ProRanger Philadelphia: History and Program Status

ProRanger Philadelphia was an academic and technical skills training, education and internship program jointly administered by the National Park Service (NPS) and Temple University. Established in 2009, the program prepared students for careers as federal law enforcement park rangers by combining academic coursework, technical training and internships with practical exposure to the field.

What Was ProRanger Philadelphia?

ProRanger Philadelphia was designed to give students an introduction to the career of a National Park Service law enforcement ranger before they attended the Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy (PRLEA).

Students who successfully completed the ProRanger Philadelphia program were eligible for non-competitive conversion to a permanent law enforcement ranger position through a direct hiring authority.

Is ProRanger Philadelphia Still Accepting Students?

No. ProRanger Philadelphia is no longer accepting new students.

Beginning in July 2022, the National Park Service changed its hiring process for permanent law enforcement rangers and began using the Law Enforcement Hiring Initiative, informally known as “direct to FLETC.” As a result of this change, no additional students will be accepted into the ProRanger Philadelphia program, but please follow along with the remaining ProRangers on the blog site..

How Can I Learn More About the NPS Law Enforcement Hiring Initiative?

If you are interested in learning more about the Changes to the NPS Law Enforcement Hiring Initiative visit here:  go.nps.gov/lawenforcement

If you are interested in employment as a law enforcement ranger on a seasonal basis, please visit Temple’s Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy site.