Texas Opens Applications for Game Warden Cadet Class
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is recruiting for its 70th Law Enforcement Cadet Class, with online applications open through Dec. 31, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Hunting
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The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department opened applications for its 70th Law Enforcement Cadet Class, which trains candidates for careers as Texas Game Wardens or Texas State Park Police Officers. The application period runs from Nov. 1 through Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026, and the selection process is highly competitive.
Why it matters
Cadets will join state law enforcement officers whose jurisdiction extends beyond the pavement, covering the state's hunting, fishing and park lands. Applicants face a comprehensive background investigation, psychological and medical evaluations, and a physical readiness test before selection.
Applicants must be at least 21 years old by Oct. 1, 2027, with no maximum age limit. Those without a bachelor's degree must have completed 60 college credit hours and either two years of honorably discharged military service or two years of full-time commissioned law enforcement experience.
The players
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
The state agency responsible for managing Texas's wildlife resources, state parks and outdoor recreation, and the operator of the Law Enforcement Cadet Class.
The details
Interested applicants apply online through the TPWD website from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, 2026, where a full list of eligibility requirements and procedures is posted. The process includes a background investigation, psychological and medical evaluations, and a physical readiness test, and the TPWD describes selection as highly competitive.
Timeline
Nov. 1, 2026: Online applications open for the 70th cadet class.
Dec. 31, 2026: Application period closes at the end of Thursday.
June 30, 2027: Deadline to hold a bachelor's degree for eligibility.
Oct. 1, 2027: Applicants must be at least 21 years old by this date.
Roadmap
The 70th cadet class continues the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Law Enforcement Division recruitment of Texas Game Wardens. The class extends the division's long-running pipeline of officers covering wildlife and state park jurisdictions.
Prospective applicants should confirm eligibility on the TPWD website before the Dec. 31, 2026 deadline, since a bachelor's degree or 60 college credit hours must be in hand by the stated dates. Those without a degree need either two years of honorably discharged military service or two years as a commissioned law enforcement officer.
The takeaway
Candidates who meet the age and education thresholds should verify their documentation early, since the selection process combines background, psychological, medical and physical screening. Starting the application well before Dec. 31, 2026 leaves time to complete each step.
What happens next
Applications close Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026, and the class begins after selection.
Further reading
For more on the state's wildlife enforcement work, see Hunting coverage across Texas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Newschannel6now.
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