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100+ Free ACA CCO Practice Questions

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An inmate sentenced to disciplinary segregation must:

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ArticleFREE Corrections Officer Exam Guide 2026: All 8 Sections + States32 min read
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: ACA CCO Exam

200

Exam Questions

ACA CCO

4 hours

Time Limit

ACA

70%

Passing Score

ACA

$150 / $190

Member / Non-member Fee

ACA

3 years

Recertification Cycle

ACA

15

Code of Ethics Principles

ACA

The ACA CCO is a 200-question, 4-hour proctored exam from the American Correctional Association (founded 1870). Active corrections officers who have completed all current agency training requirements are eligible. Pass at 70%. Cost is $150 for ACA members and $190 for non-members. The CCO is recognized nationwide as a benchmark of line-officer competency.

Sample ACA CCO Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your ACA CCO exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which document, contained within the ACA Code of Ethics, must every certified corrections officer agree to abide by?
A.The ACA Declaration of Principles
B.The 15-principle ACA Code of Ethics
C.The PREA Standards Manual
D.The Federal Sentencing Guidelines
Explanation: ACA certification, including the CCO, requires applicants to agree to abide by the 15-principle ACA Code of Ethics, which covers integrity, respect for human dignity, and responsible professional conduct.
2An officer is offered $50 by an inmate's family member to deliver a sealed letter to an inmate. Under the ACA Code of Ethics, the officer must:
A.Accept the money and deliver the letter through mailroom channels
B.Refuse the money and the letter, and report the offer to a supervisor
C.Refuse the money but deliver the letter as a courtesy
D.Accept the letter only if it is screened by the chaplain
Explanation: The ACA Code of Ethics prohibits accepting gifts, favors, or gratuities and requires reporting any attempt to compromise an officer's integrity. The offer itself is a reportable incident.
3ACA Performance-Based Standards differ from prior compliance-based standards primarily because they emphasize:
A.Number of policies written
B.Measurable outcomes for inmates, staff, and the facility
C.Annual budget per inmate
D.Square footage of housing units
Explanation: Performance-Based Standards shift accreditation focus from inputs (policies, procedures) to measurable outcomes such as incidents of violence, sexual assault, suicide, and program participation.
4The ACA standards series 4-ACRS-4D applies to which type of correctional facility?
A.Adult Community Residential Services
B.Adult Local Detention Facilities
C.Juvenile Detention Facilities
D.Adult Correctional Institutions
Explanation: The 4-ACRS prefix designates ACA Standards for Adult Community Residential Services, such as halfway houses and reentry centers. The 4D suffix identifies a specific edition/series within that manual.
5Which is the ACA-recommended interval between standard reaccreditation audits?
A.Every year
B.Every 2 years
C.Every 3 years
D.Every 5 years
Explanation: ACA-accredited facilities undergo reaccreditation audits every 3 years, with annual self-audits in between to maintain compliance with mandatory and non-mandatory standards.
6Under the ACA Code of Ethics, what is an officer's duty when witnessing a peer commit misconduct?
A.Confront the peer privately and let it go if the peer apologizes
B.Report the misconduct through appropriate channels
C.Ignore it unless it directly harms an inmate
D.Wait until the next shift change to mention it informally
Explanation: The Code of Ethics requires officers to report violations of laws, policies, and ethical standards through appropriate channels. Failing to report is itself an ethics violation.
7An ACA Corrective Action Plan (CAP) is required when:
A.A facility achieves 100% compliance with all standards
B.A facility fails to meet one or more mandatory standards during the audit
C.An officer fails recertification
D.A new warden is appointed
Explanation: If an audit identifies non-compliance with mandatory or non-mandatory standards, the facility must submit a CAP detailing how, when, and by whom each deficiency will be corrected.
8Under the ACA Code of Ethics, a relationship between an officer and an inmate is considered:
A.Acceptable if the inmate is no longer in the officer's housing unit
B.Acceptable with chaplain approval
C.A violation of professional boundaries and prohibited
D.Acceptable after the inmate's release
Explanation: Personal or sexual relationships between staff and inmates are a per se violation of professional boundaries under the ACA Code of Ethics and PREA, regardless of consent or housing location.
9Which ACA principle is BEST illustrated when an officer treats a confrontational inmate with calm, respectful language?
A.Respect for human dignity
B.Loyalty to the agency
C.Strict obedience to direct orders
D.Maintaining anonymity
Explanation: The ACA Code of Ethics requires officers to maintain respect for the dignity of every person, including inmates, even during confrontations. Verbal de-escalation is a direct expression of this principle.
10An ACA accreditation auditor reviews documentation, observes operations, and conducts:
A.Only staff interviews
B.Only inmate interviews
C.Interviews with both staff and inmates
D.No interviews — paperwork only
Explanation: ACA on-site audits include records review, physical-plant inspection, and confidential interviews with both staff and inmates to verify that written policies match actual practice.

About the ACA CCO Exam

The ACA Certified Corrections Officer (CCO) is the specialized ACA credential for line corrections officers. The exam validates mastery of ACA standards, professional ethics, inmate management, use of force, security operations, emergency procedures, communication and documentation, and inmate legal rights.

Questions

200 scored questions

Time Limit

4 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

$150 ACA member / $190 non-member (American Correctional Association (ACA))

ACA CCO Exam Content Outline

22%

ACA Standards & Professional Ethics

Code of Ethics, Standards 4-ACRS-4D, Performance-Based Standards, accreditation

18%

Inmate Management

Count procedures, classification, supervision, disciplinary process

16%

Use of Force & Restraints

Force continuum, deadly force, restraint chair, less-lethal, post-UOF reporting

14%

Security Operations

Sally ports, perimeter, contraband search, key control, tool control

12%

Emergency Procedures

Riot, fire, medical, hostage, escape, lockdowns, ICS basics

10%

Communication & Documentation

Incident reports, log entries, radio procedures, ICS coordination

8%

Legal & Inmate Rights

8th Amendment, PREA 2012, ADA, RLUIPA, Wolff v. McDonnell

How to Pass the ACA CCO Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Exam length: 200 questions
  • Time limit: 4 hours
  • Exam fee: $150 ACA member / $190 non-member

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ACA CCO Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize the 15 ACA Code of Ethics principles and apply them to scenario questions
2Master the use of force continuum from officer presence through deadly force, and know post-UOF reporting steps
3Drill count procedures, classification levels, and the sally port two-door rule
4Know PREA (2003 law, 2012 standards) — zero tolerance, cross-gender pat-downs, reporting timelines
5Practice writing factual incident reports using who/what/where/when/how, observed facts only

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ACA CCO exam and who administers it?

The Certified Corrections Officer (CCO) is the ACA's specialized credential for line corrections officers. It is administered by the American Correctional Association (founded 1870) and validates mastery of ACA standards, ethics, inmate management, use of force, security operations, emergencies, documentation, and inmate legal rights.

How much does the ACA CCO exam cost in 2026?

The ACA CCO exam fee is $150 for ACA members and $190 for non-members. Confirm current pricing at aca.org before applying because fees are reviewed periodically.

How many questions are on the ACA CCO exam and what is the passing score?

The CCO exam is a 200-question multiple-choice test with a 4-hour time limit. Candidates must score at least 70% correct to pass; there is no separate Honors tier on the CCO at this time.

What are the prerequisites for the ACA CCO?

Per ACA, an active corrections officer who has completed all of the agency's current training requirements is qualified to sit for the CCO. Supervisors typically pursue CCM (manager) or CCE (executive) tracks instead.

Is the ACA Code of Ethics tested on the CCO?

Yes. Expect questions on the 15-principle ACA Code of Ethics including integrity, respect for human dignity, reporting misconduct, zero tolerance for staff sexual misconduct under PREA, and avoiding favoritism or accepting gratuities.

Is the CCO available as remote/online testing?

No. The CCO is administered as an ACA proctored exam at approved testing locations and ACA events. Contact ACA certification staff to confirm the current testing schedule and proctor sites.

How does ACA recertification work for the CCO?

The ACA CCO is valid for 3 years. Recertification requires completion of continuing education units (CEUs) from approved sources, adherence to the ACA Code of Ethics, and submission of a recertification application with the applicable fee.