Correction officers must be in good health. Many States require candidates to meet formal standards of physical fitness, eyesight, and hearing. Strength, good judgement, and the ability to think and act quickly are assets. A few States require candidates to pass a written examination. The Federal Government, as well as almost every State and a few localities, provides training for correction officers.
Some States have special training academies.
Experienced officers sometimes receive inservice training to keep abreast of new ideas and procedures. With additional education, experience, or training, qualified officers may advance to correction sergeant or other supervisory administrative, or counseling positions. Many correctional institutions require experience as a correction officer for other corrections positions. Officers sometimes transfer to related areas, such as probation and parole. Job Outlook Employment of correction officers is expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2000 as additional officers are hired to supervise and counsel an increasing number of inmates and to relieve tensions in already crowded correctional institutions.