How to Become a Park Ranger in Colorado

Here, we have outlined Colorado Park Ranger Training and Degree Requirements for you on one easy to use page.

The Colorado state parks system is a leader in wildlife management, conservation, and outdoor recreation. This remarkable park system contains more than 300 wildlife areas and 40 state parks through the state.

Fundamental Job Duties for Colorado Park Rangers

Colorado’s park rangers perform various guest service responsibilities and law enforcement, in addition to natural resource management. A few of the responsibilities of Colorado’s park rangers are:

• Patrol land and water, conduct investigations
• Assess for park licenses, and proper hunting, fishing permits
• Visitor direction and application development
• Interpretive services
• Direction of seasonal and temporary workers
• Conducting tours
• Being/working outside and caring for nature
• Providing exceptional customer service, socializing with park guests
• Collecting environmental data on plant and wildlife populations
• Helping injured or missing hikers
• Educating people about area and wildlife conservation
• Offering visitors advice
• Performing firefighting responsibilities and law enforcement, including collecting use license fees and gear sales, and performing property care

Colorado park rangers are not the only ones serving the state and national parks. Denver’s Urban Park Rangers protect park resources, execute guest services, and preserve public security through the city parks in Denver.

Urban Park Rangers are especially trained in CPR, along with public contact techniques, First Aid as well as other life saving techniques. Rangers patrol in vehicles, by bike, or on foot. Rangers on many occasions work with local law enforcement.

Colorado Park Ranger Education

People thinking about park ranger careers in Colorado must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.

Majors that are perceived to be beneficial include:

• Biology/Wildlife biology
• Ecology/Environmental science
• Forestry
• Wildlife management

Specialized expertise in parks administration, natural resource management, or law enforcement could possibly be substituted on a year-by-year basis for instruction that was mandatory.

General Conditions

• Must have the ability to possess and keep a Colorado state driver’s license
• Must submit to medicine screening and a medical/psychological examination
• Must be able to successfully complete an agility examination
• Must be able to pass a background check

In order to be certified as a peace officer, people chosen for State park ranger must undergo the Peace Officer Standards and Training fundamental plan. Furthermore, folks must finish the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Training curriculum.

People enthusiastic about working in one of Colorado’s four National parks should apply for National park ranger careers through using the U.S. National Park Service.

Although there are specific requirements for each park ranger position, the standard requirements include:

• Must pass a background check/protection investigation
• United States citizen
• Successfully complete a drug test
• Hold a state driver’s license

Some National park ranger positions may just ask for a GED or a high school diploma. But, most long-term positions will need a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. Relevant areas of study include the following:

• Business administration
• Behavioral sciences/sociology
• Park and recreation direction
• Archaeology/anthropology
• Public management
• Museum sciences
• History

Coursework in other disciplines could be taken if applicants present abilities and knowledge required for successful job performance in the location to which they apply.

Some places may also consider people with specialized expertise, such as law enforcement work, scientific or technical work, wildlife management, recreation management, or alternative park-related work.

A few examples include:

• Software specialist work
• Park guide or guest services
• Forestry or fire management
• Law enforcement
• Conservation work

Colorado Park Ranger Training

The particular conditions for certification and training may differ, but will generally include:

• Fundamental CPR, first aid, AED and First Responder Certification
• Physical Efficiency Battery evaluation
• Rescue and search Certification
• Place-specific work-related evaluation survey

Salary Information for Park Rangers in Colorado

Park Rangers in Colorado take home a great salary while pursuing a fulfilling career protecting the land of his or her state. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average Park Ranger in the state of Colorado make a median salary of $58,610 per year.