Correctional Officer Consent Agreement

Please review all of the information below regarding the application process for Correctional Officer (CO) with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) before you make a decision to apply. We want to ensure all candidates are well informed of some key factors including knowing how personal behavior or choices you have made, or will be making, may impact whether or not you are eligible to become a peace officer. To determine if you qualify for the position(s) in which you have interest, review the minimum qualifications. If you do not meet the minimum qualifications at the time you apply for a peace officer position, you will be disqualified.

Minimum Qualifications

The minimum qualifications for the Correctional Officer (CO) classification are as follows:

• Education: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade. Demonstrated by:
  • Possession of a high school diploma issued by a U.S. institution, or
  • Passing the California High School Proficiency test, or
  • Passing the General Education Development (GED) test meeting California high school graduation standards, or
  • Possession of a college degree (Associate of Arts or higher) from an accredited college or university.

Additional Requirements

• Be a citizen of the U.S. or legal permanent resident.
• Applicants for positions in this class are required to pass a drug screening test.
• Must be at least 20 years of age at time of application and 21 years of age at the time of appointment.
• History of law-abiding behavior.
• Felony Disqualification:
• Per Government Code Section 1029, any person convicted of a felony is disqualified from being employed as a peace officer if:
1. You have been convicted of a felony in California or any other state;
2. you have been convicted of any offense in any other state which would have been a felony if committed in California;
3. you have been charged with a felony and adjudged by a superior court to be mentally incompetent;
4. you have been adjudged addicted or in danger of becoming addicted to narcotics, convicted, and committed to a State institution.
• If you have been convicted of a felony, you may be allowed to participate in this examination if your conviction(s):
1. Has/have been sealed under Penal Code Section 851.7, 851.8, 1203.45, or Health and Safety Code Section 11361.5;
2. has/have been expunged or is/are expunge able pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 11361.5 regarding marijuana offenses;
3. was/were stipulated or designated to be a lesser included offense of marijuana possession under Health and Safety Code Section 11557 or 11366.
• Must be legally eligible to own, possess and have custody/control of any firearm or other weapon authorized by the CDCR.
• Must meet Physical and Mental suitability standards.

Selection Components Expectations

• Follow all directions given to you by Office of Peace Officer Selection staff.
• Read all e-mail and/or written notifications from the Office of Peace Officer Selection in their entirety.
• Arrive to all selection components, appointments and interviews on time. If you are late, you may be disqualified.
• Complete all required forms and documents legibly, thoroughly, truthfully and accurately. All answers are verified during the background investigation including, but not limited to work experience, supervisory experience, college credits, college degrees, military experience, criminal record and driving history.
• When being interviewed by a background investigator or psychological staff, wear business attire.

Selection Process

It is critical that you be prepared to follow all instructions and directions given to you throughout the selection process. The selection process components consist of:

• Written Test (Weighted 100%)
• Physical Fitness Test (PASS/ FAIL)
• Background Investigation (PASS/ FAIL)
  • Live Scan (Fingerprints)
  • Electronic Statement of Personal History (eSOPH)
• Psychological (PASS/ FAIL)
  • Written Examination
  • Oral Evaluation
• Vision Examination (PASS/ FAIL)
  • Acuity
  • Color
• Pre-Employment Medical (PASS/ FAIL)

Please review the examination bulletin and/or the CDCR website for a description of each selection component.

All selection components must be completed and approved prior to attending the Basic Correctional Officer Academy.

Failure to appear for any scheduled component and/or provide required documents without contacting OPOS will result in your elimination from the selection process.

Method of Communication

The Office of Peace Officer Selection's primary method of communication is via e-mail. Once you apply for a peace officer position you should check the e-mail address you provide during the application process on a frequent basis. It is also advised, that you review your email inbox, spam, and junk e-mail to avoid missing scheduling notices for your selection components. If at any time during the selection process your name, address, phone number, or e-mail address changes you must complete a change of information form as soon as possible and submit it to the selection center you are assigned to.

Please ensure the following:

1. Your email in-box is not full and you check it daily for correspondence from OPOS.
2. Your email address is current and is working at all times.
3. Do not screen out emails from CDCR by using any computer program intended to "organize" email boxes, and/or eliminate "email overload."
4. Add the cdcr.ca.gov domain to your safe sender list. Check your spam email folder to ensure CDCR emails don't go into Spam. This can be done by going into spam defaults and making sure all messages are not automatically blocked.

Social Security Number (SSN) instructions:

Your SSN is voluntary on the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) page; however, failure to provide your SSN on the Exam Application page will result in your application not being processed.

NOTE: Your U.S. Social Security number is required to match your record with all required official documents such as (transcripts, test scores, and future background checks).

Basic Correctional Officer Academy (BCOA)

• Candidates receiving and accepting assignments as COs must complete a 13-week, comprehensive training program at the BCOA located in Galt, a suburb of Sacramento, California.
• Candidates are encouraged to refresh/develop their analytical, writing and memory retention skills; maintain their physical fitness; and take a weapons course prior to reporting to the BCOA.
• Upon successful completion of the BCOA, COs report directly to their assigned institution/facility.
• Failure to pass the BCOA will result in rejection during probation from the CO classification.