Time is Running Out: Become a Louisiana Game Warden Before Window Closes

Time is quickly running out for any who might feel the calling to serve as a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agent.

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According to LDWF, the deadline to register for the next LDWF Enforcement Academy is this coming Monday, December 22, 2025.

The LDWF Enforcement Division is seeking qualified candidates for the 38th Enforcement Academy class, scheduled to start at the end of March 2026. Those interested in being considered for this opportunity need to know that applications will only be accepted for the “Wildlife Enforcement Cadet” position for the next few days.

There could possibly be some candidates that have previous law enforcement training and will be interested to note that this Enforcement Academy will be a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) hybrid academy class, meaning that both qualified POST-certified and non-POST-certified candidates can apply.

Applicants can apply for the job title “Wildlife Enforcement Cadet” on the Louisiana Civil Service website at governmentjobs.com

The hybrid Enforcement Academy will conduct the conservation law portion of the training at the beginning of the academy for all cadets, followed by the POST training at the end of the academy for non-POST-certified cadets.

The Louisiana POST-certified cadets will finish their cadet academy training in approximately 14 weeks, and non-Louisiana POST-certified cadets will finish their cadet academy training in approximately 22-24 weeks.

Minimum qualifications for this LDWF Enforcement Academy include:

• Two years of law enforcement experience as a POST-certified peace officer commissioned with the power of arrest; or
• An associate’s degree from a technical college or completion of a two-year program at a vocational or technical school; or
• Three years of continuous active military service (all Military Occupational Specialties apply).

LDWF states that there is an acceptable substitution for the experience prerequisite:

• Every 30-semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will substitute for one year of the required experience.

Once the academy begins, the cadets will train at the department’s training facility located at the Waddill Training and Emergency Response Complex in Baton Rouge, La. Successful completion of intensive physical and academic training is required to graduate.

At the academy, cadets train to enforce the state's recreational boating laws, the state and federal wildlife and fisheries laws, and general law enforcement work on the state's many wildlife management areas.

For more information on becoming an LDWF enforcement agent, please visit the LDWF website HERE