The Tennessee Highway Patrol is accepting applications for its first class of cadets made up of people with law enforcement training and experience.
The lateral class will be made up of graduates from law enforcement training facilities like Walter State Community College or Cleveland State, and police officers who have already obtained Peace Officers Standards and Training certification.
The accelerated course will last 16 weeks, down from the 22-week program for regular cadets. Qualified applicants will have to pass a physical agility test before being admitted for an interview.
The new course grew out of Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's 2012 law that revised hiring practices to emphasize applicants' existing knowledge, skills and abilities.
The application deadline is March 15.
