Continuing Education
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The Colorado State Patrol Academy provides advanced and on-going training for its members.
Uniform Training Uniform Training consists of both In-Service and advanced classes. In-Service classes are provided each year for every uniformed member. Topics at In-Service are geared to provide Troopers with new information and tactics. For more information on In-Service, click here.
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Advanced classes that are offered to Troopers include:
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Assessment Centers
The Colorado state Patrol has the following ranks within its uniformed members: Trooper, Corporal, Sergeant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel, (Chief). The number of positions available for each rank is identified and limited by the legislature through funding given to the Patrol in the “long bill.” To view the organizational structure of the Colorado State Patrol, click here.
The promotional process typically has two steps, an assessment center and then an interview. The Sergeant rank is unique for two reasons. First, both Troopers and Corporals are eligible to take the Sergeant’s exam. Whereas only the rank of Sergeant may test for the rank of Captain, only the rank of Captain may test for the rank of Major, etc. And secondly, it is a three-step process: a written exam is first, followed by the assessment center, finalized by an interview.
The written test for Sergeant is normally over 100 questions. The top 25 scores from the written exam proceed to the assessment center. Questions for the Sergeant Exam are chosen from:
- CSP Operations Manual
- DUI/DUID Enforcement Manual
- Radar Operation
- Victim's Rights Legislation
- Accident Investigation
- Accident Reporting Techniques
- Criminal Code
- Traffic Code
- Officer Safety Concepts
- Commercial Motor Vehicle Law
- Communications.
The Colorado State Patrol’s assessment centers are very challenging. Our assessment centers consist of a set of four to five scenarios tailored to the rank for which the applicant is testing. Each scenario is designed to measure specific performance dimensions. Examples of performance dimensions are:
- Administrative Ability
- Adaptability
- Creativity
- Customer Service
- Decision Making
- Empowerment
- Interpersonal Skills
- Sensitivity
- Judgment
- Problem Solving
- Oral Communication Skills
A panel scores each dimension of the assessment for every candidate. The candidate’s final score is determined by adding the scores from each panel member and each scenario. The top three, highest scoring candidates will be eligible to interview. The State Personnel System has a “rule of three” for all lists. So if there is one opening, the candidates ranked one, two, and three will interview for the position and any one of them can be selected for the promotion.
Interviews for corporal are normally conducted by the District Commander, (Major), Troop Commander, (Captain), and first-line supervisors, (Sergeant). Interviews for the ranks of Sergeant through Major are typically conducted by the Lieutenant Colonels. The Chief conducts interviews for the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The executive director of the Department of Public Safety conducts interviews for Chief. Lastly, the State Personnel rules identify the Chief as the “appointing authority,” all interviewers make recommendations to the Chief for all promotions, the Chief makes the final decision.
Leadership & Supervision Training
The Colorado State Patrol has a formalized process for training prospective Sergeants and Captains supervision and leadership. The curriculum taught to candidates are:
- Leadership
- Complaints
- Critical Incidents
- Balanced Scorecard Management
- Human Resources
- Performance Evaluations
- Risk Management
- Procurement and Contracts
- Special Events
- Strategic Advancement Plans
- Budget
- Corrective actions
Northwestern University has two courses Patrol members can take advantage of. The “First Line Supervision”, a two-week course is generally offered to first line supervisors, (Sergeants). “Staff and Command”, a ten-week course is available to Captains.
Leadership within the Colorado State Patrol is simultaneously very rewarding and extremely challenging. Those individuals that commit themselves to this path can look forward to a life of learning, a life of challenges that require earnest effort to solve, and the knowledge that they have made a significant difference in the organization and in the lives of those individuals within their command of responsibility.
Communication Officer Training
Communication Officer training is provided on a yearly basis for Communication Officers across the State. Typical classes that are offered at Communications Officer training are:
- Ethics
- Advanced Phone Techniques
- Terrorist Threat Assessment
- CPR and First Aid
- Life Enrichment
- Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD)
Civilian Training
Civilian training usually consists of classes that civilians will need to support the mission of the state patrol. Classes that are offered to civilians are:
- Computer Software
- Fitness and Nutrition
- Budgeting
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