How To Become A Correctional Officer In Ontario (2024)

While there are a lot of places where you could get certified and gain on-the-job skills, it’s very common to become a Correctional Officer working in a detention facility. Also, if you have a college degree in Law, it’s one of the many possible career paths for you.

You must have completed the Ministry administered aptitude, cognitive ability, and behavioral tests hold a certification in Emergency First Aid to complete the required employment security screening process and training program required to qualify as a correctional officer in Ontario.

As a Correctional Officer, you will be responsible for maintaining Law and order within the facilities, supporting rehabilitation, counseling inmates, supervising the activity of inmates, inspecting and maintaining safety within prison facilities.

How To Become A Correctional Officer In Ontario

You need to qualify for an operating license by completing the following steps:

1. You will need an Ontario Secondary School Graduation Diploma or equivalent certification.

2. You will need to complete your security guard training from a Ministry-approved training center either online or in-class in Ontario. The test is carried out at one of the Drive Test locations across Ontario.

3. You will need to complete First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training through a WSIB approved provider such as the Red Cross. You only need to pass the level one (emergency First Aid) training.

4. Pass a compulsory test issued by the Ministry. The test consists of 60 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) completed within 75 minutes. Take time to fully prepare because there are no limits on the number of test attempts.

Once you get the 62% pass rate, you can apply for your license online (through the security service in Ontario).

Please note that you need to have an Ontario testing completion number (TCN) from your training provider and a credit card for you to book a test online.

5. Complete the Fitness Test for Ontario Correctional Officer Applicants (FITCO) and the correctional officer pre-employment medical exam. You can only book a fitness examination through an accredited testing college, which requires you to pay a minimum of $70 per test, which goes directly to the college.

You should also note that if you are 45 years of age or older, you will need an OFT-09 Physicians Clearance document included in the credentials required for registration.

You also need to have a near-perfect criminal record.

6. Have a drivers’ license, and be able to drive 

In this profession, patience is a huge virtue as haste makes waste. You will be working with people undergoing disciplinary help to become better versions of themselves.

You should have a keen eye for detail, good judgment, a positive disposition, analytic skills, and self-discipline.

How Long Does It Take To Get Hired As A Correctional Officer In Ontario?

The main hurdle you have to overcome is The Correctional Training Program (CTP) at the CSC National Training Academy in Kingston, Ontario.

CTP has three stages:

• Stage 1, the online learning phase, requires four weeks to complete.
• Stage 2 is the Pre-session online assignments allocation and material provision phase, which requires two to four weeks to complete. 
• Stage 3 is the In-class training at the CSC National Training Academy, which is usually twelve to thirteen weeks long.

Putting all the weeks of training into account, It will take six to nine months for you to complete the recruitment process and become eligible to work. 

After you successfully pass the entire program, you will get an offer of employment from a pool of available jobs. You can also get up to $5,000 relocation assistance if your work location is far from your current address.

How Much Does A Correctional Officer In Ontario Make?

Generally, the pay rate for new correctional officers starts at $25.09 per hour and moves to a maximum of $29.50, plus benefits. The pay rate for experienced officers starts from $28 per hour, while the maximum pay is between $40 and $60 (this depends on the certifications, work record, level of expertise, and experience).

How Do I Pass A Correctional Interview In Ontario?

Before taking up the job as a correctional officer in Ontario, you need to pass an interview, which can be achieved through proper preparedness.

You need to prepare to answer some direct questions from the hiring team, such as your attitude towards prisoners, previous work experience, prevalent medical conditions, physical fitness, and general opinion about various life situations. If you also have in-depth knowledge about the Correction Officer Exam, you’re good to go.

Where Can I Work As a Correctional Officer In Ontario?

A correctional centre is a decent place to work, there are great benefits from working in such facilities. You sure will meet, interesting inmates and also have an opportunity to hear amazing life stories from people from different walks of life and how they wound up in crime.

You can apply for full-time or part-time work as a correctional officer in various disciplinary facilities across Ontario. Here are a few places you can consider:

1. Central North Correctional Centre – 1501 Fuller Avenue, Penetanguishene.

2. Central East Correctional Centre –

541 Highway 36, Lindsay.

3. Monteith Correctional Complex –

Junction Highways 11 and 577,

Monteith.

4. Maplehurst Correctional Complex –

661 Martin Street,

Milton. 

5. St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre – 1804 Highway 2 East

Brockville.

6. Ontario Correctional Institute – 109 McLaughlin Road, South

Brampton.

7. Vanier Centre for Women – 655 Martin Street, Box 1040

Milton.

8. Thunder Bay Correctional Centre –

Highway 61 South Thunder Bay.

9. Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre – 711 Exeter Road, London, Ontario.

10. Niagara Detention Centre – Highway 58, 1355 Uppers Lane,

Thorold. 

11. Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre – 165 Barton Street, East Hamilton.

12. Toronto South Detention Centre – 160 Horner Avenue, Etobicoke.

13. Toronto East Detention Centre – 55 Civic Road, Scarborough.

14. South West Detention Centre –

4819 8th Concession Road, Maidstone (Windsor).

15. Quinte Detention Centre – 89 Richmond Boulevard, Napanee.

16. Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre –

2244 Innes Road, Ottawa.

17. Thunder Bay Jail – 285 MacDougall Street, Thunder Bay.

18. Sudbury Jail – 181 Elm Street, West

Sudbury.

19. Stratford Jail –

30 St. Andrew Street, Stratford.

20. Sarnia Jail –

700 Christina Street, North Sarnia.

21. North Bay Jail –

2550 Trout Lake Road, North Bay.

22. Kenora Jail –

1430 River Street, Kenora.

23. Fort Frances Jail –

310 Nelson Street, Fort Frances.

24. Brockville Jail –

10 Wall Street, Brockville. 

25. Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre – 800 Great Northern Road, Sault Saint Marie.

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