Probation Officer Certification & Training

Examination Information

Any person who meets the minimum qualifications as outlined may apply to take the Probation Officer Certification Examination. A person who meets these qualifications and is already serving in the position of a probation officer must take and pass the examination within six (6) months after his/her appointment according to Indiana Code § 11-13-1-1(b).

If you meet the qualifications and are interested in becoming a probation officer in Indiana, please complete the application on the link provided below. You will be asked to create a login, password and submit a non-refundable application fee of $50.00.

Examination Application for Probation Officers

Qualified applications are held on file for one year from the date of receipt in this office. Failure by an applicant to pass the examination within that year will require a new application and payment of a new application fee.

In addition to the completed application and non-refundable fee, you must have a certified transcript sent directly from your college or university to this office for your application to be complete. Transcripts can be sent electronically directly from your college or university to iocstesting@courts.in.gov and/or mailed to Indiana Office of Court Services 251 N. Illinois Street, Suite 800, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. We cannot accept a transcript from the applicant. The transcript must indicate that a bachelor's degree has been conferred, or that you are enrolled in the final semester of a college program leading toward graduation with a bachelor's degree.

Upon receipt of all application requirements, you will be notified of upcoming exam dates for which you may register. It is your responsibility to see that your application is properly submitted with the application fee, and your college or university certified transcript. These application documents must be received 3 weeks before a scheduled examination date to allow enough time for processing.

The two-hour computerized examination is offered once a month at 251 N. Illinois Street, Suite 800, in downtown Indianapolis. A photocopy of your state identification card or state driver’s license (including a current picture) will be required at the testing location.

Review materials or resources will not be allowed during the exam. Beverages, gum and candy are permitted in the examination room as long as they are not disruptive to others.

The score of the examination is kept confidential and is only released if the applicant fails. The results will be e-mailed to the applicant following the examination. If the applicant is currently employed as a probation officer, a copy of the notification results will be e-mailed to the chief probation officer. No examination results will be released by telephone to anyone at any time.

Study Guide References & Materials

The Indiana Office of Court Services recommends studying the Indiana Probation Officer Examination Study Guide and neither requires nor endorses any other study materials.

The examination consists of multiple choice and true/false questions covering such topics as juvenile law, criminal sentencing, general probation matters and evidence-based practices. The questions are based on the following: Titles 11, 31 & 35 of the Indiana Code, terms used in Juvenile and Criminal law, and basic knowledge of Criminal Justice.

Statutory materials may be found online, in any court law library, probation department, or law firm, including university and public libraries. You may also find it helpful to study a dictionary of commonly used legal terms associated with criminal justice and the courts.

Training

To view upcoming training and exam dates, go to the Justice Services Calendar.

Probation Officer Orientation

In accordance with the minimum qualifications for probation officers that became effective on July 1, 1984, a probation officer is required to attend the orientation program within one year from the date that he/she is employed. However, the Indiana Office of Court Services (IOCS) recommends that a new officer attend within the first 6 months of employment.

The orientation program will feature presentations on adult and juvenile supervision, interviewing and report writing, and special populations. Faculty will consist of judges, probation officers and other professionals.

Chief probation officers can register new probation officers to attend orientation through our registration site. The chief probation officer must affirm that the salary of the new probation officer complies with the Schedule of Minimum Salaries for Probation Officers (both full-time and part-time). A confirmation will be emailed to the new probation officer, with details pertaining to orientation instructions.

Suicide Prevention Training

Resources on training options are available in the Indiana Safety and Security Guide (Chapter 10).  Other training opportunities may be available through local hospitals, local community mental health centers, and Mental Health America Indiana.  The Indiana Office of Court Services will offer training on suicide awareness and prevention at the annual Justice Services Conference.

• Free online training: Columbia Suicide Prevention Screener
• Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) screening version
• QPR: Gatekeeper to Suicide Prevention is available on-demand

Probation Officer Certification Revocation Process

To protect the community and the court, a supervising judge must report the following alleged or confirmed probation officer conduct to the Office of Judicial Administration: (1) misrepresented or false information on the Application for Probation Officer Examination or materials supporting the application;  (2) noncompliance with the required annual continuing education hours; or (3) any of the following contact, whether consensual or forced, with a person under supervision:  sexual activities, sexual communication using technology or in person, sexual conduct, or sexual exploitation.

To protect the community and the court, a supervising judge may report the following alleged or confirmed probation officer conduct to the Office of Judicial Administration: (1) unethical conduct that results in the probation officer’s termination from employment, (2) unethical conduct under investigation at the time of the probation officer’s resignation that would have resulted in termination from employment, or (3) unethical conduct discovered after the probation officer’s resignation that would have been subject to termination from employment. The Office of Judicial Administration will investigate the reported probation officer conduct and provide a report to the Judicial Conference of Indiana’s Probation Committee for review of the probation officer’s certification for possible revocation.

• Judicial Conference of Indiana Policy on Revocation of Probation Officer Certification
• Judge Report of Probation Officer Misconduct