Parole Officers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of parole officers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for parole officers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of parole officers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for parole officers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Parole Officers?
Do parole officers need a degree? What kind of experience do parole officers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for parole officers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Parole Officers
Jobs Postings for Parole Officers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 5,833 (58%)
- No Education Listed: 1,659 (17%)
- High School or GED: 1,561 (16%)
- Master's degree: 748 (7%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 186 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of parole officers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 58% of positions. In 17% of job listings no education level was listed and in 16% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Parole Officers
Jobs Postings for Parole Officers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 911 (26%)
- 2-3 Years: 1,492 (43%)
- 4-6 Years: 822 (24%)
- 7-9 Years: 38 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 197 (6%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for parole officers. In 43% of job postings for Parole Officers, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 26% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 24% of job postings for parole officers.
What Kind of Degree Do Parole Officers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for parole officers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 5 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective parole officers, and in 2021 a total of 118,236 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective parole officers.
Top Degree Programs for Parole Officers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Parole Officers (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Social Work. | 56,801 |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 46,381 |
| Criminology. | 10,904 |
| Corrections. | 4,039 |
| Juvenile Corrections. | 111 |
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Degree Options for Parole Officers
Maintain social order and earn credentials for a leadership role in police, corrections, security, or court administration.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Acquire specialized knowledge while developing a holistic view of the criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 6
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Tackle critical issues facing individuals and communities with advanced leadership and management skills ideally suited for a complex criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Parole Officers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by parole officers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for parole officers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Parole Officers
Based on 8,459 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Parole Officers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Probation | 5,778 | 68% |
| Social Work | 3,361 | 40% |
| Criminal Corrections | 2,767 | 33% |
| Case Management | 2,726 | 32% |
| Psychology | 2,594 | 31% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Parole Officers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation | 3,454 | 41% |
| Communications | 2,926 | 35% |
| Management | 2,711 | 32% |
| Writing | 1,610 | 19% |
| Report Writing | 1,488 | 18% |
Based on 8,459 job postings related to parole officers, probation was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 68% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for social work, criminal corrections, case management, psychology and law enforcement were also highly sought.
As for common skills, investigation was the most desired skill found in job postings for parole officers, followed by communications, management, writing, report writing and planning.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Probation | 5,778 | 68% |
| Social Work | 3,361 | 40% |
| Criminal Corrections | 2,767 | 33% |
| Case Management | 2,726 | 32% |
| Psychology | 2,594 | 31% |
| Law Enforcement | 2,035 | 24% |
| Sociology | 1,948 | 23% |
| Legal Hearings | 1,791 | 21% |
| Human Services | 1,659 | 20% |
| Mental Health | 1,549 | 18% |
| Evidence-Based Practice | 1,446 | 17% |
| Substance Abuse | 1,372 | 16% |
| Risk Analysis | 1,292 | 15% |
| Data Analysis | 1,102 | 13% |
| Juvenile Justice | 1,089 | 13% |
| Criminology | 1,074 | 13% |
| Behavioral Science | 828 | 10% |
| Crisis Intervention | 785 | 9% |
| Social Sciences | 727 | 9% |
| Rehabilitation | 674 | 8% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation | 3,454 | 41% |
| Communications | 2,926 | 35% |
| Management | 2,711 | 32% |
| Writing | 1,610 | 19% |
| Report Writing | 1,488 | 18% |
| Planning | 1,359 | 16% |
| Information Gathering | 1,247 | 15% |
| Operations | 1,140 | 13% |
| Multilingualism | 1,133 | 13% |
| Coordinating | 932 | 11% |
| Microsoft Office | 879 | 10% |
| Microsoft Excel | 844 | 10% |
| Problem Solving | 793 | 9% |
| Leadership | 754 | 9% |
| Microsoft Outlook | 702 | 8% |
| Accountability | 657 | 8% |
| Time Management | 654 | 8% |
| Research | 586 | 7% |
| Customer Service | 545 | 6% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 544 | 6% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about parole officers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for parole officers.
What do parole officers do?
How much do parole officers make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.