How to become a corrections officer in Connecticut
The Connecticut Department of Correction hires state corrections officers under the title Correction Officer. New officers start at $56,400 a year, rising to $74,297. You must be at least 21.
Pay
| Starting salary | $56,400 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $74,297 |
| Scale effective | 2026-06-26 |
Correction Officer (class 2259) is pay plan CO-07 in the NP-4 36.25-hour plan, effective 06/26/2026: Step 1 $56,400 to Step 10 $74,297. New hires start as Correction Officer Cadets at $50,760/yr ($26.83/hr) for about the first ten weeks, then are promoted to Correction Officer. Steps per the NP-4 contract (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2029); time per step not stated in the pay plan.
Source:[portal.ct.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- May be required to hold a valid driver's license
- Thorough background investigation
- Physical fitness assessment
- Comprehensive medical exam with controlled-substance screening after conditional offer
Source:[portal.ct.gov]
Hiring process
- State competitive exam / application
- Correction Officer Physical Ability Test (COPAT)
- Interview
- COLLECT background screen
- Pre-employment physical with drug screen
- 12-week academy (as Correction Officer Cadet)
Source:[portal.ct.gov]
Entrance exam
Correction Officer Physical Ability Test (COPAT). Physical ability test; Correction Officer is a classified/competitive job class. Academy includes written exams cadets must pass.[portal.ct.gov]
Academy
12 weeks, paid. Academy is 12 weeks total; recruits are paid as Correction Officer Cadets during the first ten weeks.[portal.ct.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Connecticut State Employees Retirement System (SERS) — Tier IV, hazardous duty
- Benefit formula: 2.5% × average salary (five highest-paid years) × hazardous duty service for the first 20 years, plus 2% for the next 5 years, plus 2% for service beyond 25 years
- When you can retire: Hazardous duty normal retirement at any age with 25 years of hazardous duty service
Tier IV (first state service on/after July 31, 2017 per the SPD) is a hybrid: DB plan plus mandatory DC plan. Employee pays 5% to DB + extra 3% for hazardous duty (8%), plus 1% to DC (state matches 1%); up to 2% more may be required in low-return years.
Source:[osc.ct.gov]
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-23. Pay plans change; confirm with the employer before applying.