Becoming a Probation Officer - Parole Officer Career Q&A

Learn about the job of probation officer, including education, certification and salary.

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Probation Officers: A Crucial Part of the Corrections System

If you've ever thought of becoming a parole or a probation officer, you'll need to know what the job entails. Parole and probation officers supervise either offenders placed on probation (people who fulfill their court-ordered sentences) or parolees (people who are released from prison to fulfill parole-board-ordered sentences).

In some states, you can work as both a parole and probation officer, while in other states the two jobs have different requirements.

Probation Officer Job Description

Serving as the link to a variety of social services, probation and parole officers help their clients secure the education, counseling, jobs and housing necessary to become fully rehabilitated. Probation officers usually work exclusively with either adults or juveniles.

Many officers meet the offenders in their homes and at their places of employment or therapy, and may handle anywhere from 20 to 300 active cases at a time.

Based on the officers' investigative work on their clients, they write reports to provide judges with important information necessary to pronounce an appropriate sentence for each offender. Probation and parole officers testify at pretrial and parole board hearings to help explain these reports. In addition, they are responsible for investigating any violations of court-ordered sentences.

Probation Officer Education and Training

To become a probation officer, you'll need a 4-year bachelor's degree in criminal justice, social work, psychology or a related area. Many parole and probation officers have a master's degree in criminal justice, social work or psychology. In addition, federal officers must have at least two years of work experience.

Most parole and probation officers work as trainees for about six months, then obtain a permanent position. A typical agency has several levels of probation and parole officers—including supervisory jobs—so as you gain experience and seniority, you can get promoted to increasingly important positions.

Licensing and Certification for Probation Officers

To become certified as a probation officer, you'll need to be a U.S. citizen over 20 years old, not be a convicted felon, have a bachelor's degree, and pass several competitive written, oral, psychological and physical exams.

Some states require that parole and probation officers take certification tests during or after the completion of training.

Probation Officer Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for probation officers was $50,500 in 2009, but the top 10 percent earned more than $78,800. Higher wages are often found in urban areas and with higher levels of criminal justice education.