Becoming a Correctional Officer in Washington

Washington Correctional Officer Certification Requirements

The Department of Corrections in Washington State has an continual recruitment campaign in order to connect qualified men and women with dynamic careers as corrections officers. The state commits to ensuring that only the most successful applicants are awarded positions - this ensures personal, workplace, and community safety. In order to ensure candidate best matches, the state starts with basic eligibility requirements:

• Proof of age (21+)
• Possess a Washington State driver's licence
• Possess a High School Diploma or GED
• Have no felony or domestic violence convictions
• Proof of DD-214 discharge if applicable

Applicants who are successful at this point will continue to the testing portion of the hiring process, engaging in:

• Written test
• Physical assessment
• Fitness testing
• Drug screening
• Fingerprinting
• Background and profession checks that may span a candidate's entire work history
• An in-person interview with correctional personnel

Applicants whose scores meet the DOC criteria will be invited to enrol in the DOC Basic Officer Training program. Hiring is conditional upon successful completion of the program; candidates who are not successful are not able to secure a position with the state but are welcome to reapply.

Washington State Department of Corrections

7345 Linderson Way SW
Tumwater, WA 98501-6504
Phone: (360) 725-8213
http://www.doc.wa.gov/

Washington Correctional Officer Employment & Outlook

Washington's State Department of Justice is committed to ensuring growth and development for the state's correctional officers. Median income for this role throughout the state is $46,700 compared to the national median income level of $39,800. According to the employment profile for Washington state, published by CareerInfoNet.org at http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?next=occ_rep&Level=&optstatus=011000000&jobfam=33&id=1&nodeid=2&soccode=333012&menuMode=&stfips=53&x=70&y=18 state and national trends predict a 5% increase in correctional jobs by the year 2022. In the state of Washington, this nets a positive growth curve of 200 jobs from year to year, both in newly created vacancies and in vacancies from senior officers who advance or retire.

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

Washington Correctional Officer Salaries By Area

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