How To Become A Correction Officer: What It Is and Career Path

Q: Corrections Officer vs. Police Officer

A corrections officer is a law enforcement agent who is in charge of individuals who have been arrested, while a police officer is a law enforcement agent who works in the community to ensure safety.

Q: How long does it take to become a Correction Officer?

It takes 4 years of professional experience to become a correction officer. That is the time it takes to learn specific correction officer skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

Q: Can you become a correctional officer with a misdemeanor?

Yes, you can become a correctional officer with a misdemeanor depending on the jurisdiction/agency and the nature of the misdemeanor. The decision is ultimately up to the hiring agency and is based on their standards and the type of misdemeanor you have.

Q: What are careers in corrections?

Correctional officers, prison wardens, and forensic psychologists are careers in corrections. Here are some details about these careers and others in corrections: Correctional officer

Q: What are the pros and cons of being a correctional officer?

The pros of being a correctional officer are defined work hours, a career pathway, and good benefits, while the cons are dangerous work environments, risks to mental health, and possibly undesirable work conditions. To be successful as a correctional officer requires hard work and resiliency.

What is a correction officer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A correction officer works in correctional facilities such as prisons, jails, and detention centers. The primary responsibility of a correction officer is to maintain security and safety within the facility by enforcing rules and regulations. They supervise inmates, monitor their behavior, and respond to any emergencies that may arise. Correction officers also conduct searches, inspections, and investigations to prevent the entry of contraband items. They work in shifts and may be required to work on weekends.

ScoreCorrection OfficerUS Average

Salary

3.1

Avg. Salary $39,369

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate -10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.96%

Asian 2.04%

Black or African American 16.00%

Hispanic or Latino 18.44%

Unknown 5.29%

White 57.28%

Gender

female 37.52%

male 62.48%

Age - 40

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 - 40

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.7

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a correction officer?

Pros

Good benefits package
Opportunities for advancement and promotions
Access to training and educational programs
Pension plan
Varied work assignments

Cons

Exposure to dangerous situations and potentially violent inmates
Potential for verbal and physical abuse from inmates
Limited opportunities for creativity or innovation in job duties
Required to enforce rules that may be morally conflicting
Difficult to separate work life from personal life.

Key steps to become a correction officer

Explore correction officer education requirements

Most common correction officer degrees

High School Diploma

30.4 %

Bachelor's

29.4 %

Associate

24.5 %

Start to develop specific correction officer skills

Skills	Percentages
Public Safety	27.44%
Correctional Facility	10.53%
Emergency Situations	8.86%
Security Checks	5.43%
Incident Reports	5.04%

Complete relevant correction officer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New correction 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 a correction officer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real correction officer resumes.

Gain additional correction officer certifications

Correction officer certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific correction officer certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for correction officers include Certified Corrections Officer (CCO) and Certified Corrections Manager (CCM).

More About Certifications

Research correction officer duties and responsibilities

Manage behavior modification and offender restoration rehabilitation.
Implement defensive tactics and physical restraints to maintain the safety and security of the general public.
Conduct NCIC background reports on all new inmates within the facility.
Collect felony DNA enter finger prints into live scan for NCIC.

Prepare your correction officer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your correction 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 a correction 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 correction officer resume templates

Build a professional correction officer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your correction officer resume.

Apply for correction officer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a correction officer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do correction officers rate their job?

3/5

Based on 3 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Correction officer reviews

1.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2022

Pros

Accountability

Cons

Cert don't have to help work post when facilities are short..

4.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022

Pros

I enjoy working with different officers from many places around the country. Working a 12 hour shift 4 days a week with 2 days off, makes the people you work with all like family. Enjoy seeing I/M's getting released.

Cons

Dirty officers, mistreatment of I/M's, lack of help from higher up management, being required to work days off because we can't keep staff.

4.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2021

Pros

Pay and benefits are good for a family provider. The friendships with fellow officers lasts a lifetime. With overtime, I earned in pay and benefits, $3.5 million. I retired at 59.

Cons

Political leaders will always find more ways to change prison from a justice system to a therapy community. Giving retirement like benefits to those who robbed your homes and stores, raped your children and wives, and broke your laws.

What is a correction officer and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being a correction officer?

Correction officer career paths

Key steps to become a correction officer

Explore correction officer education requirements

Most common correction officer degrees

Start to develop specific correction officer skills

Complete relevant correction officer training and internships

Gain additional correction officer certifications

Research correction officer duties and responsibilities

Prepare your correction officer resume

Choose from 10+ customizable correction officer resume templates

Apply for correction officer jobs

How did you land your first correction officer job

Average correction officer salary

How do correction officers rate their job?

Correction officer reviews

Correction officer FAQs

Corrections Officer vs. Police Officer

How long does it take to become a Correction Officer?

Can you become a correctional officer with a misdemeanor?

What are careers in corrections?

What are the pros and cons of being a correctional officer?

Search for correction officer jobs

Correction officer jobs by state