The United States Federal Bureau of Prisons provides on-the-job training for those wishing to become correctional officers. The Federal Bureau of Prisons requires an applicant to possess a bachelor's degree or higher to qualify for the free training academy.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Department provides nine weeks free of training for its correctional officer candidates. Candidates must be over 18 years of age and possess a high school diploma or a G.E.D..
Some private schools offers a training program to prepare students for work in a federal, state or local correctional facility. Scholarships are available based on a student's academic record and work experience that might make the training free to a participant.