Disqualifiers

Applicant must be of good moral character and habits. An investigation will be made regarding character, habits, previous employment, or other matters necessary to satisfactorily establish good moral character, habits, honesty, truth, and veracity. Credit history and financial condition of the applicant will be reviewed. Credit history will not be sole basis for disqualification.

Applicants must answer truthfully and fully all questions asked of them. Any misrepresentation or omission of any material fact on the application, other department forms, during the background investigation, or in any phase of the selection process may disqualify the applicant.

If an investigation discloses a willful misrepresentation, omission or falsification, the application will be rejected and the applicant will be permanently disqualified from applying in the future.

Traffic and Criminal Records:

• Being prohibited by state or federal law from operating a motor vehicle;
• Having been convicted of three (3) or more traffic violations , or a conviction of failing to maintain financial responsibility within the last 12 months, will disqualify the applicant for three (3) years from the date of the last traffic violation or offense conviction;
• Having been convicted of six (6) or more traffic violations, or a conviction of failing to maintain financial responsibility within the last 24 months, will disqualify the applicant for 3 years from the date of the last traffic violation conviction;
• The applicant's driver license has been suspended for refusal to submit to a chemical test within the last ten years;
• Currently on probation for any traffic offense or having a suspended driver license, applicant can not apply within 3 years of the date the probation was completed or date the suspension was lifted;
• Currently delinquent or having been delinquent in child support payments within the last 5 years as determined by a court or the Texas Attorney General’s Office;
• Having been or currently on court-ordered supervision or probation for any offense of the grade of felony or Class A misdemeanor;
• Having been convicted of any offense of the grade of felony or Class A misdemeanor;
• Having been on or currently on court-ordered supervision or probation for any criminal offense of the grade of Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years;
• Having been convicted of an offense of the grade of a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years;
• Having been convicted of a family violence offense;
• Currently being under indictment or criminal investigation;
• Being prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition;
• Having committed theft(s) while in a position of trust or in a pattern that shows habitual theft will permanently disqualify the applicant;

Illegal Drug Usage:

Having a history of illegal drug use as an adult that tends to establish a pattern. Illegal drug usage as a juvenile will not be a reason to reject an applicant, if no establish pattern continues as an adult;

• Applicants who have an established pattern of illegal use of any class of controlled substance, including marijuana as defined in the Texas Health & Safety Code will be rejected. This includes prescription drugs not prescribed to the applicant for their use, anabolic steroids, and designer type drugs. Evaluation will be based upon; how the drug was obtained, the number and frequency of use, the intended purpose, type of drug, and from whom the drug was obtained.
• The suitability of an applicant, who has illegally used any class of a controlled substance that does not establish a pattern of abuse, including marijuana will be evaluated on the basis of circumstance of involvement, use, length of use, and quantity of use.
• Applicants who have established a pattern of selling, manufacturing, distributing or cultivating illegal drugs, including marijuana will be rejected.

Other Disqualifiers:

• Having committed sufficient criminal activities to establish a pattern of disregard for the law will permanently disqualify the applicant;
• Having committed any detected or undetected crime of a serious or aggravated nature including, but not limited to: criminal homicide, kidnapping, sexual assault, sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child, incest, felony assault will permanently disqualify the applicant;
• Commission of a detected or undetected serious crime as an adult, which constitutes a felony, domestic violence, Class A misdemeanor, a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, repeated misdemeanor offenses, or a crime involving violence that occurred within 10 years prior to the submission of the application will disqualify the applicant;
• Any undetected crimes occurring beyond the ten year period will be subject to further review.
• Having been involved with seditious movements, terrorist activities, or any efforts to violently overthrow the United States government will permanently disqualify the applicant;
• Disciplinary action in prior employment, the military or educational institutions will be a basis for further evaluation. Applicant cannot reapply within 1 year from the date they were disqualified.
• Other indications of criminal history will be individually evaluated.
• If applicant is not recommended for an assessment board interview, or not recommended for a conditional job offer, the applicant will not be eligible to reapply for 1 year from the not recommended date. After three (3) application processes being not recommended, the applicant cannot reapply for ten (10) years from the last date not recommended.

Military Discharges:

Applicants with military service must submit a certified copy of their most current military history form (DD-214 Member-4 Copy, or NGB-22) with the required forms and documents once they have been approved through the pre-screen process.

Military service will be reviewed using the following guidelines:

1. Applicants who possess an honorable discharge will be eligible for further consideration.
2. Applicants who possess a general discharge under honorable conditions should be considered; however, all disciplinary action must be thoroughly investigated and an evaluation of military performance must be made in order to determine if the applicant is eligible for further consideration.
3. Any applicant who possesses a dishonorable discharge or bad conduct discharge shall should be rejected and applicant processing discontinued.
4. Applicants whose discharge from military service was for ineptitude, unsuitability, undesirability, or like causes will be rejected.

Contact DPS Recruiting toll free at:

1-866-898-7667
or email
JoinDPS@dps.texas.gov