Becoming a Correctional Officer in Utah

Utah Correctional Officer Certification Requirements

The Department of Corrections in Utah is continually searching for men and women of sound character to be applicants for the position of corrections officer. Because of the challenging nature of this role, the Utah DOC has committed to hiring only the most qualified applicants for the job. To enforce this, candidates go through a many-step hiring process, that begins with meeting basic eligibility requirements. First, applicants must provide proof of the following:

• U.S. citizenship or U.S. naturalization
• Utah driver's license
• Proof of age (21 or over)
• No domestic violence or felony convictions
• Proof of honorable discharge (DD-214) if applicable

After basic eligibility criteria is met, applicants will be invited to engage in the following:

• Fitness evaluation
• Detailed background check
• Drug testing
• Medical-physical examination
• Psychological assessment
• Interview with correctional supervisors or human resource managers

Those candidates who finish the second phase with the best scores will be invited to enrol at Utah's Training Academy, where officers learn practical tactics for working in a correctional facility. Upon successful completion, the candidates will be eligible for jobs as corrections officers.

Utah Department of Corrections

14717 S. Minuteman Drive
Draper, UT 84020
Phone: (801) 545-5500
http://www.corrections.utah.gov/

Utah Correctional Officer Employment & Outlook

One of the ways that the state of Utah strives to serve and support correctional officers is through strong job growth and lucrative salary opportunities. Currently, the median income for front-line correctional officers throughout the state is slightly lower at $38,200 than that of the national median income of $39,800. According to the occupational profile for the state of Utah found at http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?next=occ_rep&Level=&optstatus=011000000&jobfam=33&id=1&nodeid=2&soccode=333012&menuMode=&stfips=49&x=35&y=10 published by CareerInfoNet.org, state and national trends predict a 13% and 5% increase in correctional officer jobs respectively by 2022. For residents of Utah, this rate translates into a net gain of 100 jobs per year.

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

Utah Correctional Officer Salaries By Area

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