How to Become a Park Ranger in Washington

Washington’s park rangers are responsible for managing parks across a vast variety of climates and terrains.

From coastal locations to mountainous regions, Washington has plenty of interesting parks throughout the state.

Boasting 70 national and state parks, Washington is one of the best locations to become a park ranger anywhere in the U.S.

To become a park ranger, you can’t simply jump into the job, as certain requirements must be met and a process that must be followed.

Keep reading to learn more about how to become a park ranger in Washington!

Requirements to Become a Park Ranger in Washington

There are two types of park rangers employed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Park Ranger 1 and Park Ranger 2, with different functions.

Park Ranger 1 employees have basic law enforcement functions such as directing traffic, assisting in investigations, and writing citations.

The minimum educational requirement is two years of college or a high school diploma with two years of military service.

The Park Ranger 2 position expands on Park Ranger 1 duties to include leading investigations, carrying a firearm, making arrests, and performing surveillance.

The minimum requirements for the Park Ranger 2 position are holding a valid driver’s license, being at least 21 years old, graduating from a law enforcement academy, and having one year of ranger experience, two years of college, or a high school diploma with two years of military experience.

Candidates must then apply for the position, pass a background check, drug test, and medical and psychological evaluation, as well as have a good legal history and an unrestricted driver’s license.

The final step, within the first 12 months of employment, is for new rangers to complete the 720-hour Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Law Enforcement Academy.

Park Ranger Duties in Washington

Washington park rangers have policing capabilities, so they may issue citations, conduct surveillance, direct crowds and traffic, make arrests, and conduct investigations.

They may also be involved in search and rescue operations, due to their knowledge of the property, and regularly patrol the area.

On the more public service side of the job, rangers host scout troops, religious and international tour groups, wilderness training exercises, wedding receptions, and class reunions.

Park rangers also educate various types of groups about the park and are involved in conservation efforts.

Schools Offering Park Ranger or Wildlife Conservation Certificates in Washington

Skagit Valley College (SVC) is the only school in Washington that offers a Park Ranger Law Enforcement certificate program, which prepares students for careers as park rangers in local, county, state, and national parks.

This nationally accredited program comprises a 720-hour curriculum that prepares graduates for a career with the National Park Service Law Enforcement Commission.

The school also offers an additional Wildland Fire and Emergency Medical Responder class to further expand students’ knowledge.

State Parks in Washington

Several of the most popular parks in Washington include:

Cape Disappointment State Park

As one of the most popular parks in the state, Cape Disappointment State Park is far from disappointing.

The park draws those looking to experience nature, which has helped boost local tourism, by boasting countless outdoor activities, such as:

• Camping areas with full hookup sites
• Fishing and boating in the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean
• Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
• Multiple lakes
• Ocean beaches
• Old-growth forests
• Two lighthouses, one of which is the oldest functioning on the West Coast
• 137 campsites
• 1,882 acres of natural wilderness and hiking

Deception Pass State Park

Whidbey Island was first sighted by Europeans in 1792, who discovered the location using an ancient Aztec map.

These explorers encountered tribes who had been living in the area for thousands of years.

Today, this area has been transformed into a state park, featuring more than 4,000 acres of water recreation, hiking, and camping, as well as over 100,000 feet of shoreline.

Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

Constructed in 1942, the Grand Coulee Dam was one of the most impressive construction projects of its generation.

Today, the Dam continues to be one of the largest concrete structures on Earth and produces the most hydroelectric power in the U.S.

One of the results of the construction project was a 130-mile-long lake, named after President Franklin Roosevelt.

The area surrounding the lake has become the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, which is an excellent place for hiking, camping, fishing, and boating.

Mount Rainier National Park

As the second most-visited national park in the state and the fifth oldest in the U.S., Mount Rainier National Park has over one million visitors pass through its gates every year.

Boasting 370 square miles of forest, lakes, and waterways, Mount Rainier National Park is an amazing destination for wildlife watching, hiking, biking, jogging, mountain climbing, and horseback riding.

For water enthusiasts, there are plenty of waterways for swimming, jet skiing, boating, canoeing, and kayaking.

Don’t think the fun ends once Summer is over, snow sports are very popular during the Winter due to the altitude of Mount Rainier.

Park Ranger Salary in Washington

The median salary for a park ranger in Washington is $48,806, with pay ranging from $33,881 to $60,659.

Regional Salary

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.