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Corrections Officers

Education and Training Requirements

High School

To work as a corrections officer, candidates generally must meet the minimum age requirement—usually 18 or 21—and have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Individuals without a high school education may be considered for employment if they have qualifying work experience, such as probation and parole experience. Applicants for corrections officer positions must be U.S. citizens and have no felony convictions.

Postsecondary Training

Many states and correctional facilities prefer or require officers to have postsecondary training in psychology, criminology, or related areas of study. Some states require applicants to have one or two years of previous experience in corrections or related police work. Military experience or related work experience is also required by some state governments. On the federal level, applicants should have at least two years of college or two years of work or military experience.

Training for corrections officers ranges from the special academy instruction provided by the federal government in some states to the informal, on-the-job training furnished by most states and local governments. The Federal Bureau of Prisons operates a Staff Training Academy in Glynco, Georgia. New federal correctional officer hires must complete a three-week, in-residence course of instruction called "Introduction to Correctional Techniques." The academy also offers instruction in advanced correctional specialty techniques such as marksman observer, bus operations, and witness security.

The International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training provides links to states’ Peace Officer Standards and Training programs at https://www.iadlest.org/post-portal.

Training academies have programs that last from four to eight weeks and instruct trainees on institutional policies, regulations, and procedures; the behavior and custody of inmates; security measures; and report writing. Training in self-defense, the use of firearms and other weapons, and emergency medical techniques is often provided. On-the-job trainees spend two to six months or more under the supervision of an experienced officer. During that period of time, they receive in-house training while gaining actual experience. Periodically, corrections officers may be given additional training as new ideas and procedures in criminal justice are developed.

Other Education or Training

The American Correctional Association (ACA) offers online training courses that can be taken to satisfy educational requirements for certification and recertification. Recent classes included Duties of Correctional Officers, Security Rounds, Managing Keys and Tools, Reducing The Risk of Escapes, Escorts and Transports, and Communicating Nonverbally with Inmates, Contraband and Searches, and Conducting Counts. The ACA and the American Probation and Parole Association also provide professional development opportunities. Contact these organizations for more information.