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The requirements for a probation officer, police officer, and a parole officer are very similar, but there are a few differences:
Education: In order to become a Probation officer you will need to have a four-year bachelor’s degree, similar to becoming a parole officer. This degree can be obtained from any accredited college or university. Some of the best online colleges have fantastic curriculums in social work, criminal justice, or psychology.
Training: Most probation officers are required to complete a minimum of one year full-time experience in human or allied services. This can be substituted if you have an advanced degree, but work experience in the field is very important to becoming a probation officer. Probation officer training is similar to that of a parole officer, but differs depending on the department. On the job training will usually include a six month to a year probationary period during which a new officer will work with a supervisor or experienced probation officer. Probation officers are subject to the same physical and psychological examinations, as well as written tests and oral interviews that parole officers are required to complete. In addition, most states require probation officers to pass certification exams when hired and at specified times throughout their career.
Other qualifications. As with parole officers, most agencies require applicants to be at least 21 years old and, for Federal employment, not older than 37 with a clean background and no criminal record. All candidates should be in good physical and emotional condition.
Recommended skills: Candidates must have a broad working knowledge about laws and regulations. Probation officers are responsible to work with the court system, lawyers, governmental agencies, judges, FBI agents and various other areas of the criminal justice industry. Probation officers and parole officers should both have excellent listening and interpersonal skills to work effectively with offenders.
Probation officers also spend a lot of time preparing reports, investigations and documents for the courts. These reports are used and considered very seriously by the court in analyzing the situation and therefore, probation officers need to have strong writing skills.
Officers must also be able to work well with others, have a commanding presence, a sense of leadership, and respect. Probation officers should be able to create relationships, have a genuine care and consideration for both the general public and their probationers. Like all law enforcement positions, probation officers need to have a desire to work for the greater good. They need to have the motivation and desire to serve their community and all the citizens within that area.
