One voice for the Office of Sheriff
Jail Officer Training and Certification
NSA has created the Jail Certification Program at the NSA Center for Public Safety to provide professional designation to jail officers, supervisors, administrators and sheriffs who possess the requisite understanding, knowledge, skills, experience and abilities to function to the level of their achieved certification.
The Certification Board established a thorough analysis of primary functions and knowledge of jail operations and administration management for each designated certification, combining experience and education coupled with testing to ensure comprehension of critical areas of focus. These areas include:
- Basic Training
- Liability
- Correctional Law
- Personnel Management
- Planning and Preparation
- Jail Operations
LOGIN Curriculum Advisory Board
To apply for certification, please log in as an NSA member and then click on Event Registration. Choose your Certification from the list provided.
Once you have completed the registration process, an email will be sent to you with the applications necessary for each certificate.
If you do not complete the certification process or are not approved for the certificate, no refund will be given.
General Requirements
All applicants, regardless of level, must possess the following requirements:
- U.S. citizen or a citizen of a country in which the U.S. does not have sanctions
- At least 21 years of age
- No felony convictions
- No dishonorable discharge from the U.S. military (for U.S. Veterans only)
- Neither a record of disciplinary action from any state, province or territory, or licensing or certification board within the past 10 years nor subject under any such investigation
- Current NSA membership
CJO
CERTIFIED JAIL OFFICER
For all officers, including line level staff. It can be used as a basic training program and covers jail officer responsibilities, chapter and comprehensive examination and certificate upon completion.
- Requirements: Minimum of 65 total certified hours submitted to Certification Board within twelve (12) months of formal application acceptance.*
- Course Options: NSA’s Jail Officer's Correspondence Training Program or all NSA / NIJO training seminars or online courses designated as approved certification credit hours.
- Testing: 75% Accuracy
- Work Experience: No minimums required
Fee $195
CJS
CERTIFIED JAIL SUPERVISOR
For all jail supervisors and jail administrators. Based on case law, liability, personnel management, planning and preparation and jail operations, CJS curriculum primary focus is running constitutional jails.
- Requirements: Minimum of 25 total certified hours submitted to Certification Board within twenty four (24) months of formal application acceptance.
- Course Options: NSA’s First/Second Line Supervisor's Correspondence Training Program or all NSA / NIJO training seminars or online courses designated as approved certification credit hours.
- Testing: 100% Accuracy
- Work Experience: Two (2) years minimum work experience in jail, detention facility or support.
Fee $345
CJE
CERTIFIED JAIL EXECUTIVE
For all sheriffs, jail administrators and supervisors. Based on case law, liability, personnel management, planning and preparation and jail operations, CJS curriculum requires more knowledge and experience to focus on running constitutional jails.
- Requirements: Minimum of 40 total certified hours submitted to Certification Board within twenty four (24) months of formal application acceptance.*
- Course Options: All NSA / NIJO training seminars or online courses designated as approved certification credit hours.
- Testing: 100% Accuracy
- Work Experience: Four (4) years minimum work experience in jail, detention facility or support.
Fee $495
* NSA will accept completed JOTM or NSA Correspondence as substitute CJO credits. NSA will accept CJM level AJA certification as a substitute of 16 hours towards CJE credit hours (provided by applicant).
For more information contact:
800.424.7827 x 320 or hburgess@sheriffs.org