Basic Correctional Officer Requirements:

　　oral communicationinterpersonal sillswritingorganizational awarenessmanaging human resourcesstress toleranceFor Consideration at the GS-05 Level:

　　The be considered at the GS-05 level requires successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university.

　　OR

　　you must have at least 3 years of full-time general experience, one of which is equivalent to the GS-04 grade level, or one year of specialized experience This experience must demonstrate the aptitude for acquiring knowledge and skills required for correctional work. It also must demonstrate the possession of personal attributes important to the effectiveness of correctional officers:

　　ability to meet and deal with people of differing backgrounds and behavioral patternsability to be persuasive in selling and influencing ideasability to lead, supervise, and instruct otherssympathetic attitude towards the welfare of othersability to reason and think out practical solutions to problemsability to make decisions and act quickly - even under stresspoise and self-confidence and ability to remain calm during emergenciesThis general experience may have been gained in work such as:

　　social case work in a welfare agency or counseling in other types of organizationsclassroom teaching or instructingresponsible rehabilitation work, e.g., in an alcoholic rehabilitation programsupervising planned recreational activities or active participation in community action programsmanagement or supervisory work in a business or other organization that included directing the work flow and/or direct supervision of otherspersuasive sales work or commissioned sales work, other than taking and filing orders as in over-the-counter salesFor Consideration at the GS-06 Level:

　　9 semester hours or 14 quarters of graduate study from an accredited school in:

　　criminal justicecriminologysocial scienceanother field of study related to the position such as lawOR

　　You need 1 year specialized experience equivalent in difficulty to the next-lower grade level in Federal service. This experience must have equipped you with the particular knowledge and skills to perform the duties of the position:

　　ensuring individuals confined in a correctional or mental health facility adhere to rulesresponding to domestic disturbancesapprehending and arresting individuals violating the lawExamples of occupations where specialized experience may have been gained:

　　correctional officerdetention officerpolice officerborder patrol agentstate troopersheriffpark rangerdeputy sheriff supervising inmates in a jailmental health residential facility workerSome Examples of this Qualifying Experience Are:

　　providing supervision, care and security of inmates plus guidance to lower-graded correctional officerssupervising inmates in living quarters and instructing them in housekeeping and sanitationworking as a police officer responding to domestic disturbances and issuing citationsexperience in investigating crime scenes as a state trooperexperience as a mental health worker in a mental health lockdown facilityenforcing rules and regulations governing facility security, inmate accountability and inmate conduct to ensure judicial sanctions are carried out and inmates remain in custodyAge Requirement

　　At time of appointment, applicants must not have reached their 37th birthday unless they previously served in a Federal civilian law enforcement position covered by special civil service retirement provisions, including early or mandatory retirement. Qualified Preference Eligible Veterans may be exempt from meeting the aximum entry age of 37.

　　Apply for Correctional Officer positions now at usajobs.gov