200+ Free NC Corrections Officer Practice Questions
Prepare for the North Carolina Correctional Officer Selection Test (NC DAC / REACT) exam with instant access — no signup required.
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Key Facts: NC Corrections Officer Exam
4 sections
REACT Test Components
Ergometrics / National Testing Network
~2 hours
REACT Battery Time
National Testing Network
$41
REACT Starting Fee via NTN
National Testing Network
70%
State Certification Exam Minimum
NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission
18 yrs
Minimum Age
NC Department of Adult Correction
Not published
First-Time Pass Rate
NC DAC / National Testing Network
The North Carolina Correctional Officer Selection Test screens NC Department of Adult Correction applicants. The NTN/Ergometrics REACT battery runs about two hours across four sections: Human Relations situational judgment (video), Reading, Count (observation and math), and Incident Observation and Report Writing. Applying with NC DAC is free; REACT via NTN starts at $41. After hire, officers must score at least 70% on the state certification exam.
Sample NC Corrections Officer Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your NC Corrections Officer exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1You watch a video scenario in which an inmate approaches you and quietly offers to give you information about contraband in exchange for letting him keep a cell phone. The best response is to:
2In a video scenario, two inmates begin arguing loudly in the dayroom and a small crowd starts to gather. You are the only officer present. Your first priority should be to:
3A new officer tells you that a senior officer routinely skips the required cell searches on their shift but still signs the log as if they were completed. The most appropriate action is to:
4In a video scenario, an inmate becomes visibly agitated, raising his voice and clenching his fists while complaining that his grievance was ignored. The best initial approach is to:
5You discover that an inmate you supervise is the cousin of a close personal friend. The professional thing to do is to:
6During a video scenario, an inmate confides that he is being threatened by his cellmate and fears for his safety. The most responsible response is to:
7A visitor at the front desk becomes rude and demanding because visitation was suspended for a security lockdown. The best way to handle the visitor is to:
8In a video scenario, your partner uses unnecessary force on an inmate who had already stopped resisting and was on the ground. After the incident, you should:
9You notice that one inmate consistently does favors for staff and seems to receive small privileges in return from another officer. This situation is concerning mainly because it can:
10In a video scenario, an inmate refuses a direct order to return to his cell and stands defiantly with his arms crossed but makes no aggressive movement. Your best first step is to:
About the NC Corrections Officer Exam
The North Carolina Correctional Officer Selection Test is the entry assessment for candidates seeking to become correctional officers with the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. Many corrections agencies use the NTN/Ergometrics REACT battery, a roughly two-hour, largely video-based test with four sections: Human Relations (situational judgment), Reading, Count (observation and math), and Incident Observation and Report Writing. North Carolina applicants also complete a seven-step hiring process — initial screening, background investigation, interview, medical and drug screening, regional employment office appointment, psychological screening, and start date. After hire, officers attend Basic Correctional Officer Training (BCOT) and must score at least 70% on the state certification exam to be certified by the NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.
Assessment
Question count not published by the exam provider
Time Limit
Approximately 2 hours
Passing Score
Ergometrics sets recommended REACT cut scores per agency; NC requires 70% on the state certification exam after training
Exam Fee
No fee to apply directly with NC DAC; REACT via NTN starts at $41 (includes one department application, $12 per additional) (North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, with REACT delivered through the National Testing Network (Ergometrics))
NC Corrections Officer Exam Content Outline
Human Relations / Situational Judgment
Video-based correctional scenarios on de-escalation, ethics, inmate supervision, teamwork, and public relations
Reading Comprehension
Fill-in-the-blank word selection plus fact extraction and inference from policy and procedure passages
Applying Rules & Procedures
Counts, searches and contraband, use-of-force policy, classification, inmate movement, and NC certification standards
Observation & Memory (Count Test)
Timed count tracking and recall of details from a single viewing of correctional video
Basic Math
Arithmetic, percentages, ratios, time calculations, and corrections word problems
Incident Observation & Report Writing
Grammar, spelling, clarity, and structure of factual incident reports
How to Pass the NC Corrections Officer Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Ergometrics sets recommended REACT cut scores per agency; NC requires 70% on the state certification exam after training
- Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
- Time limit: Approximately 2 hours
- Exam fee: No fee to apply directly with NC DAC; REACT via NTN starts at $41 (includes one department application, $12 per additional)
Keys to Passing
- Work through all 200 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
NC Corrections Officer Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the North Carolina Correctional Officer Selection Test?
It is the entry assessment used to screen applicants for correctional officer positions with the NC Department of Adult Correction. Many agencies use the NTN/Ergometrics REACT battery, a roughly two-hour test that combines video situational-judgment scenarios with reading, observation, math, and report-writing items.
What sections are on the REACT corrections test?
REACT has four sections: Human Relations (video-based situational judgment), Reading, Count (a timed observation-and-math test of inmate movement), and Incident Observation and Report Writing. Several sections use video scenarios that cannot be paused.
How much does the test cost?
There is no fee to apply directly with NC DAC. Where the REACT battery is administered through the National Testing Network, pricing starts at $41, which includes an application to one department, with $12 for each additional department application.
What score do I need to pass?
Ergometrics provides recommended cut scores that each hiring agency sets for REACT, so there is no single universal passing number. Separately, after Basic Correctional Officer Training, North Carolina requires at least 70% on the state certification exam.
How long is the exam?
The REACT battery takes approximately two hours. Timed portions such as the count test move quickly — candidates may have only about 10 seconds to answer some count questions while watching video of inmate movement.
What are the basic requirements to become an NC correctional officer?
Applicants must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident with three years' U.S. residency, hold a high-school diploma or GED, have a valid driver's license, and pass psychological, medical, and drug screening during the hiring process.
What happens after I pass the selection test?
Candidates continue through NC DAC's hiring steps — background investigation, interview, medical and psychological screening — then attend Basic Correctional Officer Training (BCOT) and the COPAT physical abilities test before earning state certification.
Is the exam available remotely?
No. The corrections selection test, including the REACT video components and the post-training state certification exam, is administered in person at approved proctored testing locations.