Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist Career Assessment
Supervising and supporting people on probation and parole
Welcome
Probation officers supervise people who are serving a sentence in the community instead of in prison. They check in on them, connect them to treatment and jobs, and report to the court.
This job mixes accountability and help. You will explore whether it fits you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist?
A probation officer meets regularly with people on probation or parole. They check on housing, work, treatment, and rules. They write pre-sentence investigations for judges and report back when someone slips. Correctional treatment specialists focus more on treatment planning and release planning. In North Dakota, adult parole and probation officers work for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation out of 17 district offices. Juvenile court officers work for the North Dakota Court System.
The Reality: Be clear-eyed about this one. North Dakota adult parole and probation officers are sworn peace officers. They carry firearms and must be licensed under North Dakota POST rules. Those rules bar anyone who has pled guilty to or been found guilty of any felony, and bar convictions involving moral turpitude, sexual offenses, domestic violence, violating a domestic violence protection order, or child abuse or neglect. Anyone barred from having a firearm is also barred. If that is your history, adult probation work is very likely closed to you, and it is fairer to know that now. Juvenile court officer jobs with the North Dakota Court System are not peace officer positions and the rules differ, so that door may still be open. The work itself is also hard: heavy caseloads, night and weekend calls, and people who relapse or run.
Your Responsibilities:
- Meet with people on probation or parole
- Check on housing, work, and treatment
- Do drug and alcohol testing
- Write pre-sentence investigations for judges
- Use risk assessment tools to plan supervision
- Testify in court
- Make home and job site visits
- Write detailed case reports
You hold people accountable and help them build a life that works.
A Day in the Life
7:30 AM — Check overnight reports and messages.
8:00 AM — Office check-ins with three people on your caseload.
10:00 AM — Drive to a home visit in the next county.
11:30 AM — Drug test and a talk about a missed treatment appointment.
12:30 PM — Lunch on the road.
1:30 PM — Court. Testify on a violation hearing.
3:00 PM — Write a pre-sentence investigation report.
4:30 PM — Return calls from employers and treatment providers.
Half people work, half driving and reports.
Training in North Dakota
A four-year degree, plus an academy for adult officers. Most probation officer jobs ask for a bachelor's degree in a human behavior field: criminal justice, social work, psychology, sociology, or human services. Adult parole and probation officers then complete the North Dakota Law Enforcement Basic Training Course, about 12 weeks.
Training Pathways:
- Bachelor's degree (4 years): Criminal justice, social work, psychology, or a related field, then apply.
- Two years then transfer: Start with an associate degree close to home, then finish a bachelor's.
- Juvenile court officer route: The ND Court System requires a bachelor's degree, and says other education, training, or experience may be substituted.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- Bismarck State College (Bismarck) — Criminal Justice AA transfer pathway and a technical Criminal Justice program, on campus or online (bismarckstate.edu)
- United Tribes Technical College (Bismarck) — Criminal Justice AS and BS; applicants must be 18, have a valid driver's license, and provide a criminal background check (uttc.edu)
- Dickinson State University (Dickinson) — Psychology and Criminal Justice degree (dickinsonstate.edu)
- University of North Dakota (Grand Forks) — CSWE-accredited BSSW, another accepted human behavior degree (und.edu)
- Minot State University (Minot) — CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work (minotstateu.edu)
Before You Start: High school diploma or GED to start college. A valid driver's license. For adult officer jobs, you must be able to pass a peace officer background investigation plus medical and psychological exams.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like training, tools, work boots, or exam fees. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Registered apprenticeships let you earn a paycheck while you learn — see jobsnd.com/job-seeker/apprenticeships for ND programs.
Certification & Licensing
Adult officers must hold a North Dakota peace officer license. North Dakota adult parole and probation officers are licensed peace officers under the ND POST Board (post.nd.gov). Juvenile court officers with the ND Court System are not, so their requirements differ.
What ND Peace Officer Licensing Requires:
- No felony — a guilty plea, no contest plea, or finding of guilt on any felony disqualifies you
- No disqualifying misdemeanors — moral turpitude, sexual offenses, domestic violence, violating a domestic violence protection order, or child abuse or neglect
- Firearm eligibility — you cannot be prohibited from possessing a firearm
- Background, medical, and psychological exams — state and federal criminal background investigation, plus medical and psychological evaluations
- Academy — the ND Law Enforcement Basic Training Course, about 12 weeks (roughly 440 hours)
- Continuing education — 60 approved hours every three years to stay licensed
The Exams: Academy coursework, a use of force exam, and sidearm qualification.
Cost: Employers usually pay for the academy and licensing when they hire you. College costs are separate.
Keeping It Current: Peace officer licenses require 60 hours of approved training every three years.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Probation Officer Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $24.61–$27.69/hour ($51,200–$57,590/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $31.32/hour ($65,140/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $34.93–$38.62/hour ($72,650–$80,330/year)
What that means: North Dakota starting pay is above the national 10th percentile, but top-end pay here is lower than in big states. These are public jobs with state health insurance and a pension.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 200 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 200 (about 2% decline). Expect about 20 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 3% growth — about average.
Outlook: Steady but small. About 20 openings a year in North Dakota. The number of jobs is expected to hold about flat, so most openings come from people retiring or moving on.
Who Hires in ND: North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (17 district offices statewide), the North Dakota Court System juvenile services, tribal courts, and some county programs.
Work Setting: Offices, homes, job sites, jails, and courtrooms. Long drives between towns. Some evening and weekend work. Winter driving is part of the job.
Physical Demands: Medium. Mostly driving, walking, and standing. Adult officers must meet medical and physical standards and carry a firearm.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 21-1092); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Parole and Probation Officer — Supervise adults in the community.
Path 2: Juvenile Court Officer — Work with youth through the courts.
Path 3: Correctional Treatment Specialist — Focus on treatment and release planning.
Path 4: Specialty Court Officer — Work with drug court or mental health court teams.
Path 5: Supervisor — Lead a district office team.
Path 6: Regional or Program Manager — Manage supervision programs statewide.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- You can be the reason someone stays out
- Solid public pay and benefits
- Every day is different
- Real authority and responsibility
- Training is paid for
- Work in every part of the state
What's Hard:
- Strict background rules, especially for adult officer jobs
- Heavy caseloads
- Safety risks on home visits
- Long rural drives in winter
- People relapse and it hurts
- Only about 20 openings a year
Be Honest: This is the hardest one to be honest about. If you have a felony conviction, or a conviction for domestic violence, a sexual offense, or child abuse or neglect, North Dakota peace officer rules will almost certainly keep you out of adult probation work. Juvenile court officer jobs follow different rules and may still be possible. Ask the ND POST Board and the hiring agency directly about your own record before you enroll in school. Beyond that, ask yourself: can you be firm and caring at the same time? Can you handle it when someone you worked hard for goes back to prison?