- If your degree is in an unrelated field of study, a completed CMS100 and transcripts verifying degree must be sent to DOC.COTscreening@illinois.gov for eligibility review after you apply.
Note: Illinois residency is required for employment as a Corrections Treatment Officer Trainee. Non-residents may be screened; however, non-residents shall not be considered until the list of all qualified Illinois residents has been exhausted. If selected, non-residents must establish Illinois residency prior to employment.
Required Documents for Screening
These documents must be completed and brought on the day of screening.
- Employment Application - DOC 0737
- Applicant Information Sheet
- Release of Information
- Employment Reference Check - DOC 0037 - A minimum of 3 employment reference checks is required, or 1 for every employer over the past 5 years (whichever is greater). Applicant must only fill out the address portion for each employer, sign and date in the upper right-hand box, and bring to screening date. Screening Unit will send out to employers for completion.
Applicants must bring clear copies of the following applicable documents to the screening session. Applicants who fail to provide these documents on the day of screening will not be permitted to test.
- A copy of your birth certificate or a certified letter of birth verification from the courthouse.
- A copy of citizenship verification if you are a naturalized citizen of the United States. If you are not a citizen or a naturalized citizen, you must produce a permanent resident card. (Not applicable for citizens)
- A copy of your high school diploma of G.E.D. Equivalency certificate.
- A copy of your Selective Service System registration card or other proof of registration. (Males ages 18-26 should contact Federal Selective Service to verify registration)
- A copy of official college transcripts or diploma.
- A copy of a photo I.D.
- A copy AND the original of a valid driver's license.
Required Military Documentation:
- Veteran: Certified copy of DD214 / DD215
- Illinois National Guard / United States Military Reserve:
- Activated into federal service and still serving: Certified copy of DD214/DD215 and letter from unit personnel indicating satisfactory service.
- Activated into federal service and discharged under honorable conditions: Certified copy of DD214/DD215, certified copy of NGB 22, discharge orders or DD256 certificate.
- Never activated into federal service and currently serving: Certified copy of NGB 22, discharge orders, or DD256 certificate.
- Never activated into federal service and discharged with four or more years' service. Certified copy of the following documents:
- Army or Air National Guard, NGB 22 Report of Separation and Record of Service
- Army Reserve, DARP FM 249-2E Chronological Statement of Retirement Points
- Navy Reserve, NRPC 1070-124 Annual Retirement Point Record
- Air Force Reserve, AF 526 Point Summary Sheet
- USMC Reserve, NAVMC 798 Reserve Retirement Credit Report
- Coast Guard, CG 4175 / PPC 4973 Coast Guard Reserve Annual or Terminal Statement of Retirement Points.
Questions regarding veterans' preference may be directed to the Illinois Department of Central Management Services Veterans Outreach Program or the Illinois Relay Center. Certified copies of DD214/DD215 may be obtained from: Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, National Personnel Records Center, or the County clerk's office where you registered your military service.
Third Step: Complete Screening Process
On the day of screening applicants will complete four examinations: Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE), a Physical Agility test, an Observation exam, and a Rutan interview. Applicants must meet minimum standards on each examination. Applicants can earn up to a total of 130 screening points and are placed on eligibility lists in rank order. Institutions hire applicants based on scores. Points are assigned to each of the following dimensions based on its relationship to successful job performance.
Point Range
1. Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE)
- IDOC requires applicants for security positions to successfully complete a written reading comprehension and vocabulary multiple choice examination. Applicants must receive a minimum score equivalent to the 10th grade reading level on the TABE to move on the next phase in the screening process.
- The TABE is used to establish a baseline for reading comprehension. No screening points are awarded for its successful completion.
- COT applicants who submit copies of college transcripts verifying completion of 15 credit hours are exempt from taking the TABE.
2. Physical Agility Test (pass/fail)
- Applicants are required to successfully complete a physical agility test to be eligible for hire. The test includes four exercises designed to measure an applicant's ability to perform the job duties required of a Correctional Officer Trainee. Applicants must complete each to continue in the screening process. The Physical Agility Test is a pass/fail test.
3. Observation Examination (0-20 points)
- Applicants will be given a scenario write up to assess their capacity to comprehensively, fairly, and objectively evaluate a scenario and provide a detailed incident report. Each applicant will be given 3 minutes to review the scenario and will be allowed to take notes. An applicant will have 5 minutes to complete an incident report.
4. Structured Oral Rutan Interview and Writing Sample (0-100 points)
- Two screeners will interview applicants using a standardized Rutan interview questionnaire. Upon conclusion of the interview, the screeners independently rate the applicant. An applicant can receive a total of 100 points.
+ Military Service (0-10 points)
Points are awarded to any armed forces veteran that received discharges of Honorable or General Under Honorable Conditions. A copy of the DD214 (Member 4 edition) must be supplied. Documentation of military service is based on a review of all Certificates of Military Release of Discharge. To be eligible for military points and to be considered for employment, an applicant must produce long versions of all Military Discharges. The long version shall indicate years of service, character of service, and type of discharge. Points may be awarded as follows:
Veteran Status
Eligible Points
Veteran who received a Purple Heart
Veteran with Service-connected Disability
Spouse of a Veteran who Suffered a Service-connected Disability or Death
Parent of a Veteran who Suffered a Service-connected Disability or Death
Veteran during Hostility
Illinois National Guard or Reserves Member Activated (6 months or more outside of training)
Veteran during Peacetime
Illinois National Guard or Reserves Member Never Activated
* Three (3) points awarded if serviced during peacetime; five (5) points if served during hostilities.
** Award letter from the Federal V.A. Office required.Hostility Periods Recognized (eff. 11/15/1996)
Time Period
Hostility
April 6, 1917 - November 11, 1918
December 7, 1941 - December 31, 1946
June 27, 1950 - January 31, 1955
February 28, 1961 - May 7, 1975
June 6, 1983 - December 1, 1987
October 23, 1983 - November 21, 1983
December 20, 1989 - January 31, 1990
August 2, 1990 - November 30, 1995
September 11, 2001 - Indeterminate
Fourth Step: Selecting Applicants for Hire
Ranking Applicants for Hire
Total screening scores are based on the points accrued during the written examination, oral interview, education, work experience, and documentation of military service. Applicants may earn 0-130 total screening points. Applicants are ranked in order from highest to lowest. Successful completion of the screening process places an applicant on an eligibility list for hire for a period of three years from the last day of the month in which they screen. If an applicant chooses to retake the test within that time, the most current screening score overrides the previously reported score. Applicants may select a primary county (A list) and a secondary county (B list) where they will accept employment.
Applicant Selection
Facilities select applicants for hire from their county eligibility list(s) based on the highest overall screening score. When applicants receive the same overall screening score, ties will be broken through a lottery. Established affirmative action goals may be taken into consideration.
Facilities will make three reasonable attempts to contact eligible applicants for employment. At least one of the three attempts will be made after 6:00 p.m. or on a weekend.
Applicants selected for hire are required to attend a multiple week pre-service training program in Decatur prior to assuming job duties at a facility. New hires are transported to Decatur via State-provided transportation for pre-service training. Housing in the Training Academy dormitories is provided.
Background Investigations
A background investigation is conducted on all applicants selected for hire. This process involves inquiries via the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS), which includes a computerized criminal history check, NCIC hot files, and Secretary of State drivers-information check. Drug tests and employment reference checks are also conducted. Information gathered may be utilized when selecting an applicant for hire. Conflicts of interest subject an applicant's file to administrative review prior to consideration for hire. The following situations may result in administrative review and a determination of ineligibility for hire:
- former DOC employee
- prior convictions other than minor traffic offenses
- relatives employed by the Department of Corrections
- suitability issues (i.e. individual in custody visitor lists; job discharges)
Physical Examination
Prior to employment, a complete medical history is obtained, and a complete physical examination and visual screening exam is conducted.
