officers, are law enforcement personnel with a responsibility to monitor and conserve wildlife, fish and other natural resources. This includes enforcing laws related to wildlife trade, hunting, poaching, fishing, pollution, boating, and land use.
Usually state game wardens are commissioned by a state’s fish, parks and wildlife department, whereas those at the federal level are employed by a federal agency to serve as special agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Though game warden training and education requirements vary by state, there’s a set standard expected by most agencies.
Game Warden Educational Requirements
Almost all states require their applicants to have some kind of formal education, with only a few accepting experience in lieu of education.
While there aren’t any game warden schools, most wildlife departments require aspiring game warden candidates to have an associate or bachelor’s degree. This can be from a degree program related to:
- Ecology
- Conservation of natural resources
- Biological sciences
- Fisheries and wildlife management
- Environmental science
- Criminal justice
Game Warden Training Requirements
The next major step after candidates are picked as warden recruits is to train in preparation for the various job demands. This is typically sponsored by the hiring agency and may take months to complete.
For instance, federal game wardens must participate in a 20-week basic training program at the Federal Law Enforcement Agency in Glynco, Georgia, followed up by 44 weeks of field training at their deployed duty stations. This includes a combination of wildlife conservation and law enforcement subjects such as fish, wildlife and natural resource management, firearm handling, self-defense, crime scene investigation, interrogation, homeland security and electronic surveillance.
State wardens on the other hand, complete academic and field training as required by their state agency.
Before prospective fish or game wardens are accepted for academic training in most states, they must first be: at least 21 years of age, physically and mentally fit, United States citizens, able to legally operate any motor vehicle and have no prior felony convictions.
