How hard is it to become a correctional officer?

For most state positions, officers will have to learn how to become correctional officers through a month of basic training at a training academy. Training will include:

• Federal laws

• State laws

• American Correctional Association standards

• Policies

• Firearms training, including shotgun and AR-15

Established officers are required to undergo refresher training each year.

For federal correctional officer jobs, the minimum requirements are:

• Be a United States citizen

• Be between the ages of 20 and 37

• No serious criminal history

• Good credit history

• Ability to drag a 75-pound dummy across 684 feet in under 3 minutes

• Be able to complete an obstacle course

• Be able to climb a ladder and retrieve an object within 7 seconds

• Be able to carry a 20-pound weight up 108 steps in under 45 seconds

• Be able to run a quarter mile and apply handcuffs to a target within 2 minutes and 35 seconds.

New federal correctional officers must complete the "Introduction to Correctional Techniques Phases one and two. Phase one is an orientation conducted at the facility. Phase two is a three-week program held at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy that includes firearm training, self-defense, and policies and procedures.

After the first year, officers must obtain between 16 and 40 hours of training annually.