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Automated Certification Exam Pilot Beginning in April for Juvenile Probation Officers

The Juvenile Justice Training Academy has been working diligently over the last six months with the Correctional Management Institute of Texas (CMIT) and the Regional Training Officers statewide to develop an automated competency exam for applicants seeking certification as a juvenile probation officer. The competency exam is in accordance to Texas Human Resource Code §222.001 and was promulgated to bring an increased level of credibility to the officer’s certification. The requirements are set forth in Texas Administrative Code §344.700. While juvenile probation officers were taking a written exam following the completion of basic training if they attended at Sam Houston State University, the administration of such an exam was not universally administered statewide in departments providing their own training.


Beginning in April 2016, TJJD will be working in partnership with CMIT to pilot an automated competency exam over a five-month period with an overall goal of going live statewide on September 1, 2016 for all newly certified juvenile probation officers. Any current certified juvenile probation officer will be grandfathered from taking the competency exam. The pilot will include anyone who attends basic training at CMIT to become a juvenile probation officer, and it will also be extended to two other urban or large counties. The goal of the pilot is to ensure we have adequately addressed all major issues with the exam up front in order to minimize potential issues in the data or processing of exams. TJJD will also continue to analyze the data to ensure the fidelity and appropriateness of the test questions.


During the pilot program, individuals taking the exam will not be charged a fee for the exam, however, beginning September 1, 2016 there will be a $20 fee imposed for the exam. TJJD will leave the discretion of payment to the hiring authority on how this fee is paid. Options discussed may include: requiring the individual to pay in full; requiring the individual to pay, but getting reimbursed after certain circumstances are met (either passage of test or length of service met, etc.); department may pay using county funds; or department may pay using some method of state funding (to be determined as we get closer to the implementation date).


The exam will be a randomly generated exam of 60 questions and include a minimum number of questions from every mandatory topic. One of the best ways to prepare staff for the competency exam will be to ensure that all departments are using the most current training material from TJJD’s Training Resource webpage.


Departments providing their own training will be proctoring the exam. TJJD will be providing an informational webinar or training for all proctors as implementation nears. When an applicant takes the exam, the data and score will be sent to both TJJD and the applicant. Applicants will have two attempts to pass the competency exam. If the applicant is unable to pass the exam after two attempts, the applicant will no longer be eligible for certification as a juvenile probation officer. TJJD is considering a possible rule that would allow for the hiring authority to request a waiver for a third attempt.


This pilot only affects juvenile probation officers; however, juvenile supervision officers are also
statutorily required to take a competency exam as well. The Juvenile Justice Training Academy has determined that once the juvenile probation officer exam is operational and fully functional, we will move forward with the pilot and implementation of the JSO exam. Additional details on this exam will be provided at a later date.


For more information, please contact Kristy Almager at 512.490.7125 or Kristy.Almager@tjjd.texas.gov or Chris Ellison at 512.490.7245 or Chris.Ellison@tjjd.texas.gov.

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