Requirements to Become...
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LPN

What are the Requirements to Become a Probation Officer?

As a probation officer, you are responsible for supervising and monitoring those who have been placed under close surveillance by the criminal justice system. Your goal is to ensure that these individuals stay out of trouble, stick with their current school or work, and regularly report in throughout the duration of their probation. Quite often, the people you help to supervise are either minor offenders that the courts believe require closer monitoring, or they are recently rehabilitated convicts who need additional guidance as they try to ease back into mainstream society.

What Are the Requirements to Become a Probation Officer?

Although there is no universally accepted standard that applies to all states and jurisdictions, a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, criminal justice or related field is the gold standard. Some employers actually require a master's degree.

Once accepted, you may be required to complete training with a state or federal probation program in which you explore various disciplines like:
  • Pretrial services
  • Parole
  • Probation
  • Counseling
  • Substance abuse
  • Social work
  • Criminal investigations
Thereafter, you can expect to take a series of oral, psychological, written, and physical exams to determine your mental aptitude, overall fitness, and emotional condition. Many applicants also undergo criminal background screening as well. If you have any unpaid parking tickets, now is a good time to address them and clean up your record. Ex-felons are typically barred from this type of work.

Additional Requirements for Probation Officers

For most job opportunities, you must be at least twenty-one years old, and for some federal positions, you may not be over thirty-seven. Increasingly employers seem to favor those with training in computers and information technology. As court systems around the country continue to go paperless, you can expect IT skills to become even more important in the future.




The following colleges offer programs that can help you become qualified for a Probation Officer career:
  University of Phoenix

With convenient class locations as well as online learning, University of Phoenix makes quality higher education highly accessible. Whether you’re seeking an associate's, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, we can help you reach your goal while you work—and much sooner than you might expect.

  Keiser University eCampus Online

Keiser University eCampus Online offers degrees in fields that are in high demand and provides job placement assistance to all its students and alumni. We research trends for growing fields and tailor our curriculum to prepare students for entry and advancement to rewarding careers.

  University of Phoenix

Founded in 1976, University of Phoenix is dedicated to meeting the needs of working students. Now the largest private university in North America, we have more than 190 campuses and learning centers as well as a flexible online learning format available in most countries around the world. Regardless of where or how you attend class, you'll receive a real-world education with real value.

  Virginia College

Ready to earn a well-respected degree? Need a flexible schedule? Virginia College can help. Become an office superstar with our business program. Or make a difference in your community by earning a paralegal or Criminal Justice degree. Can't get enough of your computer? Try our programs in Information Systems or Cybersecurity. No matter what program you choose, you'll get the top-quality education you deserve with an associate's, bachelor's or master's degree from Virginia College.

  Kaplan University

Kaplan University's accredited online degree programs allow you to earn the degree you need and advance your career without missing a day of work.

  American InterContinental University Online

At American InterContinental University, our educational approach is designed around the realities and challenges of today's busy lifestyles, and for over forty years, we have been helping students gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to pursue the next level of their professional development.



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