Post job

Correctional guard education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, correctional guards don't need a college education. The most common degree for correctional guards is high school diploma with 36% graduates, with only 23% correctional guard graduates earning associate degree. Correctional guards who decided to graduate from college often finish Southern University and A & M College or University of Phoenix. Some good skills to have in this position include facility policy, security checks and emergency situations.

What education do you need to become a correctional guard?

What degree do you need to be a correctional guard?

The most common degree for correctional guards is high school diploma, with 36% of correctional guards earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 23% and associate degree degree at 23%.
  • High School Diploma, 36%
  • Associate, 23%
  • Bachelor's, 23%
  • Diploma, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 13%

What should I major in to become a correctional guard?

You should major in criminal justice to become a correctional guard. 37% of correctional guards major in criminal justice. Other common majors for a correctional guard include business and management.

Best majors for correctional guards

20 best online courses for correctional guards

Advertising disclosure

1. Medical Emergencies: CPR, Toxicology, and Wilderness

coursera

In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: (1) Identify the signs and symptoms associated with a patient in shock, to describe the major categories of shock, to assess a patient with signs of shock and formulate a plan for treatment to stabilize the patient for transport, (2) Identify a patient in cardiac arrest and to describe the components of high performance CPR...

2. High Level Biocontainment for Healthcare Facilities

coursera

The goal of this 4-week course is to equip learners to safely care for a patient infected with a pathogen requiring high-level biocontainment. This can be accomplished in any healthcare facility given the correct approach and protocols. Please copy and paste the following link into a new tab/browser to view the video overview of our course. http://bit.ly/2bPZ6Cz In this course, we will: 1. Discuss the essentials of intake screening. 2. Investigate pathogen transmission characteristics and the...

3. Security Guard Training Course

udemy
4.4
(383)

Security Officer Training In Today's Job Market...

4. Security Management: Excellence in Private Protection

udemy
4.5
(905)

A complete Security Management knowledge suite of managing security operations, programs/services, budgets, & personnel...

5. Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers

coursera

This course is designed with a singular goal: to improve the care you provide to your patients with substance use disorders. By delving into a model case performed by actors, seven Yale instructors from various fields provide techniques to screen your patients for substance use disorder risk, diagnose patients to gauge the severity of their use, directly manage treatment plans, refer out to treatment services, and navigate the various conditions that may limit your patient’s access to treatment...

6. Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation

coursera

In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) assess a basic medical patient 2) describe general pharmacologic principles and the skills associated with medication administration, 3) explain airway physiology, the assessment of the airway and available interventions for airway management, 4) identify, assess and formulate a plan to stabilize a patient with a...

7. Information Security Fundamentals - Cyber Security Bootcamp

udemy
4.2
(267)

A Beginners Awareness Guide on Information Security & Cyber Security to Keep Online and Offline Devices Safe!...

8. Crisis Intervention Seminar

udemy
4.4
(634)

The emphasis is on the development of fundamental clinical skills in the area of crisis intervention...

9. Speak Medical Spanish to Your Patients and Clients

udemy
4.4
(591)

Spanish essentials for healthcare; program teaches correct pronunciation, pain management and medication, among others...

10. IT Security 101 - Cyber Security for Beginners

udemy
4.2
(390)

Learn cyber security best practice tips on securing computer networks from internal & external IT cyber security threats...

11. Intro to Cyber Security Certification - Security+ Boot Camp

udemy
4.3
(685)

Get a brief introduction to the Cyber Security Industry and Security+ Certification...

12. Information Systems Security for Professionals: CISSP

udemy
4.5
(2,165)

Making Next Gen Information Security Leaders...

13. SAP Security Training

udemy
4.1
(696)

A Practical and Detail Learning Program on SAP Security & Authorizations...

14. Learn Cyber Security From Scratch

udemy
4.3
(306)

Learn Cyber Security, Ethical Hacking and Certified Ethical Hacking from scratch. Real-World hacking examples included!...

15. Secure Coding - Ensuring Safe Deployment of Code

udemy
4.4
(305)

Understanding the Significance of Secure Coding in Dev Ops Processes...

16. Linux Security and Hardening, The Practical Security Guide.

udemy
4.5
(3,902)

Secure any Linux server from hackers & protect it against hacking. The practical Linux Administration security guide...

17. Information Security Awareness: An Introduction for UK SMEs

udemy
4.4
(412)

Combating Security Threats and Cultivating Information Security Awareness...

18. Cyber Security: Awareness For Everyone (2023)

udemy
4.6
(343)

Cyber Security First Steps: Privacy, Phishing, Social Engineering, Malware, Email Security, and Hackers...

19. Operations Management: Facilities Planning and Management

udemy
4.4
(357)

Operations Management Training Program (Course 8 of 8)...

20. ISACA CISM Certified Information Security Manager

udemy
4
(285)

One of the highest paid certifications! Become a Certified Information Security Manager!...

Average correctional guard salary by education level

According to our data, correctional guards with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $40,161 annually. Correctional guards with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $39,329.
Correctional guard education levelCorrectional guard salary
High School Diploma or Less$37,905
Bachelor's Degree$40,161
Some College/ Associate Degree$39,329

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse protective service jobs