NIJO CERTIFICATION:
Raising the Bar in Corrections Training
What is the purpose/value of certification? What makes NIJO certification different than other programs?
NIJO Professional Certification is earned, not issued—the most fundamental part of our certification program is that it requires the completion of legal-based corrections training. We believe in the importance of certification programs based on what the law requires rather than based on best or common practices that do not promote constitutional standards. NIJO Professional Certification stands apart because it provides agencies and individuals with an added level of confidence in defense against frivolous litigation and attacks on incomplete or inadequate training. We are fully committed to helping corrections agencies proactively defend against liability issues.
What are the certification levels? What’s the difference? How many hours of training are required for each?
Key Legal Clarificiations
NIJO provides three distinct levels of certification for individuals in different stages of their corrections careers.
National Certified Corrections Officer (NCCO) is accessible to all corrections professionals, including line-level staff members or new hires. NCCO requires 40 hours of legal-based training and can be completed with online training, live training, or any combination thereof.
National Certified Corrections Supervisor (NCCS) is geared toward supervisors and administrators with at least 2 years of work experience in corrections. NCCS requires 70 hours of legal-based training and can be completed with online training, live training, or any combination thereof.
National Certified Corrections Executive (NCCE) is the highest level of certification offered by NIJO. It’s designed for executive supervisors, administrators, and command staff with at least 4 years of work experience in corrections. NCCE requires 115 hours of legal-based training, and it typically requires a combination of online and live legal-based training due to the potential limitations of available online hours.
NIJO always recommends going for the highest level of certification you think you’ll want! This is because each higher level encompasses the level(s) below it. In other words, getting your NCCE means that you also completed your NCCS and NCCO, all at once!
How does NIJO Professional Certification work?
To get started with NIJO Professional Certification, prospective applicants can complete a registration form and pay online on our website. After submitting the registration and payment, NIJO will send the application materials and some helpful instructions and tips. Once registered, applicants have 3 years to submit their completed applications. Remember that access to training isn’t included in certification!
Applicants can complete training before and/or after registration, but training must be completed no more than 3 years prior to submitting the completed application. Eligible training includes DACOTA, ABC, JAILCON, ELITE Academy, or any NIJO-partnered local or regional training. Non-NIJO training may be eligible to submit for certification, but it requires additional documentation and is approved on a case-by-case basis. All training must include testing, with test scores of 100%. Setting the standard to 100% can help defend facilities and individuals against litigation and liability, especially on failure-to-train claims.
Once applicants submit their completed certification applications, the NIJO Certification Committee reviews and approves the applications. Awardees can receive their certificate in person at a JAILCON awards ceremony, or they can opt to receive their certificate by mail. Many agencies support their certified employees by holding their own ceremonies in recognition of this achievement. Recently, Labette County Sheriff’s Office in Kansas held a private awards ceremony to celebrate the corrections staff members who had earned NIJO Professional Certification. It was an outstanding achievement for those individuals and showed their commitment to providing the highest level of service to their community. If your agency has any special programs or recognition for NIJO-certified individuals, let us know! We love to hear about and feature agencies that promote professional development and dedication to excellence!
Once applicants have been awarded NIJO Professional Certification, maintaining their certification just requires 20 hours of legal-based training annually for all levels. There are no additional costs to recertify—just remember that training costs are always separate!
If you have any questions about NIJO Professional Certification, contact us.
You may also be interested in “The Definition of Legal-Based and Why It’s Important to Your Jail”