How long does the training take?

Typically about four years for the degree, then a few months to a year of training on the job. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

Do you need a degree for this work?

Yes — a degree is the usual way in.

Where can you train for this work?

771 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

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Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists: pay, training and the programs that lead there

Community & social service · SOC 21-1092

$66,270US median pay, 2025

+3%Projected growth, 2025–35

7,900Openings per year

DegreeUsual way in

How you get in

A degree is the usual way in.

Bachelor's degree
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Work in: probation officers and correctional treatment specialists

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Social Work	CIP 44.0701	771

See the 771 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does the training take?: Typically about four years for the degree, then a few months to a year of training on the job. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do probation officers and correctional treatment specialists make?: The US median is $66,270 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree for this work?: Yes — a degree is the usual way in.
Where can you train for this work?: 771 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

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