Career and Technical Certificate - Correctional Officer

• Leads to state or Organizational License or Certification: State Officer Certification Examination - Corrections
• Cost Associated with taking the exam:   $100 
•   Where to take the exam: Florida Department of Law Enforcement

This certificate program meets minimum education standards for correctional officers as required by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC). Correctional Officers are employed by state correctional institutions, city or county jails, and other correctional facilities that provide secure inmate supervision. Correctional Officers are responsible for providing care, custody, and control of inmates housed in these facilities. The Correctional Officer, Florida CMS program provides the student with an overview of the correctional system as well as basic correctional skills and procedures. This program will prepare the student to sit for the State Examination administered by FDLE. Individuals must be at least 19 years of age to sit for the State Exam.

Refer to the Career and Technical Certificates  landing page to find information about admission and  graduation. 

Admission to the Correctional Officer program is limited by special application and testing. For information on how to apply for this program contact the Public Safety Institute at (321) 433-5635. For testing information (Basic Abilities Test, BAT) contact the Brevard Police Testing and Selection Center at (321) 433-5638. This program is offered at the Melbourne Campus Public Safety Institute. 

Refer to the Career and Technical Certificates  overview page to find information about admission, graduation, testing, and other requirements. 

Entrance Requirements:

• Applicant must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Applicant must be a citizen of the United States.
• Applicant must not have been dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States.
• Applicant must not have been convicted of any felony, or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or false statement. Any person who, after July 1, 1981, pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, or is found guilty of a felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement, shall not be eligible for employment or appointment as an officer, not-withstanding suspension of sentence or withholding of adjudication.
• Applicant must take the Criminal Justice Basic Abilities Test (CJBAT) and achieve required scores.
• Applicant must have a physical examination prior to program entry. These forms are part of the application packet available at the Public Safety Institute.

Visit the program page for more information.

Certificate Requirements 

Course List

Code	Title	Clock Hours
Completion Group 1		224
CJK 0300	Introduction to Corrections
CJK 0305	Communications
CJK 0310	Officer Safety
CJK 0315	Facility and Equipment
CJK 0320	Intake and Release
CJK 0340	Officer Wellness and Physical Abilities
CJK 0051	Criminal Justice Defensive Tactics
Completion Group 2		196
CJK 0325	Supervising in a Correctional Facility
CJK 0330	Supervising Special Populations
CJK 0335	Responding to Incidents and Emergencies
CJK 0031	First Aid For Criminal Justice Officers
CJK 0040	Criminal Justice Firearms
Total Clock Hours		420

Learning Outcomes

1. Apply the concepts of safely interacting and handling inmates.   
   • Supports Core Ability: Communicate Effectively
2. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills when dealing with inmates.  
   • Supports Core Ability: Think Critically and Solve Problems
3. Demonstrate the proper techniques of fingerprinting.
   • Supports Core Ability: Communicate Effectively
4. Explain the elements of Florida Statute 776 as related to the use of force by Criminal Justice officers.
   • Supports Core Ability: Process Information