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Correctional Officer, Correctional Worker, Law Enforcement Officer, Officer
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in copying to prepare admission, program, release, transfer and other reports
Interest in supervising prisoners during work assignments, meals and recreation periods, and in patrolling assigned areas and reporting any problems to supervisors; may supervise and co-ordinate work of other correctional service officers
Interest in escorting prisoners in transit and during temporary leaves
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Federal and provincial correctional centres house individuals who have been:
Whether an individual is assigned to a federal or provincial correctional centre depends on their situation. For example, those who have been sentenced to 2 years less a day stay at provincial facilities, while those with longer sentences stay at federal facilities.
Correctional peace officers work at federal or provincial correctional centres to maintain a safe and secure environment for the individuals staying there. They also ensure the safety of centre staff and the public. Their duties vary depending on the correctional institution and the programs offered.
Correctional peace officers enforce laws, regulations, policies, and rules to maintain a safe environment in the facility. They:
Correctional peace officers also contribute to a client’s casework to help a client move towards rehabilitation. They:
They may also escort clients to other institutions, courtrooms, hospitals, and worksites.
Correctional peace officers work both indoors and outdoors. They are on their feet most of the time. They work shifts, which may include night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
The work can be unpredictable and potentially hostile. Correctional peace officers must always be on the alert for threats to the security of the facility and the safety of those in it. These threats may include drugs, weapons, other banned items, and outbreaks of violence.
Provincial correctional peace officers must be able to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). They must be clean-shaven where the face piece of the equipment seals to the skin of the face.
Federal correctional institutions have different security levels such as minimum-security, medium-security, maximum-security, and multilevel. At federal medium- and maximum-security institutions and on escorts, correctional peace officers carry firearms.
Correctional peace officers need:
Correctional peace officers must be able to work within a clear policy framework with distinct rules and guidelines.
Correctional peace officers must have a high school diploma plus 2 years of relevant experience. Employers may consider equivalencies such as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and vice versa.
Employers prefer post-secondary education in a related area. This could include a degree or diploma in:
Volunteer experience with people in crisis, being multilingual, or having a multicultural background are strong assets.
Correctional peace officers also must:
Besides the above, different employers have additional requirements.
Those working for the Government of Alberta in youth centres need a current Certified Criminal Records Check and a Vulnerable Sector Check. Experience working with youth is an asset. All provincial correctional peace officers complete correctional officer basic training in their first year of work, after getting hired.
Those working for the Government of Canada need to pass aptitude and psychological exams. Interviewers assess applicants’ abilities, skills, and personal suitability. Those who qualify are invited to attend the Correctional Service Canada Correctional Training Program (CTP). They must successfully complete the CTP to be hired.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Some correctional peace officers work in penitentiaries and women’s correctional centres. Extra training is required for women’s centres. Moving up to supervisory or other positions depends on education, experience, personal suitability, and training.
Government of Alberta institutions are located in Calgary, Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Peace River, and Red Deer. Other provincial correctional peace officers work in young offender centres.
Government of Canada penitentiaries are located in Bowden, Drumheller, Edmonton, Grande Cache, and Maskwacis. Other federal correctional peace officers work in:
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
In the 4422: Correctional service officers occupational group, 95.1% of people work in:
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 4422: Correctional service officers occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.7% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 58 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Correctional peace officer salaries in the Government of Alberta range from $ 53,523 to $73,032 (Source: Government of Alberta, 2023 estimates).
Correctional peace officer salaries in the Government of Canada range from $66,974 to $84,045 (Source: Government of Canada, 2022 estimates).
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $26.13 | $34.15 | $30.62 | $28.79 |
| Overall | $30.11 | $42.00 | $36.45 | $35.41 |
| Top | $32.05 | $42.86 | $37.69 | $35.66 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $74,023 |
|---|---|
| Public Administration | $74,023 |
Correctional Service Canada website: www.csc-scc.gc.ca
Government of Alberta, Public Safety and Emergency Services website: www.alberta.ca/public-safety-and-emergency-services.aspx
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 21, 2023. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
