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Correctional Officer Requirements for New York


New York Correctional Officer JobsTo become a correction officer in NYS, you must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Be 21 years old on or before your appointment date.
  • You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Be a High School graduate or its educational equivalent.
  • Reside in New York State to meet the residency requirement.
  • Successfully pass the written Civil Service Exam with a minimum final score of 70%.

Your current physical and medical condition will be assessed to determine if you can successfully perform the duties of a correctional officer. The physical and medical assessment will consist of a physical fitness test, a medical evaluation, and a drug test / substance abuse screening.

You will be responsible for the cost of the clinical laboratory test fees related to the medical examination and drug screening.

In addition to the physical and medical examinations, you will also be required to undergo a psychological evaluation to determine your ability to perform the fundamental duties of a corrections officer.

As a condition of employment, prospective correction officers are required to submit to a background investigation to determine the eligibility for appointment to a corrections officer position.  A felony conviction will bar you from consideration while misdemeanor convictions may also bar you from consideration but this is determined on a case-by-case basis. A $75.00 fee is required for fingerprint processing.

The Training

For your correctional officer training as a correction officer trainee, you must successfully complete a 12-month trainee program. This process begins what you attending the New York State Department of Corrections & Community Supervision (DOCCS) Training Academy.

For 8-weeks, from Sunday evenings through Friday afternoons, you will live inside the academy receiving paid training within a paramilitary environment learning the ins and outs of corrections, while undergoing physical fitness training, firearms proficiency training, defensive tactics techniques, and specialized certifications.

Once you successfully meet all requirements and graduate from the correction officer training academy program, which is worth as much as (16) college credits towards a degree, you will then be considered a NYS Peace Officer and begin 3-weeks of on-the-job training prior to you being assigned to full-duty at a NYS correctional facility.

A probationary period of 1 year (52 weeks) will be in place where your performance will be periodically evaluated against the department standards. At the conclusion of your probation period, you will then be advanced to the level of (G-14) Correction Officer.

The Application Process

The New York Department of Civil Service Examination handles the application process and testing for NYS civil service jobs.  Correction Officer Job openings are generally published through correction officer exam announcements and include the examination number, job title, hiring rate, salary, test dates, and the deadline to apply.

The most recent correction officer job announcement is for:

January 10, 2015

Applications Must be Postmarked by: NOV 25, 2014

25-831 Correction Officer Trainee

25-832 Correction Officer Trainee (Spanish Language)

This is the latest job announcement as of: NOV 15, 2014

The job announcements will provide links to the required application forms.

A $35.00 Non-Refundable Application Processing Fee is required unless you are a member of NYS CSEA or you qualify for a waiver. The application form will provide detailed information on how to qualify for the fee waiver.

Additional Information

The Correction Officer Exam is administered by the Department of Civil Service and can be reached at 1-877-697-5627.

A guide to the written civil service exam for entry-level correctional officers can be downloaded here.

The requirements to become a correctional officer in New York City differ from those in New York State.

References:

http://www.cs.ny.gov/

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54 Responses to Correctional Officer Requirements for New York

  1. Christian Duvall July 2, 2013 at 8:59 am #

    Are there visual requirements ?

    • Stacia February 4, 2016 at 1:57 pm #

      Do college credits in criminal justice/ corrections help you in being considered

      • Francine asquith July 13, 2016 at 4:52 pm #

        No they do not

  2. Tricia September 5, 2013 at 7:23 am #

    What are the visual requirements during the medical exam? I found out after submitting my $75 for the Police Officer exam that the vision in one of my eyes was insufficient and declined further processing. I just want to avoid wasting more time and money applying for a position that is going to deny me for the same reason.
    Thanks.

  3. Tapanga January 23, 2014 at 5:46 pm #

    is there any specific rules on visible tattoo’s?

  4. Tynisha January 30, 2014 at 9:11 am #

    This may be a silly question, but is wearing glasses a problem on becoming a correctional officer?? another question..do we have an option to choose which prison or borough to work in??

    • Francine asquith July 13, 2016 at 4:54 pm #

      Wearing glasses with not affect you. You are placed at a facility and can put in a transfer request after your OJT [ on the job training]

  5. Cheryl March 8, 2014 at 8:21 am #

    Is there a cut-off age to apply for the correctional officer exam?

    • Essence October 15, 2014 at 9:12 am #

      Yeah, I believe it’s 36.

    • pam October 24, 2015 at 9:46 am #

      no there isn’t a cut off age for a corrections officer. You must be reading the one for a police officer its age 36, I know people who took it in their 50’s.

    • peter November 10, 2015 at 8:17 pm #

      No age Limit

  6. Ana Q. March 16, 2014 at 12:31 pm #

    The cut off age is 21, check out the website that this site gives you its a .gov website which is very informative. My husband is looking to become a correctional officer and sadly we just missed the deadline, will be looking out for the next exam opened.

    • dcon February 13, 2015 at 9:52 pm #

      the cut off age is not 21. You must be at least 21 at the time of appointment, read again.

    • Francine July 13, 2016 at 4:55 pm #

      That’s nit a cut off age. You have to be 21 at least when you are called. There is no cut off age to be a CO

  7. Priscilla May 15, 2014 at 6:27 pm #

    If the minimum age to take the exam and training is 21, then what is the “maximum” age a person can be to take it?

    • vicki October 21, 2015 at 11:14 am #

      no maximum age at this time

  8. Ryan June 13, 2014 at 3:42 pm #

    What’s the tattoo policy for nysdoc?

    • Daniele May 29, 2015 at 9:45 pm #

      I believe visible tattoos on arms are okay as long as they are not offensive or gang related. Not sure about face/neck. I asked the same question on a different forum and that’s the answer I got.

  9. N.A November 7, 2014 at 5:00 pm #

    Which agency is better to join to become a corrections officer.. City or State?? Why?

  10. Greg Thompson December 26, 2014 at 2:11 pm #

    is your credit score a big factor,and if so what is a good passing score

  11. Robin Brennan March 3, 2015 at 10:59 am #

    How will I be contacted to report for training?

    • ggg ttt August 6, 2015 at 4:55 pm #

      phone call

  12. Andrew Jones March 20, 2015 at 11:45 am #

    Do you have to take a polygraph test?

    • Francine July 13, 2016 at 4:56 pm #

      They will call you

    • Francine July 13, 2016 at 4:58 pm #

      No you do not

  13. ryan April 7, 2015 at 12:35 am #

    do you think short men can be correctional officers?

    • Anthony Falcone April 20, 2015 at 8:33 am #

      Ryan, Yes you can be short and be a C.O.

  14. Mike July 10, 2015 at 7:27 pm #

    So if I had a felony 15 years ago and been great since I can’t work there ? why is this ? Do they want me to go back to crime I don’t get it. We need America to stand up and change this bull crap or its us all making people stick to crime In 10yrs everyone will have records then what.

  15. jay July 27, 2015 at 6:18 pm #

    I want to buy a study guide book for the exam should I get corrections officer or civil service exam

    • peter November 10, 2015 at 8:18 pm #

      Corrections Officer testing manual

    • Francine July 13, 2016 at 5:03 pm #

      You honestly don’t need a study guide book. It’s not a hard test to pass

  16. Junior August 12, 2015 at 6:51 pm #

    What if you use to be a dancer n work in strip clubs n have loads of pic on different sites can you still be a officer

  17. Fran August 25, 2015 at 6:41 pm #

    Can you go home weekends while trainng?

    • Alexis November 15, 2015 at 11:09 am #

      Yes you must go home as you cannot stay in the academy on the weekends.

      • b April 5, 2017 at 12:52 pm #

        WHY DO U HAVE TO STAY AT THE ACADEMY?

  18. Dillon November 2, 2015 at 9:54 am #

    What if you are permanent resident/I have a green card can I still be come correctional officer

  19. Brandon April 24, 2016 at 2:46 pm #

    Anything against prescription medication? (Xanax mild anxiety)

    • Francine July 13, 2016 at 5:00 pm #

      Nope but you can not have that in facility’s
      It’s considered contraband

  20. Megan May 30, 2016 at 9:10 pm #

    Do you have to live there or can you live at your own home and go to the academy everyday?

    • Francine July 13, 2016 at 4:57 pm #

      Nope. You have to live at the Academy. You can go home on weekends.

  21. d July 27, 2016 at 7:27 am #

    in the nycdoc is it a urine test or hair test to employment?

  22. Chris August 25, 2016 at 12:24 am #

    Where is the academy usually held?

  23. Cheyenne January 18, 2017 at 9:26 pm #

    With the bases loaded you struck us out with that anwser!

  24. Jody January 18, 2017 at 10:38 pm #

    Your thnkinig matches mine – great minds think alike!

  25. Ri January 25, 2017 at 10:07 pm #

    How is the physical test? What will they have you doing? I’m a bit nervous just because I’m not the greatest athlete.

    • Ri January 25, 2017 at 10:08 pm #

      Do*

  26. Gareth February 13, 2017 at 1:06 pm #

    Is they a hearing exam and if so what is the requirements

  27. Gareth February 13, 2017 at 2:06 pm #

    What are the hearing reqeuments for the job

  28. Thomas Bedard February 17, 2017 at 6:01 am #

    I just took a civil service test for albany county corrections. If i passed the test and say i want to apply to saratoga county,do i have to take a different test?

  29. Mike March 4, 2017 at 4:25 pm #

    Can you have a juvenile record and still be a Correction officer??the offenses where almost 20 yrs

  30. Juliana March 13, 2017 at 4:14 pm #

    What if you are a permenant resident i am still legal just not a citzen ?? I wouldnt be able to be a CO

  31. Juvon March 14, 2017 at 7:16 pm #

    If you have a restraining order against you, could you still process for the CO job unlike the NYCDOC

  32. Kyle w April 16, 2017 at 9:56 pm #

    Can you have sleep apnea and become a corrections officer ?

  33. James April 24, 2017 at 4:57 am #

    Do u need a high school diploma or GED