Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured September 30, 2026.
How to become a game warden in Missouri
- Certifying body
- Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Program, Department of Public Safety
- Certification
- Missouri peace officer license, classified by commission type: Class A, A-HP (Highway Patrol), A-CC (Conservation), B, C, D, R (reserve) and S (11 CSR 75-13.010)
- Minimum age
- 21 to be licensed (11 CSR 75-13.020(1)(A)). The MPOLE can be taken at 20 by a non-commissioned employee of a law enforcement agency (11 CSR 75-13.050(2)(B)).
- Education
- Valid high school diploma or equivalent (11 CSR 75-13.020(1)(C)).
- Citizenship
- U.S. citizen (11 CSR 75-13.020(1)(B)). No residency requirement (13.020(2)).
- Disqualifiers
- The Director may deny a license (or entry to basic training) for any cause to discipline under RSMo 590.080. That includes committing any criminal offense, whether or not charged or convicted, acts of moral turpitude or reckless disregard for public safety, misrepresentation, a positive controlled-substance test, or a license revoked or surrendered elsewhere (RSMo 590.080, 590.100).
- Basic academy
- Minimum basic training hours by license class (11 CSR 75-14.030): Class A 600, A-HP 1,000, A-CC 1,000, B 480, S 480, R 297, C 120.
- State exam
- Missouri Peace Officer License Exam (MPOLE), not required for Class R or D (11 CSR 75-13.020(8), 13.050).
- Time to certify
- A license is required before holding a commission (RSMo 590.020). Applicants must apply within 5 years of basic training graduation, or else qualify on the Veteran Peace Officer Point Scale (11 CSR 75-13.020(4)).
- Officers from other states
- Recognition of federal, military and out-of-state basic training. The Director decides comparability and which license class applies, then the applicant passes the MPOLE (11 CSR 75-13.070, 13.020(3)(B)). Training more than 5 years old goes through the Veteran Peace Officer Point Scale (13.060). The Director may enter reciprocity agreements.
- Continuing training
- 24 hours of Continuing Law Enforcement Education (CLEE) per calendar year, with at least 2 hours each of legal studies, technical studies, interpersonal perspectives (may include implicit bias and racial profiling) and firearms skill (11 CSR 75-15.010).
Missouri sets no statewide fitness test or driver's-license requirement; agencies and academies set these. The Class B license (480 hours) is not valid in first-class charter counties, St. Louis City, the Highway Patrol or the Conservation Commission. Highway Patrol troopers need Class A-HP (1,000 hours) and conservation agents need Class A-CC. Rule citations are to the Secretary of State's current CSR compilation (12/31/20 issue for ch. 13/14).
Source: State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Pay in Missouri, all employers Sourced
Fish and Game Wardens (SOC 33-3031) in Missouri, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | MO |
|---|---|
| Workers | 150 |
| 10th percentile | $52,890 |
| Median | $70,030 |
| 90th percentile | $76,170 |
| National median, government employers | $74,060 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pension in Missouri
State employees: the general plan
| Plan | Accrual | Normal retirement | Employee pays | Social Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri State Employees' Plan 2011 (MSEP 2011) MSEP 2011 | 1.7% | age 67 with 5 years of service | 4% | Covered |
The statewide plan a new hire usually joins; where a general plan is shown, some police and fire employers run their own safety plans. Some cities and counties run their own plans; check with the employer. Each plan's formula, vesting, cost-of-living adjustment and retiree health are on the Missouri pension plans list.
Source: State retirement systems, Official state retirement system pages, member handbooks and statutes. Data captured October 2, 2026.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Fish & Game Warden page.
Fish & Game Warden in other states
More government jobs in Missouri
Missouri government jobs · Missouri public pension plans · police officer standards in Missouri · exam practice in Missouri