Becoming a Correctional Officer in Iowa

Iowa Correctional Officer Certification Requirements

The state Department of Corrections in Iowa is continually campaigning to recruit professional and motivated people to become corrections officers. Because of the various challenges in this role, the Department of Corrections has deemed it mandatory that all recruits meet the eligibility and aptitude requirements in order to ensure the safety of their colleagues and surrounding communities. Eligibility requirements include:

A completed, accurate application form

• Proof of age
• Valid Iowa driver's license
• Proof of U.S. citizenship
• High school diploma or GED
• Proof of honorable discharge (DD-214) if applicable

After submitting the application package, candidates may be invited to participate in the assessment process. Applicants will be required to complete the following in order to ensure that they are a good fit for the role of corrections officer:

• Written comprehension test
• Physical ability test
• Mental health test
• Extensive background screening and fingerprinting

If candidates scores are acceptable to the department, they may await contact for an interview before being extended an offer of employment. Please note that that the offer is conditional upon successful completion of the new recruit basic training that takes place over a period of weeks at a state correctional facility.

Iowa Department of Corrections

510 E 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: (515) 725-5701
http://www.doc.state.ia.us/

Iowa Correctional Officer Employment & Outlook

The state of Iowa is committed to serve and support correctional facilities in the state by encouraging growth in the field. To this end, the median income for front-line correctional officers throughout the state is higher at $49,100 than the median national income of $39,800. CareerInfoNet.org has published state and national trends at http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?next=occ_rep&Level=&optstatus=011000000&jobfam=33&id=1&nodeid=2&soccode=333012&menuMode=&stfips=19&x=39&y=13 which predict that growth in Iowa at 5% from now until 2022 is exactly on par with the national growth trend. The predicted job growth translates into approximately 100 jobs annually in the form of newly created openings and existing vacancies over the next decade.

Occupational Employment Statistics for Correctional Officers (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333012.htm)

Iowa Correctional Officer Salaries By Area

The table below lists career information retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for correctional officers in Iowa. The table is sorted by total employment, with the largest metropolitan areas listed first.