Across Fulton County and the State of Georgia a parole officer has never been seriously injured on the job. This has not come by chance, and is a testament to the quality of training and the stringent selection process used to fill parole officer jobs in the state.
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Fulton County encompasses most of the metropolitan area of Atlanta, as well as the cities of:
- Alpharetta
- Johns Creek
- Roswell
- Sandy Springs
As of May of 2012 there were 1,610 people in the greater Atlanta area of Fulton County employed in as parole officers, earning an average annual salary of $36,850.
Education for Parole Officer Careers
A bachelor’s degree in any field is required to be a parole officer in Fulton County. However, the most applicable majors are in social work, criminal justice, psychology, and other behavioral sciences. The State also requires candidates who have not taken and passed the Georgia Criminal Justice Test to have undergone some form of testing and to have received certain minimum scores in at least one of the following:
- ACT: Math 16, Verbal 18
- SAT: Math 400, Verbal 430
- CPE: Math 75, English 75, Reading 75
- ASSETT: Writing 35, Reading 38
- COMPASS: Writing 32, Reading 70
Candidates interested in becoming parole officers in Fulton County receive preference if they can meet any of the following qualifications:
- Master’s or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice
- At least one year of experience in law enforcement
- Fluency in Asian dialects or Spanish
Making a Successful Application
Fulton County may ask for a basic state application to be submitted online, by mail, or by email. In any case this will be detailed in vacant jobs postings, which can be found on the state’s employment webpage. The application – the first step in the process for those interested in learning how to become a parole officer – should be completed in full, including the job title and announcement number. Candidates must also attach official, certified copies of their relevant test scores.
Before applying candidates should make sure they can meet the minimum requirements for parole officer jobs in Fulton County:
- At least 21 years old
- Able to be POST-certified
- Possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license
- Selective Service registration if male aged 21-25
Parole Officer Training
Located about 30 miles southeast of Atlanta and about 20 miles northwest of Macon, the city of Forsyth is the site of the academy where new parole officers across Georgia are trained. Officers must complete and graduate from the eight-week Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) basic law enforcement academy that offers instruction in areas such as:
- Investigation techniques
- Supervision procedures
- Defensive tactics and arrest procedures
- Handgun certification, which must be renewed twice a year
For every additional year of their careers, Fulton County parole officers must complete at least 20 hours of annual continuing education.