Description
Now accepting applications for the In-House Lateral Training Program eligible candidates to become an Illinois State Police Trooper! Deadline to apply is February 1, 2026.
The Illinois State Police (ISP) is seeking applicants in geographically selected locations across the state for Cadet Class 154b as part of the Lateral (In-House) Training Program. This program provides an opportunity for current certified police officers to become Illinois State Troopers through participation in an accelerated training program.
The Lateral (In-house) Training Program is approximately 14 weeks. Cadets will report to the Illinois State Police Academy for the duration of the class, and will go home each weekend. Cadet Class 154b cadets will receive Trooper 1 pay while attending the ISP Academy ($7,313/month, as of 7/1/2025).
Upon graduation, all Cadet Class 154b cadets will be required to reside within Illinois and one of the counties specified by the Illinois State Police. The Cadet Class 154b selected geographic locations include:
Troop 1: Boone, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago
Troop 2: Bureau, Henry, LaSalle, Mercer, Putnam, and Rock Island
Troop 3: Cook, DuPage, DeKalb, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will
Troop 4: Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, Marshall, McDonough, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, and Woodford
Troop 5: DeWitt, Ford, Iroquois, Kankakee, Livingston, and McLean
Troop 7: Champaign, Coles, Douglas, Edgar, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby, and Vermilion
Troop 8: Bond, Clinton, Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Montgomery, Monroe, St. Clair, and Washington
Troop 9: Clark, Clay, Crawford, Cumberland, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Hamilton, Jasper, Lawrence, Marion, Richland, Wabash, Wayne, and White
To begin the application process to become a Trooper, go to the Illinois State Police Merit Board website to complete the pre-employment application: www.illinoistrooper.com.
Requirements
1. Must be currently serving as a full-time, certified police officer, having graduated from an accredited law enforcement academy.
Qualifying Military Police must have successfully completed a Basic Military Police Course:United States Army
United States Marine Corps
United States Air Force
United States Navy
Qualifying Department of Army (DA) Civilian Police must have successfully completed the U.S. Army Civilian Police Academy
(Illinois Department of Corrections experience does not apply towards eligibility. However, it will apply towards retirement.)
2. Must have at least two years of experience while employed as a full-time sworn police officer.
(Applicants who do not have 2 years experience at the time of the application may still be considered if they will have completed 2 years by September 13, 2026.)
3. Must provide documentation of successful completion of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) / International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) approved DWI/DUI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing training program by September 13, 2026.
4. Must meet all pre-employment requirements and standards established by the ISP Merit Board and successfully complete the Cadet Applicant process (view pre-employment requirements at www.illinoistrooper.com).
Applicants are responsible for providing documentation supporting their qualifications which include the following when applicable:
Law Enforcement Officer Certification
Basic Military Police Course Certificate
U.S. Army Civilian Police Academy Certificate showing successful completion of military police training at a federal service school, years of service as documented on a DD-214 Long Form, and any additional police schooling/training applicant may have completed.
