How to become a corrections officer in Ohio

Pay

OCSEA pay range 'CO': Step 1 $24.88/hr ($51,750) to Step 8 $32.73/hr ($68,078), annual figures as printed in the DAS table. Step timing not stated in the table.

Source:[dam.assets.ohio.gov]

Requirements

• Education: High school diploma or G.E.D.
• Pass the correction officer assessment (or have passed it within the past 24 months)
• Valid driver's license for transportation-section positions; CDL where commercial vehicles are driven
• Firearms certification and annual requalification (handgun and shotgun); annual unarmed self-defense recertification
• 365-day probationary period

Source:[dam.assets.ohio.gov]

Hiring process

1. Apply online for a posted ODRC Correction Officer vacancy
2. Pass the correction officer assessment
3. Hire, then complete department pre-service training and firearms course

Source:[dam.assets.ohio.gov]

Entrance exam

Correction officer assessment. Required for ODRC applicants unless passed within the past 24 months or previously certified as an ODRC correction officer.[dam.assets.ohio.gov]

Academy

Length not published. Class spec requires completing department-mandated pre-service training and firearms training; length not stated in an official source found.[dam.assets.ohio.gov]

Pension and retirement

• Plan: Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS), Traditional Pension Plan, Group C, State/Local division
• Benefit formula: 2.2% of FAS × first 35 years of service, plus 2.5% of FAS for each year over 35; FAS = average of five highest calendar years or last 60 months, whichever is greater; capped at 100% of FAS
• When you can retire: Unreduced: age 55 with 32 years, or age 67 with 5 years; reduced: age 57 with 25 years, or age 62 with 5 years
• Social Security: no, this job is not covered

New hires are Group C. ODRC correction officers are not in the OPERS law enforcement division (that applies to officers whose primary duty is enforcing the law); no official source found placing them there.

Source:[opers.org]