How To Become An Adult Probation Officer: What It Is and Career Path

What is an adult probation officer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Adult probation officers supervise offenders completing their probation time. They use various techniques to monitor their clients and liaise between members of the court and the offenders.

As a probation officer, it will be your job to check on your clients regularly in person or by phone. You will have to track their progress in finding a job and stabilizing their living situations. You will be the one making sure they abide by the rules of their probation, such as not leaving the state and other similar restrictions.

You will create reports tracking the probationers' progress and make sure they understand their probation terms. You will recommend rehabilitation plans and provide support to the people under your watch to reach their goals by motivating them not to give up.

ScoreAdult Probation OfficerUS Average

Salary

3.6

Avg. Salary $46,598

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

3.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.88%

Asian 2.11%

Black or African American 11.22%

Hispanic or Latino 21.17%

Unknown 2.56%

White 62.05%

Gender

female 51.72%

male 48.28%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.1

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.5

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an adult probation officer

Explore adult probation officer education requirements

Most common adult probation officer degrees

Bachelor's

77.7 %

Master's

11.4 %

Associate

8.1 %

Start to develop specific adult probation officer skills

Skills	Percentages
Criminal Justice	10.00%
Social Work	9.94%
Mental Health	7.97%
Court Orders	5.27%
Law Enforcement Agencies	5.24%

Complete relevant adult probation officer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New adult probation officers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an adult probation officer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real adult probation officer resumes.

Research adult probation officer duties and responsibilities

Manage significant DUI caseload to court-ordered and conditional probation completion.
Enforce sex offender registration, obtain DNA samples and review GPS electronic monitoring system.
Supervise offenders on probation and parole, complete social histories/assessments/investigations for the sentencing court or parole board, case management.
Conduct DNA and urinalysis on clients.

Prepare your adult probation officer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your adult probation officer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an adult probation officer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable adult probation officer resume templates

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