How to become a probation and parole officer in Louisiana
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C), Division of Probation and Parole hires state probation and parole officers under the title Probation and Parole Officer 1 (Adult). New probation and parole officers start at $48,672 a year.
Pay
| Starting salary | $48,672 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | — |
| Scale effective | 2026-09-11 |
Starting rate $1,872 every two weeks × 26, from the state posting opened September 11, 2026.
Source:[governmentjobs.com]
Pay for this work across Louisiana
Federal survey figures for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists in Louisiana, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 980 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $44,230 |
| Median pay | $62,910 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $85,060 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Education: Any one of: three years of experience in corrections or law enforcement; three years of continuous active military duty; six years of full-time work experience in any field (30 semester hours of college = one year, up to four years); or a baccalaureate degree.
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen, or meets U.S. Naturalization and Immigration Service standards for employment
- No felony convictions and no misdemeanor domestic violence convictions
- Able and willing to carry firearms
- Not a candidate for or holder of political office
- Valid Louisiana driver's license
- Pass a physical assessment under Cooper Fitness Standards (1.5-mile run, sit-ups, push-ups; scores vary by age and gender)
- Pass a pre-hire assessment and a law enforcement suitability assessment
- Complete the POST academy and attain POST certification
Source:[governmentjobs.com]
Hiring process
- Apply for the Probation and Parole Officer 1/2/3-Adult posting on the State of Louisiana careers site (no Civil Service test score required)
- Application sent to the district office of interest
- Physical fitness assessment (Cooper standards) with physician form
- Criminal background check
- Interview with the district office
- Full physical
- Law enforcement suitability assessment
- Attend the P.O.S.T. academy in Baton Rouge
Source:[doc.la.gov]
Entrance exam
Academy
17 weeks, paid.[governmentjobs.com]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System (LASERS), Hazardous Duty Services Plan
- Benefit formula: 3.33% × years of service × average compensation (DPS&C describes it as 3.3% per year of service)
- When you can retire: 25 years of service at any age (DPS&C: may begin drawing at age 50); 12 years at age 55 or later; 20 years at any age actuarially reduced from age 55
- Social Security: no, this job is not covered
DPS&C classifies P&P officers as hazardous duty and says retirement is a pension, not a 401(k). Hazardous duty employees hired on or after January 1, 2011 are in the LASERS HAZ Plan; LASERS member positions do not pay into Social Security.
Source:[doc.la.gov]