How to become a probation and parole officer in Massachusetts

Pay

No open Probation Officer posting on the Trial Court job site (trialcourtjobs.mass.gov) on the capture date and no official Trial Court salary chart found, so pay is not recorded. Parole (as opposed to probation) is supervised by the separate Massachusetts Parole Board, not covered here.

Source:[trialcourtjobs.mass.gov]

Pay for this work across Massachusetts

Federal survey figures for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists in Massachusetts, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree (a concentration in human services, behavioral sciences, or criminal justice is preferred) and two (2) years of related work experience. No education requirement to sit for the exam, but these minimums must be met at the time of application for appointment.
• Citizenship: Must verify right to work in the U.S. (Form I-9); must be a resident of Massachusetts to serve as a Judicial Branch employee
• Must pass the Probation Officer Entrance Exam (required by state law) to be eligible to apply
• Must pass a Statewide Structured Oral Interview
• Fingerprint-based background check before hire and at least once every five years
• Must complete the Probation Officer Academy; subject to a probationary period
• Ability to travel for community supervision/field work and to administer drug tests and install GPS equipment

Source:[mass.gov]

Hiring process

1. Register and pay the $100 fee for the Probation Officer Entrance Exam (fee waivers available)
2. Pass the exam
3. Apply for Probation Officer positions on the Trial Court job site
4. Statewide Structured Oral Interview
5. Fingerprint-based background check
6. Form I-9 after offer
7. Probation Officer Academy, then probationary period

Source:[mass.gov]

Entrance exam

Massachusetts Trial Court Probation Officer Entrance Exam. $100 fee; required by state law to be eligible for Probation Officer positions; run by the Office of Court Management. No exam date was scheduled on the capture date.[mass.gov]

Academy

3 weeks. Massachusetts Probation Service Probation Officer Academy; the Fall 2026 class began October 19 and is described as a three-week academy (graduation November 6).[mass.gov]

Pension and retirement

• Plan: Massachusetts State Employees' Retirement System (MSERS), Group 2
• Benefit formula: Age factor (from the c.32 §5(2)(a) Group 2 table, max 2.5%) × years of creditable service × highest 5-consecutive-year (or last 5 years) average regular compensation for members entering on/after April 2, 2012; capped at 80% of that average
• When you can retire: Group 2 superannuation retirement at age 55 (c.32 §5(1)(a)); at least 10 years of creditable service required for superannuation

Source:[malegislature.gov]