The line staff establish the day-to-day atmosphere for the inmates, and their work is now both intellectually and interpersonally challenging. However, serious questions have arisen regarding how well prepared operational personnel are for their significant challenges and responsibilities. By the late 1970's, States began to implement minimum correctional training standards and the American Correctional Association's Commission on Accreditation established the first national training standards. The historical approach was to place new employees directly on the job and to complete training later. Correctional training has progressed in recent years to the traditional approach in which recruits go directly to the training academy immediately upon employment. The disadvantages of this approach are its financial costs and its costs to the field in terms of recognition as a profession. Therefore, some organizations are turning to the professional or preservice approach. Recruits are screened, but they must complete the necessary training to become state-certified and hired in their profession. Changing from the historical to the professional approach makes training the first rather than the last priority. This approach will both save money and promote the professionalization of the most influential correctional personnel. Figure, table, and reference notes