- What "CA-CO Training" Actually Covers
- The Written Test: Your Gateway Into Training
- What the Written Test Measures
- The 13-Week Basic Correctional Officer Academy
- Building a CA-CO-Specific Prep Timeline
- Eligibility, Application Status, and Retake Rules
- Pay During and After Training
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Written Test is weighted 100% and requires a score of 70 or greater to advance.
- CDCR reports a 79% pass rate, with results emailed within two business days.
- Accepted candidates complete a 13-week Basic Correctional Officer Academy in Galt.
- Academy pay is $25.84 per hour; post-academy pay ranges $5,510-$9,203 per month.
What "CA-CO Training" Actually Covers
When people search for CA-CO training, they're usually asking about one of two very different things: the preparation needed to pass the Correctional Officer Written Test, or the formal academy training that happens after you're hired. Both matter, and this article covers each stage in order - from the exam administered by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Office of Peace Officer Selection, through the 13-week academy in Galt, and into the pay structure that follows.
The current official bulletin is the May 19, 2026 Correctional Officer examination, code WY50-9662. Before you can think about academy training at all, you have to clear the Written Test - the single scored component of the CA-CO selection process. If you haven't reviewed how that exam is structured, our CA-CO Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 1 Content Areas breaks down exactly what's tested.
The Written Test: Your Gateway Into Training
The Written Test uses multiple-choice and/or true/false questions and requires a score of 70 or greater to pass. Because it's weighted 100%, every point on this exam directly determines whether you move forward toward the academy - there's no separate practical or oral component diluting the impact of a weak score. This is why candidates who treat exam prep casually often stall out before they ever see the inside of a training facility.
CDCR reports that 79% of participants pass, and official results are emailed within two business days of testing. That turnaround matters for planning: you'll know quickly whether you're moving into the next phase of the hiring process or need to prepare for a retake. For a deeper look at what that pass rate means in practice, see CA-CO Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
Key Takeaway
Because the Written Test is the only scored hurdle, dedicate your full preparation effort to it rather than splitting attention across imagined "sections" - there's one score, and it needs to clear 70.
What the Written Test Measures
The exam measures cognitive ability, situational judgment, reading comprehension, problem solving, and decision making. Its scope is broad but concrete, and knowing the specific topic list helps you prioritize study time instead of guessing.
Domain 1: Written Test (100%)
This single domain carries the entire score. Candidates must demonstrate competence across ten distinct topic areas rather than one narrow skill.
- Grammar and spelling
- Basic arithmetic
- Names-and-faces memory
- Rapid reading and interpretation
- Communication
- Objective report writing
- Logical reasoning
- Following directions
- Disciplinary options
- Situation analysis
Notice that several of these - names-and-faces memory, objective report writing, and disciplinary options - are directly tied to real correctional officer duties rather than generic test-taking skills. This is a job-relevance exam, not an abstract aptitude test. If you want a full walkthrough of how each topic is likely to appear on the exam, our CA-CO Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 1 Content Areas is the most direct companion resource, and our CA-CO Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt maps study strategy onto the same topic list.
| Topic Area | What It Tests |
|---|---|
| Grammar and spelling | Written accuracy for reports and forms |
| Rapid reading and interpretation | Speed and comprehension under time pressure |
| Names-and-faces memory | Recall accuracy relevant to inmate/visitor identification |
| Disciplinary options | Judgment in applying appropriate responses to rule violations |
| Situation analysis | Decision-making under realistic institutional scenarios |
Practicing with realistic multiple-choice and true/false questions on our CA-CO practice test platform is the fastest way to get comfortable with this mix before test day, since the format rewards familiarity with question phrasing as much as raw knowledge.
The 13-Week Basic Correctional Officer Academy
Passing the Written Test doesn't complete your training - it opens the door to it. Once a candidate clears the remaining background, physical fitness, vision, psychological, and medical components and is accepted, CDCR requires completion of a 13-week Basic Correctional Officer Academy in Galt. This is the formal training phase most people mean when they picture "correctional officer training," and it happens only after the written exam is behind you.
Beyond the written exam, applicants must also meet a set of non-scored eligibility requirements: twelfth-grade equivalency, minimum age of 20 at application and 21 at appointment, legal authorization to work in the United States, a law-abiding history, firearm eligibility, passing drug screening, and holding a valid California Class C driver license by appointment. These requirements run in parallel with your written exam prep, so it's worth confirming you meet them early. Our CA-CO Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify article covers each of these in detail.
Building a CA-CO-Specific Prep Timeline
Generic study advice rarely accounts for the specific mix of memory, comprehension, and judgment skills the CA-CO Written Test demands. A more useful approach is to schedule your remaining weeks around the exam's actual topic list, moving from foundational skills toward scenario-based judgment as test day approaches.
Foundational Skills
- Drill grammar, spelling, and basic arithmetic to eliminate careless errors
- Practice names-and-faces memory exercises under timed conditions
Reading and Communication
- Work on rapid reading and interpretation with short passages under time pressure
- Practice objective report writing to build clarity and neutrality
Judgment and Reasoning
- Study logical reasoning and following-directions question formats
- Review disciplinary options and situation analysis scenarios
Full Simulation
- Take full-length timed practice tests on our practice exam site
- Review the passing threshold and confirm pacing against a 70-or-greater target
Knowing exactly what score you need also shapes how you allocate review time - see CA-CO Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass for a breakdown of the 70-point threshold and how CDCR applies it.
Eligibility, Application Status, and Retake Rules
A few mechanical details shape when and how you can pursue CA-CO training. First, CDCR currently marks Correctional Officer applications as temporarily closed, so confirming current application status before you finalize a study schedule is essential - timelines can shift based on when the next bulletin opens. Our CA-CO Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling article tracks bulletin timing so you're not caught off guard.
Second, if you don't pass the Written Test on your first attempt, you may reapply after 30 days. This waiting period is a good opportunity to revisit the specific topic areas that cost you points rather than restarting your prep from scratch. Third, once you do pass and land on the eligibility list, that list remains valid for 24 months - giving you a defined window to move through the remaining background, medical, and psychological steps toward academy enrollment.
Key Takeaway
A 30-day retake window and a 24-month list eligibility period mean a single missed attempt doesn't end your path - but it does mean targeted review beats a blanket restart.
Pay During and After Training
Compensation is structured in two distinct phases. During the 13-week academy in Galt, trainees are paid $25.84 per hour. After successfully completing the academy and being appointed, pay moves to a monthly range of $5,510 to $9,203, depending on assignment and progression. This structure means the financial commitment of training is offset by pay from day one of the academy, not deferred until after graduation.
| Phase | Compensation |
|---|---|
| 13-week academy (Galt) | $25.84 per hour |
| Post-academy appointment | $5,510 - $9,203 per month |
For a fuller picture of how this pay structure compares across career stages, our CA-CO Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis lays out the full range. And if you're still weighing whether the overall time and effort investment is worthwhile, Is the CA-CO Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 walks through that decision in more depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Written Test, weighted 100% with a passing score of 70 or greater, is a prerequisite screening step. Only after clearing it and the remaining background, fitness, vision, psychological, and medical components can a candidate be accepted into the 13-week Basic Correctional Officer Academy in Galt.
The Basic Correctional Officer Academy runs 13 weeks and is held in Galt. It follows acceptance into the hiring process, which begins with passing the Written Test.
You may reapply after a 30-day waiting period. Use that time to focus on the specific topic areas from the exam scope - such as report writing, logical reasoning, or names-and-faces memory - where you lost the most points.
CDCR currently marks Correctional Officer applications as temporarily closed. Check the current bulletin status before finalizing your study timeline, since the next opening will set your effective exam date.
Trainees earn $25.84 per hour throughout the 13-week academy. After completing the academy and receiving appointment, pay shifts to a monthly range of $5,510 to $9,203.