We receive a number of enquiries about becoming a Corrections Officer in the BC Public Service, specifically asking about the qualifications and how to apply for a position.
Corrections Officer opportunities, when available, are posted on our Employment Opportunities website. Currently we have a Corrections Officer position available for the Prince George Regional Corrections Centre. You can see the posting here.
The application process for Corrections Officers positions includes completing a BC Government Employment application and Lifestyle Questionnaire sent via email to the Corrections Recruiting Officer listed on the posting, as well as submitting your on line profile directly to the specific posting on our Employment Opportunities website.
Two of the basic requirements to be eligible for further consideration as a Corrections Officer are Level 1 Occupational First Aid Certification and Level 4 Language Proficiency Index (LPI) testing. If you plan to apply for Corrections Officer positions, you should arrange for these requirements now. Both the LPI and the First Aid will require registering for classes and waiting for test results, which may take several weeks depending on class availability. Information on the LPI exam, including schedule of available exam dates can be found here.
For a full list of Corrections Officer qualifications, more information on careers with BC Corrections including salary ranges and how to contact a BC Corrections Recruiting Officer, check out the Corrections micro site.
Still have questions? Contact one of our Career Advisors at 1-888-944-3327, Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Hello. Thank you for posting this helpful information on applying to be a Corrections Officer. I do have one remaining question.
The Lifestyle Questionnaire asks applicants to be honest and upfront about their life history. Being honest and open is important because it shows integrity. As we all know, nobody is perfect and everyone has made mistakes.
On the other hand, anything that is put onto the internet (including emails) cannot be considered secure.
The submission of this Lifestyle Questionnaire via the internet can make applicants vulnerable because they may have written sensitive details that were only intended for the hiring personnel.
Is there an alternative way to submitting the Lifestyle Questionnaire, other than through the internet?
Hello, Cameron. Thank you for your question regarding submitting the Lifestyle Questionnaire as part of the Correctional Officer screening process. Currently, we ask applicants to email their completed questionnaire to the recruiting officer at the centre to which they are applying. This is a single, individual’s government email address and is not a general email account with open access. While we do not have control over the security of the system sending the email, our government email servers are considered secure and any messages received are protected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
As you’ve stated, integrity is a key quality we look for in applicants. If an applicant has concerns about the content of the Lifestyle Questionnaire being intercepted through an unsecure sending system, they should contact the recruiting officer of the centre to which they’re applying. The recruiting officer is here to help applicants with our process and can address your specific concerns.
Thank you for your interest in BC Corrections, Adult Custody.