Hiring process - Correctional officer - Before you apply

Essential Qualifications

1. Education: A secondary school diploma or a satisfactory score on the Public Service Commission test approved as an alternative to a secondary school diploma, or successful completion of a provincially/territorially approved secondary school equivalency.
2. Experience: Direct interaction with individuals in an education, work and/or volunteer environment.
3. Other: Obtain and maintain a valid Standard First Aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) 'Level C' with automated external defibrillator (AED) certificate from a qualified provider approved by any province/territory in Canada, and in accordance with Part XVI of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.

Conditions of Employment

Conditions of employment are requirements that must be met prior to being appointed to a Correctional Officer position. These conditions of employment, which must also be maintained throughout employment, are:

1. Possession of a valid unrestricted driver's licence that conforms to provincial or territorial requirements. For positions in Quebec, candidates must possess a Class 4A driver's licence (Emergency Vehicle) granted by the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ)
2. Meet the medical requirements as assessed by Health Canada in accordance with Treasury Board.
3. Meet psychological requirements as determined by Correctional Service Canada.

Security and Reliability

• Reliability Status
• Candidates will be required to be fingerprinted.

Language testing

• Candidates who indicate an interest in bilingual positions will be required to undertake the Public Service Commission Second Language Evaluation Testing in their second official language.
• Candidates who indicate an interest in unilingual positions and who are evaluated during the interview in the other official language will be evaluated by CSC in order to verify ability to work in the official language of the position.

Salary, Pensions, and Benefits

• Rates of pay for a Correctional Officer (CX-1) can be found on the Treasury Board of Canada Web site: Rates of Pay for the Public Service of Canada
• Public Service Health Care Plan
• Public Service Dental Care Plan
• Pensions and Benefits, including Operational Service Provisions (Operational Service Provisions are special retirement benefits that may be payable to pension plan members who have actual or deemed operational service with CSC, allowing for a provision to retire at age 50.)

Work environment

CSC's operating environment can present some complex challenges. This includes interaction with an offender population that may have extensive histories of violence and violent crimes; previous convictions; affiliations with gangs and organized crime; higher rates of infectious diseases; serious substance abuse histories; and serious mental health disorders.

Correctional Officers:

• will be required to work shifts, some weekends, and some statutory holidays.
• may be required to work overtime.
• are required to wear a uniform while on duty.

Future career paths

Correctional Officer positions are considered entry level; however, many people have gone on to pursue fulfilling careers, including:

• Drug Detector Dog Handler
• Correctional Program Facilitator
• Correctional Manager
• Parole Officer  (University degree required)