How to become a probation and parole officer in Alabama
The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles hires state probation and parole officers under the title Probation and Parole Officer, Trainee (class 60899). New probation and parole officers start at $42,094 a year, rising to $70,392. You must be at least 21.
Pay
| Starting salary | $42,094 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $70,392 |
| Scale effective | 2026-10-21 |
State Personnel announcement: $1,753.90-$2,933.00 semi-monthly, printed as $42,093.60-$70,392.00 annually. Step timing not stated. Officers supervise both court probationers and parolees statewide.
Source:[governmentjobs.com]
Pay for this work across Alabama
Federal survey figures for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists in Alabama, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 1,080 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $42,300 |
| Median pay | $61,050 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $84,270 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 21
- Education: High school diploma or GED. Applicants must also submit one of: a passing Basic Ability Test (BAT / ACT WorkKeys) certificate for law enforcement officers, proof of an associate's degree or higher from an accredited college, or an APOSTC certification number (APOSTC correctional officer certification does not exempt from the BAT).
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen at time of appointment
- Valid driver's license at time of appointment
- Successful background investigation
- Meet Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training (APOSTC) minimum standards during probation: 90-second obstacle course (push vehicle 15 ft, climb 6-ft wall/fence, crawl through window, balance beam, drag 165-lb dummy 15 ft), 22 push-ups in 60 seconds, 25 sit-ups in 60 seconds, 1.5-mile run in 15:28
- Law enforcement position: officers carry a firearm
Source:[governmentjobs.com]
Hiring process
- Apply online to the State Personnel Department continuous announcement with BAT certificate, associate's degree proof, or APOSTC number
- Training-and-experience evaluation ranks applicants on the eligible list (100% of score)
- Pre-agility / ability physical test as part of the Bureau's initial interview and selection process (unless APOSTC certified)
- Interview
- Background investigation
- Appointment, then 13-week law enforcement academy within six months if not already certified
Source:[paroles.alabama.gov]
Entrance exam
Basic Ability Test (BAT) for Law Enforcement Officers (ACT WorkKeys). Required by APOSTC; waived for applicants with an associate's degree or higher or an existing APOSTC law enforcement certification. The eligible list itself is scored on training and experience, not a written test.[governmentjobs.com]
Academy
13 weeks. Non-certified hires must attend a 13-week law enforcement academy within six months of appointment to become APOSTC certified.[paroles.alabama.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Employees' Retirement System of Alabama (ERS), Retirement Systems of Alabama — Tier 2
- Benefit formula: Average final salary (highest 5 of last 10 years) × years and months of service × benefit factor .0165
- When you can retire: Tier 2: age 62 with at least 10 years of creditable service; age 56 with 10 years for full-time certified firefighters, law enforcement officers and correctional officers (FLC)
New hires (on/after Jan 1, 2013) are Tier 2. Regular members contribute 6.0%; full-time certified FLC members 7.0%. No RSA source found explicitly classing probation and parole officers as FLC, although the job requires APOSTC law enforcement certification. Source is RSA's 'Understanding Your Retirement' presentation.
Source:[rsa-al.gov]