How to Become a Park Ranger in Minnesota

Candidates who desire to work in the wild, rugged beauty of Minnesota’s pristine parks can work as park rangers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources or the National Park Service in Minnesota.

Park rangers help preserve natural areas and greet visitors to the region’s renowned parks.

Requirements to Become a Park Ranger in Minnesota

Qualifications:

• US citizen or legal alien/resident status
• Valid driver’s license
• Pass a background check
• Pass a drug test

Experience and Degree Requirements:

Candidates seeking to work for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources must possess a Bachelor’s degree in a field of study or a related major:

• BA in Environmental Studies
• BS in Forest and Natural Resource Management
• BS in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management
• BA in Recreation Resource Management
• BS in Plant Science
• BA in Anthropology
• BA in History

At least one year of full-time, professional work experience, leading natural/cultural activities, programs, or events, in the past five years.

Minnesota Park Ranger Training

Park rangers working for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at the state level often have experience volunteering, working as a seasonal ranger, or having another assistant naturalist position, and learning is generally on-the-job training.

Qualifications:

• 21 or older
• Valid driver’s license
• US citizen
• Pass a security check
• Pass the Physical Efficiency Battery test
• Pass a medical exam and drug test
• Ability to obtain a National Park Service Type II Law Enforcement Commission

Minnesota is home to six national parks:

• Voyageurs National Park
• Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
• Pipestone National Monument
• North Country National Scenic Trail
• Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
• Grand Portage National Monument

For GS-5 level park ranger jobs in Minnesota:

• One year of specialized (GS4 level) experience in parks, recreation, law enforcement, fire prevention, historical preservation, forestry, or fire management.
• A Bachelor’s degree with 24 semester hours of related coursework or the equivalent of education and experience.

Park Ranger Duties in Minnesota

Park rangers greet, educate, and aid visitors and preserve the natural environment.

Additional responsibilities include inspecting the area and reporting problems, seasonal care and upkeep, emergency response for visitors, search and rescue, CPR, and caring for the park’s animal residents.

Rangers also conduct field trips, present lectures, organize public events, and develop environmental educational programs for schools.

State Parks in Minnesota

Fort Snelling State Park in Minneapolis, St. Paul

Visitors flock to this park, situated at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers.

William O’Brien State Park, St. Croix

Experience a 1,520-acre state park in Minnesota nestled along the St. Croix River.

Take a hike and enjoy the diverse terrain encompassing wooded areas, rolling glacial moraine, riparian zones, bogs, and more!

Centennial Lakes Park, Edina

Enjoy a 24-acre park and a human-constructed pond in this popular spot.

Whitewater State Park, Altura

This breathtaking park, encompassed by rocky bluffs in the southeastern bluff lands, is situated along a stretch of the Whitewater River.

1 Minnesota North College

Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy (PRLEA)

The Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy is one of only six federal programs in the US.

It usually accompanies a law enforcement-focused degree.

A prior degree is a prerequisite for this certificate program, which provides dual certification in Minnesota POST and Federal Type II.

Fisheries & Wildlife Management

Candidates learn and earn an AS degree through fieldwork, lab skills, and general knowledge.

The Fisheries and Wildlife Management AS and the Wildlife Ecology certificate are accredited by the North American Wildlife Technology Association (NAWTA).

Vermilion campus / 1900 E. Camp St., Ely, MN 55731

(218) 235-2100

https://minnesotanorth.edu/programs/fisheries-wildlife-management/

Wilderness & Park Management

Gain skills with an AAS degree, which will provide candidates with study concentrations on the conservation and recreational use of federal, state, and local wildlands.

Vermilion campus / 1900 E. Camp St., Ely, MN 55731

(218) 235-2100

https://minnesotanorth.edu/programs/wilderness-park-management/

Wildland / Wildlife Law Enforcement

Offering an AAS degree focusing on law enforcement and its uses in public parks and wildlife areas.

Vermilion campus / 1900 E. Camp St., Ely, MN 55731

(218) 235-2100

https://minnesotanorth.edu/programs/wildland-wildlife-law-enforcement/

Wildlife Ecology

Experience a certificate program featuring hands-on training.

The Wildlife Ecology certificate gives candidates hands-on training to bolster their degrees and develop techniques and certifications that enhance their skills in the job market.

Vermilion campus / 1900 E. Camp St., Ely, MN 55731

(218) 235-2100

https://minnesotanorth.edu/programs/wildlife-ecology/

 

Contact Information

• Address: 1900 E. Camp St., Ely, MN 55731
• Phone: (218) 235-2100
• Website: Visit School Website

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2 Central Lakes College

Earn an AAS degree through the Natural Resources Conservation Services Certificate program.

Candidates gain experience in conservation practices with site visits to forests, pasture lands, farmsteads, and cropping systems.

Staples Campus: 1830 Airport Road • Staples, MN 56479

(218) 894-5100

Contact Information

• Address: Brainerd Campus: 501 West College Drive / Brainerd, MN 56401
• Phone: (218) 855-8000
• Website: Visit School Website

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3 University of Minnesota

The Bachelor of Science in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology is based on comprehensive theory and education in wildlife conservation.

University of Minnesota, Crookston

A Forest & Natural Resource Management (FNRM) major that concentrates on forest management, the environment, conservation, and urban forestry.

115 Green Hall / 1530 Cleveland Ave. N., St. Paul, MN 55108

(612) 624-3400

https://forestry.umn.edu/bs-forest-and-natural-resource-management

Contact Information

• Address: 135 Skok Hall / 2003 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108
• Phone: (612) 624-3600
• Website: Visit School Website

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Schools Summary Table

	Rank	School
	#1	Minnesota North College
	#2	Central Lakes College
	#3	University of Minnesota

Park Ranger Salary in Minnesota

Just as job descriptions and duties vary greatly, so does pay.

A small state park may pay $15 an hour, while career park rangers at large state and national parks earn around $80,000 annually.

The average annual salary in Minnesota is approximately $45,000.

Factors influencing the pay package’s greenery include agency, position, education, experience, park size, and job responsibilities.

Find Park Ranger Career Guides by State

About Chelsea Wilson Chelsea Wilson is the Community Relations Manager for Washington University School of Law’s distance learning LLM degree program, which provides foreign trained attorneys with the opportunity to earn a Master of Laws degree from a top-tier American university from anywhere in the world.