How to become a corrections officer in Kentucky
The Kentucky Department of Corrections hires state corrections officers under the title Correctional Officer. New officers start at $39,128 a year. You must be at least 20.
Pay
| Starting salary | $39,128 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | — |
| Scale effective | 2026-09-16 |
Source:[extranet.personnel.ky.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 20
- Education: High school graduate
- Valid driver's license
- 6-month initial probationary period
- Must be able to physically respond to emergencies and restrain inmates
Source:[personnel.ky.gov]
Academy
5 weeks, paid. Institutional Pre-Service Academy (IPSA): 5 weeks, 200 hours, plus 40 hours of orientation and at least 40 hours of supervised on-the-job training before independent assignment (2026 DOC training catalog).[corrections.ky.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (KPPA) - Kentucky Employees Retirement System (KERS) Hazardous, Tier 3 Hybrid Cash Balance Plan
- Benefit formula: Cash balance: member contributes 8% of creditable compensation (hazardous) plus a 7.5% employer pay credit, credited with 4% guaranteed base interest plus upside-sharing interest; at retirement the account balance is converted to a monthly life annuity by an actuarial factor
- When you can retire: Hazardous Tier 3: 25 years of service credit at any age, or age 60 with at least 60 months of service credit; no early/reduced retirement
- Social Security: yes, you also pay in
Tier 3 covers members whose participation began on or after January 1, 2014. KRS 61.592 classifies DOC institution positions with regular face-to-face inmate contact as hazardous. Total interest credited to KERS hazardous accounts for 2026 was 6.69%. A 2022 bill (HB 135) to return hazardous positions to a defined-benefit plan is not confirmed as enacted.
Source:[extranet.personnel.ky.gov]
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-23. Pay plans change; confirm with the employer before applying.