August 13 to December 2, 2025
Following their graduation from the CO Academy, the 13 conservation officer candidates moved right into field training. That process, which runs from the middle of August through early December, involves working alongside experienced officers throughout the state.
Field training includes four phases, during which the COCs spend several weeks working with three different officers (a primary field training officer at the beginning and end of field training, and two officers during the second and third phases). During field training, the COCs work in various parts of the state, so no matter where their initial station assignments are they will have had experience in a variety of areas and on the unique focuses of each.
The field training process builds upon what the COCs learned at the CO Academy and upon itself. During each phase, the COCs are evaluated by the field training officer and have increasingly more responsibility. By the time field training ends, the COCs are fully ready to head to their initial station assignments and do the job on their own.
