Counseling Trainee Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $58,406.40 - $104,728.00 Annually
Location : Throughout San Bernardino County, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 26-16281/16280-03
Department: Probation
Opening Date: 06/18/2026
Closing Date: 9/7/2026 8:00 AM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
The Job
The Probation Department is recruiting for Probation Officers who perform the full range of duties in handling a juvenile or adult caseload.Incumbents arepeace officers responsible for investigating offenses and social history backgrounds of adult or juvenile offenders; writing reports and making recommendations to the court relative to adult and juvenile cases; supervising and counseling probationers, Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS), and mandatory supervision clients, in order to meet the conditions and goals of their probation; and conducting field investigations.
Your application will be reviewed to determine eligibility for the highest level within the series.
*Please Note: Salary posted is the range for all levels. Please see job description and salary for each level below:
*Official Title: Probation Officer I
For more detailed information, refer to the Probation Officer I job description.
*Official Title: Probation Officer II
For more detailed information, refer to the Probation Officer II job description.
Learn more about the San Bernardino County Probation Department at
TRAINING/ADVANCEMENT
Probation Officer I's (Trainee) are eligible for promotion toProbation Officer II upon meeting the minimum requirements for Probation Officer II and receipt of a satisfactory work progress report. Incumbents must be promoted within 18 months or be terminated.
EXCELLENT BENEFITS
To review job-specific benefits, refer to:
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Peace Officer Status: These positions have peace officer status and will require the incumbent to be armed. All Probation Officers will be expected to participate in a continuum of force training program which includes control of aggression, tactical negotiations, unarmed defensive tactics and use of pepper spray. Incumbents must also enroll in, and successfully complete, the department's arming training, Field Training Officer (FTO) program, and maintain qualification standards, and must be willing to accept an armed assignment at the discretion of the appointing authority.
Shift Work: Some positions may require working various shifts, holidays and weekends. Incumbents may be required to work overtime.
Sponsorship: San Bernardino County is not able to consider candidates who will require visa sponsorship at the time of application or in the future.
Body Art Policy: While on duty shall not exhibit, display, allow to be visible, etc. any body art (e.g. any physical alteration or modification including, but not limited to, tattooing, piercing, stretching, branding, beading/implantation, scarification, etc.). Any body art shall be completely covered by articles of clothing, a skin-colored patch not exceeding three (3) inches by three (3) inches, or skin-colored cosmetic makeup.
Travel: A valid California Class C Driver License is required to carry out the essential job-related functions of this position. Proof of automobile liability insurance must be maintained.
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must be 21 years of age (20.5 at time of testing) and meet Peace Officer Requirements (see below) AND meet both the education and experience requirements for one the following options:
Probation Officer I
Option
Education
Experience
Option 1Completion of a Bachelor's degree from a college or university.*No Experience Required.
Applies to education options 1 and 2.
Option 2Thirty (30) semester (45 quarter) units of completed college coursework in psychology, sociology, criminology, criminal justice or other closely related behavioral science from a college or university,* half of which must be upper division coursework.
Option 3Completion of an Associates of Art/Science degree or equivalent in psychology, sociology, criminology, criminal justice or other closely related behavioral science from a college or university.*
Eighteen (18) months of full-time experience as a San Bernardino County Probation Corrections Officer.
Option 4Graduation from a U.S. high school, G.E.D. or a U.S. Department of Education approved High School Equivalency Test.
Three (3) years of full-time experience as a San Bernardino County Probation Corrections Officer.
Probation Officer IIApplicants must meet the education and experience requirements in one of the above options -AND- one (1) year of experience as a Juvenile Correctional Officer, Parole Agent, professional casework or group work experience which has included counseling and direct involvement in complex treatment assignments (e.g., probation officer, social worker, group counselor).**Important Notes:
* Degree must be accredited by any accrediting association recognized by the United States Department of Education.
** Employment and/or vocational counseling are not qualifying experience.
- Legible copies of transcripts (unofficial transcripts are preferred) must be submitted with the application if qualifying under option 2.
- Degrees or coursework completed outside of the U.S. must be accompanied by an evaluation report from a reputable credential evaluation service indicating equivalency to degrees or coursework completed at a college or university accredited by any accrediting association recognized by the United States Department of Education.
PEACE OFFICER REQUIREMENTS
Prior to appointment, candidates must:

• Be successful on the Written Test, Physical Agility Test, and Department Interview to continue to the background investigation.
• Pass a background investigation, which includes, but is not limited to, a fingerprint check, psychological testing and a polygraph test (current San Bernardino County Probation Dept. employees in peace officer positions will not be required to take the polygraph test). Applicants must not have been convicted of a felony, or currently be on court ordered probation (or have been within the last year).
• Be at least 21 years of age at time of hire (Applicants should be at least 20.5 years at time of testing)and possess a High School diploma, General Educational Diploma (GED), or have passed a High School Proficiency Exam or equivalent.
• Provide official sealed transcripts of completed college coursework.
• Show proof of having completed the required basic certified training specified by Standards and Training for Corrections for the State of California and PC 832 (Laws of arrest, search and seizure), or meet this obligation within the first year of employment. Training will be provided upon hire. New hires who possess PC 832 certification will not be required to repeat training if they provide a copy of their PC 832 certificate.
• Be legally authorized to work in the United States, pursuant to Government Code 1031at the time of hire.
• Possess a valid Class C Driver License. Employees in this class may be required to use personal vehicles and may be required to show proof of automobile liability insurance.
• Meet minimum vision (both eyes) and hearing (both ears) requirements. Vision and hearing tests will be administered.
• Pass a treadmill and medical test.

Selection Process
Testing will tentatively take place the WEEK of September 21, 2026.*
*Testing usually takes place on Monday. Please note test dates are subject to change and availability is limited. Candidates will be contacted approximately two weeks prior to self-schedule for an available exam session. Emails to self-schedule an exam session will be sent after the application deadline.
There will be an in-person proctored computer assessment of knowledge and skills in the following areas:

• Written Communication
• Reading Comprehension
• Applying Rules
• Basic Math

NOTE: If you have applied for a similar position in another county and successfully passed the Board of State Community Corrections (BSCC) exam within the past year, you may be eligible to transfer your score.
**YOU MAY ONLY APPLY AND TEST ONCE EVERY SIX (6) MONTHS **
If you took this test within the last 6 months your previous score will be transferred
Application Procedure:Please complete and submit the online employment application and supplemental questionnaire for consideration before the posted deadline. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application and/or supplemental questionnaires.
To ensure timely and successful submission of your online application, please allow ample time to complete and submit your application before the filing deadline. Applicants will be automatically logged-out if they have not submitted the application and all required materials prior to the posted deadline. Once your application has been successfully submitted you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email. We recommend that you save and/or print these for your records. Please note: if you do not receive an onscreen confirmation and an email acknowledging our receipt of your application, we have not received your application.
If you need technical assistance, follow this link to or contact their Toll-Free Applicant Support line at (855) 524-5627. Please note that Human Resources is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by your internet connection, computer, or browser when submitting an application.
Test Preparation: Candidates may wish to review the Board of State and Community Corrections for the Juvenile Corrections Officer Examination.
Applicants must be successful in the Written Exam to continue to the Physical Agility Test.
THE PHYSICAL AGILITY TEST
Candidates passing the Written Exam will be invited to participate in the Physical Agility Test. Visit the San Bernardino Probation Department for details and an invitation to the APPLICANT WORKSHOP.
Only those applicants successful on both the Written Exam and Physical Agility Test will continue in the background process.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) / Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):San Bernardino County is an and Americans with DisabilitiesAct (ADA) compliant employer, dedicated to ensuring equal employment opportunities for allemployees and applicants.
ADA Accommodation:If you have a disability and need accommodations during the testing process, please submit the within one week of the recruitmentfiling deadline.
Veterans' Preference:Eligible veterans and their spouses or widows/widowers who are not current County employees may receive additional Veterans' Preference points. For details and instructions on how to request these points, please refer to the
For more important details,
Probation
San Bernardino County offers a range of benefit programs for employees and their eligible dependents. These include health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as a variety of other voluntary benefits. Programs and benefit amounts vary and are based on bargaining unit, family size, hire date, plan selection, and number of hours worked.
Please review the appropriate * for more information
Refer to the appropriate MOU, contact the County's Employee Benefits and Services Division at (909) 387-5787 or visit the for more detailed information.
*Retirement benefits subject to change.
01
INSTRUCTIONS: The information on the application and your responses to the following supplemental questions will be used to make a determination regarding minimum qualifications. Responses should be provided for each question in order to ensure qualifications are properly considered.

• I have read and understand the above statement.

02
Education and Experience: Select the option that best describes your qualifications. Your education and experience must be included in the designated section of the County Application.

• Option 1: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university.

• Option 2: Thirty (30) semester (45 quarter) units of completed college coursework in psychology, sociology, administration of justice or other closely related behavioral science; at least half of the required coursework must be upper division level coursework.

• Option 3: Associates degree (or equivalent coursework) in psychology, sociology, administration of justice or other closely related behavioral science from an accredited college/university -AND- eighteen (18) months of experience as a San Bernardino County Probation Officer or Probation Corrections Officer.

• Option 4: Graduation from a US high school, G.E.D., or a US Department of Education approved High School Equivalency Test -AND- three (3) years experience as a San Bernardino County Probation Corrections Officer.

• I have read and meet option 1 requirements.
• I have read and meet option 2 requirements.
• I have read and meet option 3 requirements.
• I have read and meet option 4 requirements.
• None of the ab