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The Global Insight

What qualifications do you need to become a prison guard?

Author

James Olson

Updated on April 03, 2026

You do not need qualifications to apply directly to be a prison officer. Personal qualities are more important. You’ll need to take an online test to check your judgement and your number skills.

What GCSEs do you need to be a prison guard?

To do this apprenticeship, you’ll need: GCSEs grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, in English and maths.

Is it hard to become a prison guard?

Being a correctional officer can be a trying and difficult job, but it’s a necessary one that also offers the rewards that come with maintaining order and offering protection.

What kind of training do prison guards have?

The pre-employment training of correctional officers in most states is modeled after law enforcement training and combines in-depth classroom-based instruction in corrections principles, concepts and procedures with practical skills related to defensive tactics, subduing violent inmates and riot control.

How long is Prison Officer Training?

12 weeks
Prison officer training is 12 weeks in duration; 10 weeks of that is the POELT course and weeks 1 and 12 are hosted by the home establishment.

How much does a prison guard make UK?

In many locations in England and Wales you can earn £22,843 (39-hour week). In Scotland, the starting salary for operations prison officer recruits is £20,004 rising to £26,903 over a four-year period.

Is prison guard a good job?

I truly can’t complain about the career itself—it pays well and the benefits are good. No correctional officer is becoming a millionaire, but if you’re disciplined about finances, you can live a comfortable life. However, this job can take a huge toll on a person in unexpected ways.

Do prison guards make good money?

Prison staff members maintain order, safety and security in local, state and federal correctional facilities. Prison guard jobs with the federal government offer the highest wages. In May 2019, these positions paid an average hourly wage of $27.82, or $57,870 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

What kind of Education do you need to be a prison guard?

Jailers and correctional officers earned $47,410 as a median annual wage in 2020, according to the BLS. Prison guard positions at state and local facilities only require a high school education, although some college education is preferred. Federal prisons usually require a bachelor’s degree.

What’s the average salary of a prison guard?

Jailers and correctional officers earned $44,330 as a median annual wage in 2018, according to the BLS. Prison guard positions at state and local facilities only require a high school education, although some college education is preferred.

How old do you have to be to become a prison officer?

To become a prison officer, you will need to: be at least 18 years old; have the right to work in the UK; be reasonably fit and have good eyesight; If you are not a UK or EU citizen, you will need a leave to remain entitlement of approximately 30 months or more at the point you apply.

What kind of Education do you need to be a corrections officer?

Corrections officers who aspire to work for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, for example, must earn a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and have an additional three years of related professional experience.