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Deputy Career FAQ

Below are frequently asked questions submitted prior to the deputy application process

How to become a Deputy? Where do I start?

  • ​Go to our application page and fill out our Deputy application, to go to our application page click here. 

What are the requirements for Deputy?

  • ​​​For our minimum qualification for Deputy, click here.

How do I sign up to take the Corrections Pre-Employment exam with the National Testing Network (NTN)?

  • Go to the National Testing Network website or click here.
  • Select the “Corrections” tab on the main home page or at the top of your page, click on “Find Jobs” and select “Corrections”.
  • On the left-hand side of your screen select, “Choose Your Department”; make sure the “Job Class” tab is “Corrections Positions”. Pick “Ohio”, click the blue “Update” tab. This will take you to another screen that has listed all the agencies in Ohio that are accepting testing scores.
  • Select “Franklin County Sheriff’s Office”, click the red “Continue” button on the left-hand side of the page. Once you have selected “Continue” a box with come up asking if you would like to select any additional departments to send your scores to. If you are only selecting FCSO, please click on “That’s All I Want”.
  • The next screen you will see at the top of the web page, “Do you Qualify”? scroll down to the bottom, if you qualify, make sure you selected “I qualify. Continue”. Then click the red “Continue” button on the bottom left hand side of the page.
  • Select where you want to take the test or if you want, select the "Virtual Testing" options. Please note: The NTN has testing sites all over the United States and they also have virtual testing (all times Pacific Standard Time). Once you have made you testing location selection, click the red “Continue” button on the bottom left hand side of the page.
  • Select the testing date and time convenient to your schedule.  Once you have selected your testing date and time, you will confirm the test information and cost.
  • If you have not logged into the NTN website, you will need to do so on this login webpage and follow the additional prompts to complete signing up for the pre-employment examination.

Is there a fee for the pre-employment corrections exam?

  • Yes, there is a fee to take the pre-employment corrections exam with the National Testing Network (NTN).
  • To receive a voucher to take our pre-employment test at no charge, fill out our application by clicking here.
  • Voucher codes are emailed out to applicants once per week.
  • Candidates are highly encouraged to send current test scores to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office as the office has generously offered to cover the fee for candidates to transfer their NTN scores. 
  • If you have any questions or concerns, please contact NTN candidate support at 855-821-3761. 

What are passing scores for the Correction Pre-Employment exam with the National Testing Network (NTN)?

  • You must pass all five (5) sections of the Correction’s pre-employment test. The Video portion of the test, you must pass with an 70% or higher score. The Reading portion of the test, you must pass with an 80% or higher score. The Counting portion of the test, you must pass with a 70% or higher score.  The Integrity (Public Safety Self Assessment - PSSA) portion of the test, you must pass with a 60% or higher score. The Written portion of the test, you must pass both sections.

When do I find out if I passed all five (5) sections with the National Testing Network (NTN)?

  • You will see three (3) of your five (5) scores with the NTN right after submitting your test; the last two (2) sections being the written portion and the work attitude questionnaire will take anywhere from three (3) days to a week for us to receive.

How often can I take the Corrections Pre-Employment exam with the National Testing Network (NTN)?

  • The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office will accept candidate scores twice per calendar year; the NTN allows candidates to test every six (6) months.

How will I be notified to apply?

  • All correspondence will be sent to the e-mail address you provided to the National Testing Network. Therefore, it is critical applicants provide a current e-mail address that is checked regularly.

Once I have taken the NTN test, how soon will I know I'm moving forward to the next step?

  • We pull scores twice a month to schedule for the PAT.

Is there a physical abilities test (PAT)?

  • Yes, we have a physical abilities test, for more information, click here. 

Logging into governmentjobs.com website issues:

  • If you are having trouble logging in or are having other issues with their website, please contact 855-524-5627.  

I want to work for FCSO. How do I find out what vacancies are available at FCSO?

  • Vacancies will be listed on our application website, to visit click here.
  • For more information on our deputy hiring process, click here.
  • For more information on our Patrol Communication Technician (911-Disaptcher) hiring process, click here.
  • For more information on our civilian careers, click here.

Do you have a contact or email address where I can send my Resume?

  • To ensure impartiality, resumes will only be accepted with our online applications. We do not review to or respond to unsolicited resume submission through email.

Address and phone number changes:

  • Keep your contact information current with us! Changes in address, email address or phone number must be provided to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. You can do this by going to governmentjobs.com or click here and logging into your account on Government Jobs. From there you can go to your Account Settings, change your Contact Information, and Save your changes.
  • IMPORTANT: We contact all applicants via email throughout the hiring process. This may result in you missing important updates regarding your application. 

Is a college education required?

  • No, our minimum qualifications only require you to have a High School diploma or GED. To see the deputy minimum qualifications, click here.

Are there any age limitations on who can become a deputy?

  • The only age limitation is you must be 18 years old the time of employment. All deputies begin in our Corrections Division.

Is prior Law Enforcement or Military experience required?

  • Prior law enforcement or military experience is a plus but not required.

What kind of correctional facility does the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office operate?

  • Franklin County currently operates two linear correctional facilities, but is transitioning to direct supervision utilizing Strategic Inmate Management (SIM), for more information, click here.

Are lateral transfers accepted?

  • Yes, the FCSO has a lateral transfer program (Advance Step Hiring) for potential applicants currently employed with another corrections and/or law enforcement agency. For more information, click here.

I am already Corrections Certified in the State of Ohio, will I have to attend the Training Academy?

  • If you currently possess an Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) Corrections certification you will be required to complete our training academy and become certified according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office standards.

If a person is already Police Officer Certified in another state, do you still have to complete training and graduate from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Academy to become a Deputy Sheriff?

  • Yes, you must complete training at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office training academy. Lateral transfers from Ohio or other states are not accepted, they must go through our whole hiring process and take the Corrections pre-employment exam, for information on our pre-employment examination, click here. 

What are the salary and benefits for a cadet in training and for a Deputy upon graduation?

  • For 2023, the starting salary for Deputy 1 is $28.08 per hour / $58,406.40 annually.
  • You will receive full health benefits after a grace period established by the Franklin County Board of Commissioners.

What are my chances of becoming a Deputy Sheriff?

  • The Sheriff’s Office selection process is competitive and lengthy. Our aim is to select a high quality, diverse and motivated group of candidates who will succeed with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. 

How many people will be hired?

  • The number hired will vary depending upon budget, vacancy, and overall needs of the Sheriff’s Office.

When will the next class start?

  • We target classes for April and November; however, budget, vacancies, and overall needs of the office will ultimately dictate starts dates.

Residency requirements?

  • There is no residency requirement due to a decision by the Ohio Supreme Court.

Can I apply if I am attending school?

  • Yes. However, you must schedule your school around your work schedule.

How will I be trained?

  • Some cadets will start directly in the correctional facilities, be assigned a Field Training Officer (FTO), and attend the academy later; or you will attend the 10-week corrections training academy first and FTO upon completion. All cadets must compete and pass the 10-week corrections training academy within the first year of employment to receive a Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission (OPOTC) Corrections certifications.

Is there a fee to attend our training academy?

  • There is no fee to attend our training academy.

How to prepare for our Corrections academy?

  • Our 10-week corrections academy program is intense, highly detailed, and covers more than basic correctional curriculum. Along with supervisors and instructors, we utilize a paramilitary format which features drill instruction integrated with instructor sessions and classes. Cadets should be physically ready for high intensity activity such as physical training sessions (i.e. running, sit-up, push-ups, High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), etc.), self-defense tactics and drill instruction. Training in cardio as well as strength is encouraged and be prepared to show a strong work ethic during every session.

How long is the Corrections Training Academy?

  • Approximately 10 weeks.

When I am in the Corrections Training Academy, can I go home during the week?

  • Yes, our training academy is not a live-in academy.

What happens after I graduate from the Corrections Training Academy?

  • Newly graduated deputies will enter a Field Training Program at one of our Correctional Facilities for three (3) months of one-on-one training with a Field Training Officer. Generally, you are assigned to a correction's shift in one of our two (2) facilities. Your work schedule will be five (5) eight-hour days with two (2) consecutive days off.

Prior service:

  • If you are hired as a Deputy who possess their Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) certification, you will be re-classified as a Deputy 2 (Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission Certified – OPOTC) upon written approval from the Sheriff. In addition, applicants with prior service with the State of Ohio, any political subdivision thereof, or any combination thereof, may afford the applicant increased vacation leave accrual and/or transfer of unused sick leave.

What kind of growth opportunities are there at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office?

  • There are many growth and career advancement opportunities in our Corrections Division along with our Administration, Security Operations, Investigations, Patrol, Recruitment, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Support Services Divisions. See under Benefits, Salary and Advancement for the list, click here.  

How do I know you have received my applications?

  • On our application website, you will need to log in under your account, once you have logged into your account, in the top right hand corner of the page, should be your name or account name, click on that and a drop down box will appear. Click on application. This will take you to another page that will show all your job applications, if it says application received, then we have received your application. To visit our application website, click here.

What should I expect during the Sheriff’s Office hiring process?

  • We have different phases in our hiring process depending on which position you are looking to apply for. For our Deputy process, click here; for our Patrol Communication Technician (911-Disaptcher) hiring process, click here; for our civilian process, click here.

I was not hired for a specific position. Will I be considered for other jobs at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office?

  • We would be happy to consider your application again; if you are applying for the same position, we only accept applications once every six (6) months.
  • If it’s for a different position, submit a completed application for each open position you are interested in via our application website, to visit our application click here.  

What’s the best way to stay updated on job opportunities at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office?

  • To stay updated you will need to go to our application website, once you have logged in, in the top left-hand corner of the page, under “Menu”, select “Class Specifications”. Once you have located the job(s) that you have interest in, click on the job – a screen will appear with the job description information on it. If there is a green “Subscribe” button in the top right-hand corner, you can request a job interest card. The job interest card will trigger an email to you once the job has become available for applications.
  • Please note: some of our jobs, the job interest card is unavailable, and you will not see the green subscribe button.

Does the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office offer a ride-a-long program?

  • Yes, you must be at least 18 years old, please contact our Patrol Division at 614-525-3300.

How do I become a Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Auxiliary Deputy?

  • Please contact our Patrol Division at 614-525-3300.

Can active duty, reserve, or military veterans apply?

  • Yes. Military personnel and veterans who have, or are anticipated to have, an honorable discharge are eligible and encouraged to apply. General discharge and uncharacterized discharge are also accepted but reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 
  • Active military status personnel can apply but must be available when employment is scheduled to begin.
  • Applicants who are discharged must submit their DD-214 (Member 4 copy) for discharge status verification.
  • Applicants in the military reserves should advise their command of the corrections academy training schedule and attempt to work out a schedule that will allow regular attendance of the academy. Remember, the cadet corrections training academy is approximately 10 weeks long. 

Does the Franklin County Sheriff Office Training Academy and on the job training qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill?

  • Yes, you will receive further instructions on completing the designated paperwork required when requested.

If you are an interested applicant and live outside the State of Ohio or in active military status outside the State of Ohio and will have trouble traveling multiple times during for the hiring process, please contact us at: 614-525-3397.


To Contact Human Resources for the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, see below:

Telephone Number: (614) 525-3397

Fax Number: (614) 525-3560

Email Address: [email protected]



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