The results of the study indicate that the participants’ counseling skills were significantly improved. The training program brought out deeper reflection on the significant learning experiences, and greater theoretical knowledge, as well as greater understanding of the counseling work for the participants. Support for the Competency-Based Counseling Training Program (CBCTP) for correctional officers is based on the belief that it can offer them opportunities in preparation for a role of effective correctional counseling to work with criminal offenders. The CBCTP for correctional officers consists of structured developmental lessons, which are systematically presented through classroom and group activities. The purposes of this study were (a) to determine whether a competency-based counseling training program could be effective in developing the counseling skills of correctional officers with diverse backgrounds and (b) to examine if participants would demonstrate positive changes in counseling skills regardless of their differences among a variety of demographic variables. The study consisted of 106 correctional officers with both qualitative and quantitative research methods applied. Tables, references