Description
MASSACHUSETTS TRIAL COURT
Invites registrants for:
COURT OFFICER EXAMINATION
Exam Information
Registration: Monday, March 30, 2026 – Friday, May 8, 2026
Testing Window: Monday, April 27, 2026 – Friday, May 22, 2026
Location:
· In-person at a
Pearson VUE
testing center
· Online via
OnVue remote proctoring
All approved applicants will receive an email from I/O Solutions (IOS) with instructions
for scheduling the exam through Pearson VUE. This email will include the candidate
ID, which is required for registration.
Exam Fee: $100
Fee Waiver Application Deadline: Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Reasonable Exam Accommodation Application Deadline: Friday, May 1, 2026
– Please read the procedures for requesting reasonable accommodations below.
Prior Exams: Individuals who successfully passed the January 2025
Court Officer Entrance Exam are NOT required to take this exam. Results from any
other exam administration will not be accepted. All applicants must complete the
Physical Abilities Test and fulfill other hiring requirements outlined in this announcement
and in accordance with Trial Court policy.
Note: The registration link is located at the end of this page. Please
read the full announcement before proceeding with your registration.
Exam Description
In accordance with Massachusetts law, individuals must pass this exam to be eligible
to apply for Court Officer positions. Those who do not take or do not pass the exam
will not be considered for Court Officer roles until a future exam is offered.
A $100 exam fee is required at the time of registration. Fee
waivers are available for eligible candidates.
Candidates who pass the exam will receive further information regarding
the next steps in the hiring process. Please note that passing the exam does not
guarantee an interview. All applicants must meet the full eligibility requirements
to be considered for appointment. Due to the high volume of qualified candidates,
those selected for interviews typically exceed the minimum qualifications.
Exam Overview
Registration: All registrations must be submitted by the specified deadlines
and include the exam processing fee. You will receive a confirmation email once
your registration is complete; your registration will not be considered finalized
until you receive this confirmation. All further information regarding the exam
will be sent to you via email. Please make sure to regularly check the email address
you provided during registration for important updates about the upcoming exam.
Your exam processing fee of $100 must be paid by 11:59 p.m. on Friday,
May 8, 2026. If you do not register and pay by this deadline, your registration
will not be processed, and you will not be eligible to take the exam. Candidates
who successfully register will receive an email from in**@*********ns.com, containing
specific instructions for scheduling an appointment with Pearson VUE. Additionally,
an orientation and preparation guide will be available immediately in the I/O Solutions
dashboard at no extra cost for all confirmed exam registrants.
Pearson VUE: Approved applicants will receive an email from IOS detailing
the steps they need to take in order to schedule their test with Pearson VUE. This
email will include an applicant’s candidate ID, which is required to log
into the Pearson VUE system to register. If you are an approved applicant and you
either lost or did not receive this email, please contact IOS at
in**@*********ns.com , with “REACH Program
Inquiry” as the subject.
Appointments made with Pearson VUE may be made up to 24 hours in advance and
exam slots are subject to authorizations from IOS and availability. Applicants wishing
to reschedule or cancel an arranged exam appointment are required to provide more
than 24 hours’ notice prior to the appointment time.
Fee Waiver Applications: The exam fee may be waived for registrants receiving
certain state or federal public assistance or unemployment insurance. A link to
the fee waiver application form can be found at
https://www.mass.gov/guides/massachusetts-trial-court-court-officer-exam-information
Please follow the instructions on the form for proper submission of the Fee Waiver
Form and supporting documentation. All fee waiver forms must be scanned and emailed
to ex***@**********ma.us by Wednesday, May 6, 2026, to allow sufficient time for
review prior to the close of registration. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Reasonable Exam Accommodations: Candidates who wish to request a reasonable
accommodation for the exam due to a documented impairment must first successfully
register online for the exam and then complete an Exam Accommodation Application.
The application link is available at:
https://www.mass.gov/guides/massachusetts-trial-court-court-officer-exam-information
Please follow the step-by-step process to ensure your reasonable accommodation
is processed quickly and efficiently:
1) Register online for the exam following the procedures noted in
this announcement.
2) Do Not schedule your exam with Pearson until you have been notified
that your accommodation is approved.
a. Save your exam “scheduling email“ you will receive after registering
for your exam with IOS, but please do not schedule your exam with Pearson.
3) Complete an Exam Accommodation Application using the link noted
in this section.
4) Schedule your exam once you have been notified by the Massachusetts
Trial Court of your accommodation status.
a. You may now use your “scheduling email” notification from IOS
to schedule your exam.
b. Scheduling your exam prior to receiving notice of your accommodation
may result in a significant delay in registering for your examination.
All Exam Accommodation Applications must be submitted by Friday, May 1, 2026,
to allow sufficient time to review prior to the close of testing. Applications received
after this deadline will not be accepted.
After the application is submitted, a representative from the Human Resources
Leaves and Benefits team will contact the candidate to discuss the request. At that
time, candidates will be asked to provide supporting documentation from a qualified
professional outlining the specific accommodation being requested. Supporting documentation
must be submitted within the timeframe specified by Human Resources. Failure to
provide requested documentation may result in denial of the accommodation request.
Please note that accommodation requests are reviewed on an individual basis,
and submission of an application does not guarantee approval. All information collected
is used solely for the purpose of determining reasonable exam accommodations and
will not be used for any other purpose. Once approved, a representative from the
Massachusetts Trial Court will notify you that you may proceed in scheduling your
exam with Pearson.
Current Military Personnel: All military personnel with orders
indicating unavailability due to service on the exam date must register for the
exam, pay the processing fee, or submit a Fee Waiver application, and submit a written
request for a makeup exam, including a copy of your military orders.
Military related requests must be emailed to:
ex***@**********ma.us by
Friday, May 8, 2026.
No Makeup Exam: Except for current military personnel, no candidate is
entitled to a makeup exam due to personal or professional conflicts on the testing
date. Candidates are encouraged to review this policy before applying for the exam.
If you have registered and then experience a personal emergency or unforeseen hardship,
you may request a makeup exam by submitting a written request with verifiable documentation
to ex***@**********ma.us.
Note: Previously scheduled vacation plans do not qualify as a personal emergency,
unforeseen hardship, or valid reason for a makeup exam.
Makeup exam requests must be submitted within 3 calendar days following
the start of the testing period. The Trial Court reserves the right to approve or
deny your request and may require an additional exam processing fee upon approval.
Testing Policy Information: On test day, you will need to bring a valid
form of identification. Please read through the following requirements to ensure
that you supply proper identification. Applicants who arrive without proper identification
will be unable to test.
Identification at the time of Exam:
- The first and last name that the candidate uses to register must match
exactly the first and last name on the ID that is presented on test day. - Candidate is required to present one original (no photocopies),
valid (unexpired) form of government issued ID that includes their
name, photograph, and signature.
Acceptable forms of ID: passport, Driver’s License, Military ID (including
spouse & dependents), Identification card (national/state/province identity
card), Alien registration card (green card, permanent resident card, visa), Government
Issues: local language ID (not in Roman Characters) – accepted only if issued from
the country the candidate is testing in.
If you have any questions about the ID you are required to bring with you
to the testing center for admittance for your exam, please
contact Pearson VUE customer service.
Change of Personal Information: Candidates are responsible for keeping
their contact information—such as address, email, and phone number—up to date with
the Trial Court. Failing to maintain accurate records and notify us at
ex***@*******te.ma.us
may jeopardize your employment opportunities.
Refunds: There will be NO REFUNDS of the exam processing fee unless the
Trial Court cancels the exam.
Examples of Essential Duties for Court Officer
Please review the examples of essential duties and minimum requirements for
this position before registering for the Court Officer Exam.
The court officer is responsible for maintaining order in and around court premises,
protecting judges, jurors, witnesses, prisoners, court personnel, and the public
who utilize Massachusetts Trial Court buildings and facilities. A Court Officer
provides a visual security presence at court entrances/security screening stations
and throughout the building; screens persons who wish to enter court buildings for
weapons and other items of contraband; operates metal detectors and x-ray machines
to perform the screening functions; monitors CCTV cameras to ensure safety of the
public, court employees and prisoners; protects and safeguards courtrooms, grounds,
buildings, employees, jurors, the public, and visitors on the courthouse premises.
The court officer is responsible for the care, custody, and control of all prisoners
and persons taken into custody and held at a court facility. The court officer enforces
all appropriate judicial orders and enforces all laws and ordinances as appropriate.
The court officer is a member of an integrated statewide security team. The court
officer works with fellow court officers, associate court officers, and the Security
Department management team to identify and address all security concerns, including
promptly dealing with disturbances, exercising arrest powers if warranted, responding
to and managing medical emergencies, producing reports, and maintaining logs and
records to ensure the safety and security of all Massachusetts Trial Court facilities.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
· Provides safety and security to all persons that enter the courthouse
and courthouse grounds.
· Performs safety security checks of the perimeter of the building,
courtrooms and any other rooms used throughout the day.
· Exercises statutory arrest powers in or about the areas of the
court or areas designated as the court.
· Escorts detainees to and from lockup courtroom and other designated
areas as needed.
· Searches and processes detainees from various law enforcement
agencies.
· Works with the different departments within the Trial Courts.
· May be assigned by the Security Department to perform court officer
duties throughout the courthouse to include jury pool management.
· Patrols and maintains order on courthouse grounds to protect all
employees and visitors.
· Works the screening station, x-ray and metal detectors at main
entrance.
· Monitors CCTV cameras, DSX and Security Systems to ensure safety
of the public, court employees, and prisoners.
· Prepares and submits incident reports, maintains security logs
and performs equipment checks as directed.
· Responds to all medical, building emergencies and disturbances.
· Works inside a courtroom during trials, motions, arraignments,
and pretrial activities.
· Attends all court officer training programs required by the Trial
Court and must successfully pass all training requirements.
· Inputs weekly SSTA timesheet.
· Monitors department issued e-mails and announcements.
· Complies with and demonstrates an understanding of all Trial Court
policies, Security Department policies and procedures, and all state and federal
laws.
· Maintain Health and Wellness standard.
· Performs other duties as required.
Working Conditions
Work is frequently performed in office or similar indoor environments, as well
as outdoor environments. Work requires frequent exposure to individuals who are
hostile or irate and individuals with known violent backgrounds.
Physical Demands
This position requires heavy work:
Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds of force frequently,
and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly having to move objects.
For more information on the Security department and becoming a Trial Court Officer
visit Trial
Court Security Department.
Minimum Requirements
In addition to passing the exam, individuals must apply to a Trial Court job
posting at Jobs with
the Court System when posted (after the exam) and meet the following minimum
requirements in order to be considered for appointment as a Court Officer:
Education and Experience
· A High school diploma or an equivalent; an Associate’s degree
or higher degree in criminal justice or a similar field of study is preferred; and
2 years prior experience in security, law enforcement, corrections, loss prevention,
emergency medical services, direct care social services, or military service;
· An Associate’s degree and one year of experience in criminal justice
or a related field, may be substituted for the required experience;
· A Bachelor’s degree may substitute for required work experience.
Other Requirements After Passing the Exam and Prior to an Appointment
Physical Abilities Test (PAT) – Candidates must demonstrate their ability
to meet physical standards. Those who pass the written exam and meet the minimum
requirements for the position may be invited to attend a Physical Abilities Test
(PAT) session. Due to the expected high volume of applicants, not all candidates
will be invited to the PAT simultaneously. To learn more about the PAT, click here:
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/physical-ability-test-for-massachusetts-court-officers.
Structured Oral Interview – Candidates must pass a Structured Oral Interview.
Psychological Assessment – Candidates may be asked to undergo a psychological
assessment.
Consent to Criminal Record Check – Interviewed candidates selected for
appointment will be required to complete the Consent to Criminal Record Check Form.
Trial Court Policy (Section 4.100) may prohibit the employment of individuals with
a felony conviction or a misdemeanor conviction resulting in incarceration if the
end date of such incarceration is within the five-year period immediately preceding
the date of application of employment. A Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI)
check involving other offenses will not automatically disqualify the final candidate(s).
Determinations of suitability based on CORI checks will be made consistent with
this policy and any applicable law or regulations.
Medical – As a condition of employment, applicants for the Court
Officer position must successfully pass a medical exam that includes a drug screening.
Background Investigation – Candidates will be subjected to a background
investigation.
Federal I9 Form for Employment Eligibility – Pursuant to the provisions
of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, after an offer of employment
is made, selected candidates for appointment are required to complete an Employment
Eligibility Verification Form (I-9) and submit the required document(s) that establish
identity and verify the right to work in the United States.
Massachusetts Residency Requirement – Pursuant to G.L. c. 478, sec. 328
of the Acts of 1978, no person who is not a resident of the Commonwealth shall serve
as an officer in or an employee of the Judicial Branch; provided, however, that
this provision shall not apply to those persons serving as officers in or employees
of the Judicial Branch prior to the effective date of c. 478, sec. 328.
Training – Candidates must satisfactorily complete the Court Officer Training
Academy and are subject to a probationary period.
Exam Registration and Payment Information:
All registrations must be submitted by the posted deadline and include an exam
processing fee. Once your registration is complete, you will receive a confirmation
email.
Your registration is not finalized until you receive the confirmation email.
All additional information about the exam will be communicated via email, so please
regularly check the email address you provided during registration. If you don’t
see any emails, be sure to check your junk mail folder.
Pearson VUE
Approved applicants who are testing through Pearson VUE will receive an email
from IOS detailing the steps they need to take in order to schedule their test.
This email will include an applicant’s candidate ID, which is required to
log into the Pearson VUE system to register. If you are an approved applicant and
you either lost or did not receive this email, please contact IOS at in**@*********ns.com,
with “REACH Program Inquiry” as the subject.
Appointments made with Pearson VUE may be made up to 24 hours in advance and
exam slots are subject to authorizations from IOS and availability. Applicants wishing
to reschedule or cancel an arranged exam appointment are required to provide more
than 24 hours’ notice prior to the appointment time.
Contact Information:
The Office of Court Management is overseeing the exam process for this position.
For more details or any questions about the process, please contact:
Office of Court Management
Business Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, except holidays.
Email: ex***@**********ma.us Telephone
Number: 617-742-8575
