This is a good place to start if you are interested in how to become a probation officer. In our probation officer requirements and training page we’ve already covered the specifics of the criteria you will have want to meet before applying for the position of a probation officer. However, I will quickly recover some of the qualifications you will need and then move onto some other information regarding becoming a probation officer officer.

Qualifications Overview

For starters you are going to want to be in tip top shape regarding your mental stability, and physical conditioning. You should also be at least 21 years of age when applying for the position. If you plan to work for the federal government as a federal probation officer you shouldn’t be older than 37. You should also possess a valid license for driving.

It is very important that you have not been convicted of a felony, as it will most likely make you ineligible to pursue a career in this field.

Exact qualifications vary from agency to agency and from state to state, but for many things follow many of the same general guidelines. In order to be well qualified you will want to possess a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Related fields include social work, criminal justice, and psychology.

Acquiring hands on experience before applying for the position will also be a huge plus on your resume. Previous work, or an internship where you were able to get experience working with probation, parole, corrections, counseling, substance abuse, or other related work experience is key.

You will also want to be proficient in the following areas: communicating with others, computer skills, and knowledge of the law. These particular skills will not only help you get hired as probation officer, but will also ensure once you’ve been hired that you will be successful in this position.

Finding Probation Officer Jobs and Parole Officer Jobs

Just like any other kind of work you will need to find job openings for probation officer jobs.

The quickest and easiest way to not only find a probation job, and also to get hired is to work an internship, apprenticeship or job in the field while finishing up your related degree or education. This will not only get you the needed work experience you’ll want, but it will also connect you with the right people that can help get you hired, or help you find an open position.

Another great resource for finding probation jobs is on the internet. The internet will not only provide you with job openings in your immediate area, but job openings around the country. Websites to check would be your local and state government (see my list below), there are also many other websites (non-governmental) which have state and federal job listings.

A question to ask yourself when looking for a job is: would you be willing to re-locate for a probation job? Knowing the answer to this question ahead of time will help you to narrow down jobs more quickly when searching online. If you are willing to relocate then you should search state websites other than your own in order to find job openings.

List Of State Websites You Can Check For Probation Officer Jobs and Parole Officer Jobs

Remember in addition to these state websites you can also check local government county websites for job openings.

Alabama: alabama.gov                 Nebraska: nebraska.gov    
Alaska: alaska.gov                   Nevada: nv.gov
Arizona: az.gov                      New Hampshire: nh.gov
Arkansas: arkansas.gov               New Jersey: nj.gov
California: ca.gov	             New Mexico: newmexico.gov
Colorado: colorado.gov               New York: ny.gov 
Connecticut: ct.gov                  North Carolina: ncgov.com
Delaware: delaware.gov               North Dakota: nd.gov
Florida: myflorida.com               Ohio: ohio.gov 
Georgia: georgia.gov                 Oklahoma: ok.gov
Hawaii: ehawaii.gov                  Oregon: oregon.gov
Idaho: idaho.gov                     Pennsylvania: pa.gov
Illinois: illinois.gov               Rhode Island: ri.gov
Indiana: indiana.gov                 South Carolina: sc.gov
Iowa: iowa.gov                       South Dakota: sd.gov
Kansas: kansas.gov                   Tennessee: tn.gov
Kentucky: kentucky.gov               Texas: texas.gov
Louisiana: louisiana.gov             Utah: utah.gov
Maine: maine.gov                     Vermont: vermont.gov
Maryland: maryland.gov               Virginia: virginia.gov
Massachusetts: mass.gov              Washington: wa.gov
Michigan: michigan.gov               West Virginia: wv.gov
Minnesota: state.mn.us               Wisconsin: wisconsin.gov
Mississippi: mississippi.gov         Wyoming: wyoming.gov
Missouri: mo.gov
Montana: mt.gov

Probation Officer Exam and Interview Preparation

Just like any other job you’ll want to prepare ahead of time; however for this job it is even more important because getting hired will require you to pass more than just an interview.

Not only will you need to meet the requirements to be considered for a probation officer position, but you will also need to pass a written examination. The written examination will test your knowledge of officer job responsibilities, writing skills, case studies, and reading comprehension. The actual number of question and time given to complete this exam will vary from region to region.

In addition to the written exam you will also need to pass a medical examination, physical examination, and psychological interview.

There are many books and courses that can be found online which can help you prepare for the probation officer examination.

This article should have provided you with some good information and resources regarding how to become a probation officer.