Age ain’t nothing but a number! Well, at least that’s what the song says, but seriously, can you be too old to become a correctional officer?
While it’s true that there are minimum requirements to becoming a correctional officer, but rarely if ever do you see any mention to a persons age as a disqualifier from being hired. Quite the opposite, you will normally see a minimum age requirement anywhere from age 18-21 years of age.
So if there is a minimum age to becoming a correctional officer, is there a maximum age cut-off for a career in corrections?
Well, as you may know, the requirements vary from state to state, and federal and private prison facilities will also have their own set of rules and regulations that they follow, so for the latest information check out the correctional officer requirements for your particular state on our homepage for contact information of the department of corrections in your area.
To give you an example of what could be considered the maximum age limit for your initial appointment as correctional officer, in New York bill S4261-2011 set to establish a maximum age limit for New York City correctional officers from being appointed to positions over the age of 35 years old.
For those seeking to become Federal Correctional Officers, the maximum age 36 years of age has been established in accordance to 5 U.S.C. 3307 for those seeking their initial appointment to a Bureau Of Prisons facility. If you are a “Qualified Preference Eligible Veteran”, verified by your SF-50 and other additional information, then the maximum age is then extended to 37 years of age.
So by this, we can gather that if you are in the age range of 35 to 37 years old and have not been previously appointed to any type of correctional officer position then your road to a correctional officer career may be a little bit tougher than most, but not impossible.
Experience and education can play a major role in if you get hired or not for a correctional officer job. Additionally, if you can meet the physical fitness requirements for the position at the guidelines set for your age then you may be eligible for an age waiver from your corrections department if it is offered and available.
Whatever you do, make an attempt to seek employment as a correctional officer no matter your age and background. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
I know that here in Texas (where I am an instructor at one of the 6 Regional Academies for TDCJ) there is no age limit on when to start. I have seen males come through at the age of 82 to start their career (and make it though) as well as those that are 20 and not make it. Uniformed staff starting out in this line of work over the age of 40 is not unheard of here. As long as they can pass the Physical Agility Test and complete the academy just like anyone else.
What about California do u know the age limit
Hi I live in California
Hi I live in California I’m 48 years so what is the cut off to be a correctional officer in California I already work for the state I work from Caltrans do you guys have problems with people that have disabilities like a literacy special testing
I am interested in becoming a correctional Officer i live in Irvington nj please help
I’m a retired veteran an was certified as a correctional officer in florida. An would like to become one here in the western new York area. How do i go about accomplishingredients this
I’m interested in becoming a correctional officer in Miami, Florida. I’m a female American my age is 47 years of age and I know I could easily pass the physical aspect of the test. Please advise me . Thank you.
I am 67 years old and have been in juvenile corrections for the past five years. My background is 30 years with a large law enforcement agency, four years teaching in a local school district, back into law enforcement for five years as a Chief of Police, then into my current profession. In between some of this I took up to a year off. I was a line staff officer for a year before being promoted to supervision. My philosophy has always been you don’t have to have stripes or bars to be a leader. At 67 I am still mentally and physically capable of performing any task assigned and still participate in annual physical fitness/defensive tactics training.How old is too old? You are only limited by what you allow others to dictate you may do. I plan to pull the plug at age 70. Good luck to those who possess the desire and drive in seeking their passions no matter your age.
Am in charlotte north Carolina and want to move over to Texas to be a correctional officer but I just turn 40.l came in from Africa as a sports and physical education instructor but who completed a soccer training course from the university of Leipzig Germany;so I really need an advise in regard to this job.thanks
I will love to become a correctional officer