Training the Officers of Tomorrow

Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission's (WSCJTC) Corrections Officers Academy (COA) at is Washington State’s mandated training academy for all entry-level corrections officers.

This 400-hour academy is designed to provide training for employees whose primary job functions are to facilitate the custody, safety, and security of adults in jails.

Register See Training Sessions

About The Corrections Officers Academy

The COA provides participants with the basic knowledge and skills needed for safe and effective service. Training Coordinators act as coaches and mentors to individuals and the group as a whole. Professionalism and decorum are encouraged to foster officers’ pride and ownership of conduct. Students are also organized into teams with Team Leaders serving to enhance group performance. Course topics include: 

Looking for Juvenile Corrections Officers Academy (JCOA)? Visit this page. 

Need to Know

Who can attend our correctional officer training?

This academy is open to recruits who have been hired by a corrections agency. Sponsoring agencies will submit application materials on the recruits' behalf.

COA Regulation

All corrections officers employed by a city, county, or political subdivision of the state of Washington must attend a COA session within six months of their hire date, per WAC 139-10-210.

Mandated agencies: City and County Jails and Detention Facilities

To request an extension or exemption of the WAC requirements for their recruits, agency personnel can submit a waiver request here.

Cost

View our full cost share sheet for Fiscal Year 2027 here.

PAT Prerequisite

In order to attend COA, recruits must pass the Physical Ability Test (PAT), which is typically administered by the recruit’s employing agency two weeks prior to the start of class.

Agencies, recruits, and prospective applicants can view the PAT requirements here. The PAT scoring sheet can also be found here.

Required Equipment & Attire

The latest equipment and attire requirements can be found here.

Schedule

COA classes are typically held 0700 to 1730 Monday through Thursday.

The number of COA classes held each year will vary based on legislative decisions and funding.

Please note: The Training Session dates listed below, as well as the attached schedules, are subject to change without notice. Training managers and recruits must read selection notices carefully to ensure they have the correct dates.

Syllabi for past and present academies are available for download on our Curricula page. These will provide a complete breakdown of academy hours.

Cancellation

Agencies wishing to cancel an applicant’s registration must notify the registrar via phone or email.

Submitting an incomplete registration request in the Acadis Portal is allowed, but it will not be processed until it is complete. Incomplete registration requests will remain in the queue (Application List) until all prerequisites are attached. Submitting an incomplete registration request only guarantees a spot in the queue, not in any specific class. Once registration requests are complete, they are processed into open seats on a first-registered/first-served basis.