Minimum Requirements to Join UHP

  • High school diploma or GED
  • Age 21 or older at the time of testing, can apply at 20.5
  • US citizen or LPR cardholder, who has been in the U.S. legally for at least five (5) years AND has legal authorization to work in the U.S. Only having EAD status does NOT qualify you for this position.
  • No felony convictions
  • A background demonstrating good moral character

Possible Disqualifiers

Scroll through the information below or click to jump to a section for details about the possible disqualifying elements.

Tattoo Policy

The policy of the Utah Highway Patrol is that employees in uniform are prohibited from having a tattoo anywhere on their body that is visible while in a short sleeve uniform. There aren’t any waivers for the tattoo policy. The Utah Highway Patrol does not allow any coverings for tattoos otherwise visible in a short sleeve uniform.

Traffic Violations

An applicant may not have received more than three (3) minor traffic violations within two (2) years prior to the initial test date.

The following are not considered minor traffic violations and may be used to determine the moral character of the applicant:

  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Automobile homicide
  • Reckless driving
  • Evading a police officer
  • Driving on suspension or revocation
  • Negligent homicide
  • Failure to maintain automobile insurance.

Driving Under the Influence

  • Applicants may not have been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or pled guilty to a lesser change within one (1) year prior to the initial test date.
  • Any activity involving the abuse of alcohol may be considered in determining the eligibility of peace officer certification

Drugs

  • Applicants may not have been convicted of, or used hard drugs within four (4) years prior to the initial test date.
  • Hard drugs include the following listed drugs, their chemical derivatives and synthetic equivalents:
  • Heroin
  • Cocaine
  • Peridan
  • Tai sticks
  • Amphetamine
  • Barbiturates
  • Chelates
  • Crank
  • Morphine
  • LSD
  • Crack
  • Mescaline
  • Peyote
  • Opium
  • Demerol
  • Methadone
  • Quaalude
  • Methamphetamine
  • Hallucinogens
  • Narcotic Analgesics
  • Central Nervous System depressants and Stimulants
  • PCP or any of its analogs
  • Applicants may not have been convicted of or used other drugs not classified as hard drugs within two (2) years prior to the initial test date.
  • Other drugs include the following listed drugs, their chemical derivatives, and synthetic equivalents: marijuana, anabolic steroids, hashish, amy1 nitrates, toluene, cannabis, inhalants.
  • Applicants may not have been convicted of or involved in selling, manufacturing, or cultivating illegal drugs within five (5) years prior to the initial test date.
  • Applicants may not have been convicted of or used Marijuana within one (1) year prior to the initial test date. This includes a Medical Marijuana Cardholder.

Felony Convictions

  • Applicants may not have been convicted of a felony as an adult.
    • Felony convictions as a juvenile will be individually evaluated.

Domestic Violence Convictions

  • Applicant may not have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
  • This includes any offense – whether or not explicitly described in a statute as a crime of domestic violence – which has, as its factual basis, the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by the victim’s current or former domestic partner, parent or guardian.

Crimes of Dishonesty

index of possible disqualifiers
  • Applicants may not have been convicted of, or involved in crimes of dishonesty within four (4) years prior to the initial test date.
  • Crimes of dishonesty include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Theft
  • Fraud
  • Tax Evasion
  • Issuing bad checks
  • Financial transaction credit card offenses
  • Deceptive business practices
  • Defrauding creditors
  • Robbery
  • Bribery or receiving a bribe
  • Perjury
  • Extortion
  • Arson
  • Criminal mischief
  • Falsifying government records
  • Custodial interference
  • Forgery
  • Receiving stolen property
  • Firearms violation
  • Burglary
  • Criminal trespass
  • Vandalism
  • Kidnapping
  • Furnishing or permitting minors to use tobacco or alcohol
  • Violations of the computer crimes act
  • Offenses against the administration of government
  • Violations against the public order and decency act
  • Violations of the pornographic and harmful materials and performances act
  • Violations of the racketeering enterprises act
  • Violations of the cable television programming decency act
  • Violations of the communications fraud act
  • Violations of wildlife laws

Four Year Waiting Period

  • Applicant engages in conduct which is a state or federal criminal offense that is a felony but was not convicted of a felony, or applicant engages in conduct which is a class A misdemeanor which involves an act of violence.

Three Year Waiting Period

  • Applicant engages in conduct which is a state or federal criminal offense that is a class A misdemeanor.

Two Year Waiting Period

  • Applicant falsifies any information to obtain certification or applicant engages in conduct which is a class B misdemeanor which involves an act of violence. 

One Year Waiting Period

  • Applicant engages in any conduct which is a state or federal criminal offense that is a class B misdemeanor and involves sexual acts, harassment, theft, crimes of dishonesty, the use of alcohol or illicit drugs, or the misuse of prescription drugs (Note: There are exceptions for emergency use).

Six Month Waiting Period

  • Applicant engages in conduct which is a state or federal offense that is a class B misdemeanor, but does not involve violence, sexual acts, harassment, theft, crimes of dishonesty, the use of alcohol, use of illicit drugs, or the misuse of prescription drugs.

Three Month Waiting Period

  • Applicant engages in conduct which is a state or federal criminal offense that is a class C misdemeanor or infraction, but not including a traffic offense that is a class C misdemeanor or infraction.

Military Discharge

index of possible disqualifiers
  • Applicants may not have a dishonorable military discharge.