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Hiring Process

The Department of Corrections (DOC) employs over 8,900 staff in a multitude of occupational fields inside and outside of prison facilities (pdf) across Washington State (pdf). Below are summaries of the hiring processes at the Department:

The first step is applying online. Get started now! For helpful hints during the job seeking process and instructions on how to apply for jobs at DOC, visit the How to Apply webpage.

General Hiring Process Overview

general hiring process overview with multiple phases which starts with applying online!

Click image for larger version.

Phase 1

  • Minimum Qualifications Screening – Once we receive your application, we'll screen for the minimum required qualifications based on your responses to the supplemental questions.
  • Application Review – Application materials will be assessed in order to determine top candidates.

Phase 2

  • Interviews – Typically, you'll interview with a panel of at least three current Department staff. You’ll be provided with further details about the position you’ve applied for and information about the division and agency as a whole. You’ll have the opportunity to cover things like your employment history, accomplishments, and qualifications. You’ll also be asked some technical skills questions related to the job and situational and behavioral based questions to assess your aptitude for corrections. If time permits, you may be given a tour of the office you've applied to.

Phase 3

  • Reference Checks – If you are a top candidate after the interviews, we'll contact both current and former supervisors and/or professional associates to gauge your past performance in a professional work environment. This is a policy requirement, so please be prepared to provide at least 3 professional references.
  • Criminal History Check – If you are a top candidate, you will have a criminal history check completed.

Phase 4

  • Conditional Offer (if applicable) – If you have successfully completed all of the previous steps, and the position you’ve applied for requires a pre-employment drug screening, you will be offered a position contingent upon the pre-employment drug screening and Appointing Authority approval.

Final Steps

  • The results of all completed assessment steps will be presented to the hiring authority for a final determination. The top candidate(s) will be officially offered an opportunity for a rewarding career with the Washington State Department of Corrections. On your first day, you can expect a standard orientation, paper work, online training and a tour.
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Correctional Officer Hiring Process Overview

The Department of Corrections employs over 3,000 correctional officers in 11 prison facilities throughout the state. The first step to becoming a Correctional Officer is to apply online! Search for current opportunities at jobs.doc.wa.gov using the keyword: "CO1".

Phase 1

  • Qualifications Screening – Once we receive your application, we will conduct an initial screening to ensure you meet the minimum required qualifications. In cases where there are a large number of applicants, your responses to the Supplemental Questions may be used for additional screening in order to narrow down the first-round candidate pool.
  • Invitation to Hiring Event – During the Correctional Officer Hiring Event you will be given a brief presentation about DOC, the facility you've applied to, along with further details about the job. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to interview for the position.

Phase 2

  • Hiring Event – The Hiring Event interviews are conducted by a panel of facility staff and local Human Resource staff. They will ask questions in regards to your experience and employment history, as well as behavioral and competency based questions intended to assess your aptitude for working in a corrections environment.
  • Professional Reference Checks – If you are a top candidate after the interviews, we will contact both current and former supervisors and/or professional associates to gauge your performance in a professional work environment. This is a requirement, so please be prepared to provide at least three (3) Professional References*, to include current contact phone number and email addresses.

    • * A Professional Reference is defined as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies. If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates.

  • Criminal History Check – Candidates who are successful during the interviews will be subject to a background/criminal history check. This is needed to obtain clearance on facility grounds, if hired. During the Hiring Event, you will be asked to complete the forms necessary to conduct a criminal history.

Phase 3

  • The Conditional Job Offer – If you have successfully completed all the previous steps, you will receive a conditional offer of employment, contingent upon successfully completing several required activities, including a pre-employment drug screen, a Respiratory Medical Questionnaire, and psychological interview.
  • Pre-Employment Drug Screening – Candidates who have advanced to the third phase of the selection process will be required to complete a pre-employment drug screen.
  • Psychological Battery – The Psychological Battery is a series of three (3) exams. The results from these exams will be reviewed later by one of our Staff Psychologists. The psychological battery is intended to ensure that you have the mental conditioning necessary to succeed as a Correctional Officer. The exam will be virtual and conducted within 60 days of hire.
  • Psychological Interview – In the last phase of the selection process, candidates attend a pre-scheduled interview with one of our Staff Psychologist. During this 1-hour meeting, the psychologist will review your responses from the psychological battery exams and ask additional behavior based and job-related questions to assess your psychological competencies and mental conditioning.
  • Respiratory Medical Questionnaire – Candidates who have advanced to the third phase of the selection process will be required to complete the respiratory medical questionnaire.

Phase 4

  • Correctional Worker Core Academy (CWC) – You must complete this 6-week academy.
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Community Corrections Officer Hiring Process Overview


Hiring Process Timeline
Apply online Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4
1-2 weeks 1-2 weeks 4-5+ weeks 1-2 weeks

This process is applicable to Community Corrections Division (CCD) and Reentry Division Community Corrections Officer (CCO) positions and CCD Corrections & Custody Officer (CO) Workcrew positions. If you have questions, contact the Recruiter listed at the bottom of the job posting.

Phase 1

  • Minimum Qualifications Screening – After the posting closes, your application is screened for the minimum required qualifications based on how you responded to the Supplemental Questionnaire. If you meet the minimum required qualifications and have attached all required documents, you will move forward to hiring manager review.
  • Hiring Manager Review – The hiring manager (HM) will assess your education, knowledge, skills, and abilities as it relates to the position to determine which top candidates will move forward to the interview process.
  • Invitation to Interview – Top candidates will receive an invitation to interview from the HM or Recruiter. Pre-hire paperwork, including the Authorization to Release Information form, will be sent out and must be completed prior to interviews. Note: References are contacted after the interview process.

Phase 2

  • Interviews – The selected top candidates will interview with a panel of at least three current Department staff and/or community stakeholders.
  • Criminal History and/or Personnel File Check – After interviews, if you are a selected to move forward, for external candidates, a criminal history/background check will be conducted. If you have current or previous service with the state of WA, a personnel file check will also be conducted.
  • Professional Reference Checks – We will contact your professional-level references to gauge your past performance in a professional work environment. Be prepared to provide at least three current and former supervisors and/or professional associates with a valid email and phone number for each. Our policy states:
    • "A professional reference is defined as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies. If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates."

Phase 3

  • Conditional Offer – After the HM reviews the results of the pre-hire checks and if they select you to move forward, and if you are required to go through the pre-employment process listed below, you will be presented a conditional offer of employment. A conditional offer is not a guarantee of employment and is contingent upon successfully completing all steps listed.
  • Pre-employment Drug Screen (external) – If you are an external candidate, you must take and pass a drug screen as a condition of employment. The drug screen will be at no cost to you and must be completed within the allotted timeframe.
  • Psychological Battery Exam – As a condition of employment, you must complete a series of psychological battery exams which are conducted online by a live host (proctor). The Battery Exam takes about five hours to complete and must be conducted on a laptop or computer with a camera in a private/uninterrupted location.
  • Psychological Evaluation/One-on-One Interview – The organization that manages our psychological exams will contact you to schedule the final one-on-one interview with one of their psychologists. During this one-hour meeting, the psychologist will review your responses from the psychological battery exams and ask additional behavior-based and job-related questions to assess your psychological competencies and mental conditioning.
  • Psychological Report – After your psychological exams and evaluation, the assigned psychologist will finalize the psychological report. This final step can take up to 3+ weeks to complete.

Phase 4

  • Appointing Authority (AA) and Regional Staff Psychologist Review – After the final psychological report has been completed, the AA and Regional Staff Psychologist will review the final psychological report and hire packet to determine if you meet all requirements.
  • Final Offer of Employment – If the AA approves the hire, you will be presented a final offer of employment from the HM.

Final Steps

  • Onboarding – On your first day, you can expect a standard tour and orientation, including completing new hire paperwork.
  • Training – Some of the training/certification you will be required to complete includes:
    • (Virtual) New Employee Orientation
    • Case Management Academy
    • Community Corrections Officer Academy (CCOA)
    • Use of Force Academy
    • CCD Firearms Academy
    • Oleoresin capsicum (OC) certification
    • For more information about some of the training listed above, click here: Training & Development
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