American Jail Association (AJA)

Certified Jail Officer (CJO)

Credential: Certified Jail Officer (CJO)
Credentialing Agency: American Jail Association (AJA)

Renewal Period: 4 years

The American Jail Association (AJA), Certified Jail Officer (CJO) is for individuals (sworn or civilian) who supervise incarcerated individuals in jails or detention centers and/or oversee those who supervise incarcerated individuals in jails or detention centers. CJO candidates must have been employed full time, for a minimum of one year, as a jail officer and agree to adhere to the AJA Code of Ethics. Candidates must pass a written exam.

More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.

Certified Jail Officer (CJO)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Attainability:    high

Eligibility Requirements (View Details)

  • Credential Prerequisite
  • Experience: 1 year
  • Education
  • Training
  • Membership
  • Other
  • Fee

Note: This credential may have multiple options for a Service member to meet eligibility requirements. Requirements listed here are based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.

Exam Requirements (View Details)

  • Exam
  • Written Exam
  • Oral Exam
  • Practical Exam
  • Performance Assessment

RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY

Renewal Period: 4 years

  • Continuing Education
  • Exam
  • Continuing Education OR Exam
  • Fee
  • Other

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

American Jail Association (AJA)

1135 Professional Court
Hagerstown, MD  21740-5853

Phone: (301) 790-3930

Fax: (301) 790-2941
Contact Page

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Candidates must have been employed full time, for a minimum of one year, as a jail officer.

The Certified Jail Officer (CJO) credential has the following other requirements:

Written Exam

  • Jail Operations (25%)
    • Inmate Supervision
    • Inmate Discipline
    • Inmate Grievances
    • Intake/Release
    • Housing
    • Investigation of Crimes
    • Inmate Workers
    • Inmate Hygiene
    • Facility Sanitation
    • Visitation
    • Other
  • Safety and Security (30%)
    • Use of Force
    • Legal Issues
    • Emergency Procedures
    • Inmate Classification
    • Contraband
    • Inmate Transportation
    • Suicide/Suicide Prevention
    • Searches
    • Key/Tool Control
    • Restraints
    • Facility
    • Other
  • Professional and Legal Concepts (20%)
    • Professionalism/Ethics
    • Leadership Tools
    • Physical Fitness/Stress Management
    • Confidentiality
    • Inmate Rights
    • Communications
    • Sexual Harassment/Sexual Misconduct
    • Administrative Investigations
    • Administrative Legal Issues
    • PREA
  • Special Population Issues (15%)
    • Gangs
    • Juveniles
    • LGBT
    • Substance Abusers
    • Mental Illness
    • Communicable Diseases and other Health-Related Issues
    • Disabilities and Special Needs
    • Foreign Nationals
    • Elderly
    • Special Housing
    • Cultural Diversity
    • Other
  • Support Services (10%)
    • Medical
    • Food
    • Commissary
    • Inmate Programs
    • Volunteers

Exam Preparation Resources

There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Certified Jail Officer (CJO) examination:

An additional resource is O'Reilly Learning Safari Books Online, a searchable digital library that provides online access to thousands of books, training videos and conference sessions. See the Educational Resources section on the Related Sites page here on COOL to learn how to get free access.

Testing Information

Testing for this credential is handled by Professional Testing Corporation (PTC). The test centers are located in the U.S.

To find out more, use the following links on the Professional Testing Corporation (PTC) website:

For more information on the American Jail Association (AJA) testing process, visit the agency website.

RECERTIFICATION

Certified Jail Officer (CJO)

Renewal Period: 4 years

The Certified Jail Officer (CJO) credential has the following recertification information:

  • The CJO certification is valid for four years. To be eligible for recertification, certification holders must be currently employed as a jail officer or have had no more than a two-year departure from such employment at the time of the certification expiration date AND must state an intention to re-enter the field of jail operations. To recertify, certification holders must accumulate 80 hours of correctional training and pay a recertification fee OR retake the exam and pay an exam fee.
  • Note: Marine Corps COOL will only pay recertification fees for the current billing cycle. Voucher requests for recertification fees must be submitted with proof of the current status of the certification (for example, a screen shot of your credentialing agency dashboard or a copy of a current fee receipt).

In Demand

This certification is considered in demand. The U.S. Department of Labor sponsored CareerOneStop's analysis indicates the certification is frequently mentioned in online job postings.

Click for external link to CareerOneStop's Credentials Center.

COOL Bucks

See your installation Education Service Officer for credential exam information and coordinating instructions.

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Some

Credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the military occupation (at least one critical task but less than 80%)

Most

Credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the military occupation (at least 80%)

Other

Credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will likely require additional education, training, or experience

CA Eligible

This certification is eligible for CA.

Star

Star credentials are MOS enhancing, as designated by the Proponent. MOS enhancing credentials are directly related to an MOS or ASI, are taught either partially or completely as part of a Program of Instruction (POI), and improves the MOS technical proficiency.

Skill Level

The Skill Level reflects the level, based on MOS training and/or experience, the Soldier should be the most prepared to successfully earn the credential. See the Table Legend for details about each level.

Navy Bucks

Credential voucher or reimbursement for credential exam, re-certification, or maintenance fee has been approved for payment through the Navy's Credential Program Office. To get a voucher request form, click Menu at the top of any page, then click "2 Complete Voucher and Apply" under Credentialing Steps.

CG Bucks

Current Coast Guard policy states all credentials listed on CG COOL may be reimbursed assuming the enlisted service member meets the eligibility requirements as outlined in the Coast Guard Voluntary Credentialing Program Policy (COMDTINST 1540.1(series))

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted E1 through E4

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E5 through E6

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E7 through E9

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted “A” School through E5

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E6 through E7

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E8 through E9

Early Career

1-6 years experience; Officer O1 through O2

Mid Career

6-12 years experience; Officer O3 through O5

Late Career

12+ years experience; Officer O6 and Above

GI Bill®

Reimbursement for exam fees has been approved for payment through the GI Bill.

Note: GI Bill approval data is updated quarterly. For the latest information, visit the WEAMS Licenses/Certifications Search page. Make sure to select "Both" in the LAC Category Type drop-down before searching.

Click to go to the external link for GI Bill licensing and certification information.

ANAB (ANSI)

This credential has been accredited by ANAB (ANSI).

Click to go to the external ANAB web site.

ICAC

This credential has been accredited by ICAC.

Click to go to the external ICAC web site.

ABSNC

This credential has been accredited by ABSNC.

Click to go to the external ABSNC web site.

NCCA

This credentialing program has been accredited by NCCA.

Click to go to the external NCCA web site.

IAS

This credential has been accredited by IAS.

Click to go to the external IAS web site.

Low

May be difficult to attain: minimum education requirement is a Bachelor's degree, and/or minimum experience is 10 or more years.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

Medium

Moderate ease of attainment: minimum education requirement = Associate's and/or prerequisite and/or minimum experience = more than 2 years and less than 10 years of experience.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

High

Highly attainable: minimum education requirement = HS or less and/or minimum experience = 2 years or less experience and no additional requirements.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

MOS is Military Occupational Specialty
ASI is Additional Skill Identifier
WOMOS is Warrant Officer Military Occupational Specialty
AOC is Area Of Concentration Officer
Functional Area
Branch

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Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job

Registered Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship program is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. Go to the Apprenticeship Finder and enter career path or location to find apprenticeship opportunities.

Click here for External link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Correctional Officers and Jailers
Click here for External link to: My Next Move salary info for Correctional Officers and Jailers

Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job

Click here for external link to: My Next Move for Veterans State Map for Correctional Officers and Jailers

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Updated: June 11, 2020
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