TEST ANNOUNCEMENT

NUMBER 2011-099

ISSUED October 19, 2011

REVISED March 13, 2013

 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

State Civil Service Commission

 

Examination

for

Corrections Officer Trainee

 

 

Exam

No.

 

Job Title

Job

Code

Pay Schedule

and Range

Starting Salary

(40-Hour Work Week)

1.

Corrections Officer Trainee

47200

CO34

$33,236

 

Starting Salary at SCI Graterford and SCI Chester only (40-Hour week) - $34,947

 

You must successfully complete a 1-year training period to be promoted to a Corrections Officer 1 with an increase in salary.

 

APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

 

VETERANS:  Pennsylvania law (51 Pa.C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs.  To learn more about employment preferences and opportunities for veterans, visit the Commission’s website, Job Seekers page, for Veterans; visit one of our offices; or call out veterans information line, (717) 787-6039.

 

NATURE OF WORK

The first year of employment includes classroom instruction and on-the-job training to develop necessary skills and techniques in the care, custody, and control of inmates.  The 4 weeks of classroom training takes place at the Department of Corrections’ Training Academy in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.

 

Work is closely supervised during the on-the-job training assignments.  You will be monitoring the movement and activities of inmates; making periodic and unannounced rounds, head counts, and security checks of assigned areas; observing the conduct and behavior of inmates; preparing written reports; responding to emergency situations; and communicating with other officers and inmates to prevent or resolve problems.  You may be required to carry a firearm in the performance of certain duties.

 

Although a few work assignments within a facility may be restricted to male or female officers, you are encouraged to apply and be considered for employment at any facility where you are willing to work, whether you are male or female.

 

There is a continuing need for bilingual (English and Spanish) Corrections Officer Trainees.  If you have the required bilingual skills, you are encouraged to apply.

 

JOB REQUIREMENTS

You are subject to Pennsylvania residency requirements and must be able to perform the essential functions of the job.  Visit the Commission’s website, Job Seekers page, for PA Residency Information.

 

You must be at least 21 years old at the time of application.

 

Minimum Requirements

You must pass the test.

 

Conditions of Employment

Corrections Officer Trainees work under unique and demanding conditions.  Correctional facilities must be staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

You must agree with the 6 conditions of employment listed below.  By submitting an application, you are indicating your willingness to:

 

1.  Attend and complete a 4-week training program at the Training Academy in Elizabethtown.  (You must successfully complete all phases of training, including firearms proficiency, to continue being employed.)

 

2.  Work “locked inside” a facility while unarmed and be exposed to the danger of physical harm.

 

3.  Accept the possibility that you may have to use physical force during inmate disturbances.

 

4.  Work on any shift, work in all areas of the institution as assigned, and occasionally work overtime as required by operational necessities and emergencies.

 

5.  Work on weekends and holidays which occur during your normal work schedule.

 

6.  Report for work under adverse weather conditions.  Days off for adverse weather will not be approved.

 

After you receive a conditional offer of employment, you must pass a medical examination, a physical ability test, a background investigation, a psychological evaluation, and a urinalysis screening for drugs.

 

Because of restrictions in Pennsylvania state laws, you cannot be employed as a Corrections Officer Trainee if you have been convicted of a crime of violence (murder, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, kidnapping, or entering a building with intent to commit a crime).  Because of restrictions in federal law, you cannot be employed as a Corrections Officer Trainee if you have been convicted of domestic violence.  Any other criminal history will be thoroughly investigated to determine if you should be disqualified.

 

TESTING

The test will be administered on a computer.  Information about computerized testing is available online at www.scsc.state.pa.us OR in paper form at any State Civil Service Commission office.  You will have a maximum of 3 hours to complete the test which will cover the following subject areas:

 

Subject Area

Number of Questions

Judgment and Problem Solving

40

Observation

25

Following Oral Instructions

20

Understanding Rules and Regulations

10

Following Written Instructions

10

Clarity of Expression

15

Total

120

 

The test will be administered in the Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh State Civil Service Commission offices, Monday through Friday.

 

The test also will be held approximately 10 days a month at additional test centers located in Allentown, Erie, Johnstown, Lock Haven, and Scranton.  For further details on test dates, contact the Commission’s Information Services Unit; Telephone (Voice) (717) 787-7811, Text Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing callers only) (717) 783-8896. 

 

If you take the test and want to take it again, you may be retested after 12 months from the date of your test.  You must submit a new application to be retested.

 

If your name is on an eligible list for this job title and you take this test, your most recent examination result will be the only one counted.

 

TEST RESULTS

An employment list will be established. You will be notified in writing of your test results.

 

JOB OPPORTUNITIES - EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Several hundred new Corrections Officer Trainees are typically hired each year.  Listed below are the State Correctional Institutions and the Quehanna Boot Camp.  Included in parenthesis is the county code for every facility.  You will need this to complete the counties of availability section on your application.  A detailed map identifying the location of each correctional facility can be found at www.cor.state.pa.us.

 

ALBION  

FRACKVILLE  

PINE GROVE

Erie Co. (25)

Schuylkill Co. (54)

Indiana Co. (32)

10745 Route 18

1111 Altamont Boulevard

189 Fyock Road

Albion, PA  16475-0001

Frackville, PA  17931-2699

Indiana, PA 15701

Phone:  (814) 756-5778

Phone:  (570) 874-4516

Phone: (724) 465-9630

 

 

 

BENNER TOWNSHIP

Centre Co. (14)

GRATERFORD

Montgomery Co. (46)

PITTSBURGH

Allegheny Co. (02)

301 Institution Drive

P.O. Box 246, Route 29

3001 Beaver Avenue

Bellefonte, PA 16823

Graterford, PA  19426-0246

Pittsburgh, PA  15233

Phone:  (814) 355-4874

Phone:  (610) 489-4151

Phone:  (412) 761-1955

 

 

 

CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS

Crawford Co. (20)

GREENE

Greene Co. (30)

QUEHANNA BOOT CAMP

Clearfield Co. (17)

451 Fullerton Avenue

169 Progress Drive

4395 Quehanna Highway

Cambridge Springs, PA  16403-1238

Waynesburg, PA  15370-8090

Karthaus, PA  16845-9714

Phone:  (814) 398-5400

Phone:  (724) 852-2902

Phone:  (814) 263-4125

 

 

 

CAMP HILL

Cumberland Co. (21)

HOUTZDALE

Clearfield Co. (17)

RETREAT

Luzerne Co. (40)

2500 Lisburn Road, P.O. Box 8837

209 Institution Drive

660 State Route 11

Camp Hill, PA  17001-8837

Houtzdale, PA  16698-1000

Hunlock Creek, PA  18621

Phone:  ( 717) 737-4531

Phone:  (814) 378-1000

Phone:  (570) 735-8754

 

 

 

CHESTER

Delaware Co. (23)

HUNTINGDON

Huntingdon Co. (31)

ROCKVIEW

Centre Co. (14)

500 East 4th Street

1100 Pike Street

1 Rockview Place

Chester, PA  19013

Huntingdon, PA  16654-1112

Bellefonte, PA  16823-0820

Phone:  (610) 490-5412

Phone:  (814) 643-2400

Phone:  (814) 355-4874

 

 

 

COAL TOWNSHIP

Northumberland Co. (49)

LAUREL HIGHLANDS

Somerset Co. (56)

SMITHFIELD

Huntingdon Co. (31)

1 Kelley Drive

5706 Glades Pike, P.O. Box 631

1120 Pike Street, P.O. Box 999

Coal Township, PA  17866-1020

Somerset, PA  15501-0631

Huntingdon, PA  16652

Phone:  (570) 644-7890

Phone:  (814) 445-6501

Phone:  (814) 643-6520

 

 

 

DALLAS

Luzerne Co. (40)

MAHANOY

Schuylkill Co. (54)

SOMERSET

Somerset Co. (56)

1000 Follies Road

301 Morea Road

1590 Walters Mill Road

Dallas, PA  18612-0286

Frackville, PA  17932

Somerset, PA  15510-0001

Phone:  (570) 675-1101

Phone:  (570) 773-2158

Phone:  (814) 443-8100

 

 

 

FAYETTE

Fayette Co. (26)

MERCER

Mercer Co. (43)

WAYMART

Wayne Co. (64)

50 Overlook Drive

801 Butler Pike

P.O. Box 256, Route 6

LaBelle, PA  15450-1050

Mercer, PA  16137-9651

Waymart, PA  18472-0256

Phone:  (724) 364-2200

Phone:  (724) 662-1837

Phone:  (570) 488-5811

 

 

 

FOREST

Forest Co. (27)

MUNCY

Lycoming Co. (41)

 

1 Woodland Drive, P.O. Box 307

Box 180, Route 405

 

Marienville, PA  16239-0307

Muncy, PA  17756-0180

 

Phone:  (814) 621-2110

Phone:  (570) 546-3171

 

 

 

Lists created by this test will be used to fill future vacancies as they occur due to retirements, promotions, transfers, resignations and so forth.

 

For the most recent information on job opportunities contact:

 

Department of Corrections

Bureau of Human Resources

1920 Technology Parkway

Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

Telephone:  (717) 728-5357

Email:  ra-docjobs@pa.gov

Internet:  www.cor.state.pa.us

 

HOW TO APPLY

Complete your application on the Commission’s website, Job Seekers page, by selecting Online Application, or submit your completed paper application to:

 

State Civil Service Commission

ATTN:  Applications

P.O. Box 569

Harrisburg, PA  17108-0569

 

Applications and further information can be obtained from:

1.

State Civil Service Commission:

 

 

 

Harrisburg:  2nd Level, Strawberry Sq. Complex, 320 Market St., P.O. Box 569, Hbg., 17108-0569;

 

Telephone (Voice) (717) 783-3058, Text Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing callers only)

(71) 772-2685

 

 

 

Philadelphia:  110 North 8th St., Suite 503, Phila., 19107; Telephone (Voice) (215) 560-2253,

 

Text Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing callers only) (215) 560-4367

 

 

 

Pittsburgh:  411 Seventh Ave., Room 410, Pgh., 15219; Telephone (Voice) (412) 565-7666,

 

Text Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing callers only) (412) 565-2484

 

 

 

Internet:  www.scsc.state.pa.us

 

 

2.

PA CareerLink offices

 

 

3.

The Human Resources office listed under the "JOB OPPORTUNITIES" section of this announcement

 

For further information on testing, assistance for persons with disabilities, veterans' preference and other items, refer to the instructions provided with the "Application for Employment/Promotion."