Compliance Officers

Overview

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Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Experience

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Education

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Job Training

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Examples

Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

Yearly Salary

High: $115K
Median: $71K
Low: $40K

Demand

Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend

Core Tasks

  • Issue licenses to individuals meeting standards.
  • Collect fees for licenses.
  • Administer oral, written, road, or flight tests to license applicants.
  • Advise licensees or other individuals or groups concerning licensing, permit, or passport regulations.
  • Evaluate applications, records, or documents to gather information about eligibility or liability issues.
  • Visit establishments to verify that valid licenses or permits are displayed and that licensing standards are being upheld.
  • Warn violators of infractions or penalties.
  • Prepare reports of activities, evaluations, recommendations, or decisions.
  • Score tests and observe equipment operation and control to rate ability of applicants.
  • Report law or regulation violations to appropriate boards or agencies.
  • Confer with or interview officials, technical or professional specialists, or applicants to obtain information or to clarify facts relevant to licensing decisions.
  • Prepare correspondence to inform concerned parties of licensing decisions or appeals processes.

Technology Skills

Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Computer based training software
Driving simulators
Data base user interface and query software
Microsoft Access
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Outlook
Graphics or photo imaging software
Digital imaging system software
Office suite software
Microsoft Office software
Operating system software
Microsoft Windows
Optical character reader OCR or scanning software
Document scanning software
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Word processing software
Microsoft Word

Tools Used

Tool
Example
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Document scanners
Lamps and lightbulbs and lamp components
Ultraviolet UV lights
Measuring and observing and testing instruments
Magnifying glasses
Office machines and their supplies and accessories
Electric typewriters
Patient exam and monitoring products
Vision screening equipment
Photographic or filming or video equipment
Digital cameras

Top 10 Knowledge Required

Law and Government
82%
Importance

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

English Language
80%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Customer and Personal Service
79%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Public Safety and Security
68%
Importance

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Computers and Electronics
65%
Importance

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Administration and Management
63%
Importance

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Administrative
63%
Importance

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

Education and Training
60%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Telecommunications
53%
Importance

Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Psychology
52%
Importance

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Top 10 Skills

Reading Comprehension
80%
Importance

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Speaking
78%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Listening
75%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Writing
75%
Importance

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Judgment and Decision Making
73%
Importance

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Critical Thinking
70%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Social Perceptiveness
70%
Importance

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Monitoring
68%
Importance

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Complex Problem Solving
65%
Importance

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Persuasion
65%
Importance

Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Top 10 Abilities

Oral Comprehension
80%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression
80%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Written Comprehension
80%
Importance

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Written Expression
80%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Deductive Reasoning
78%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Information Ordering
75%
Importance

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Problem Sensitivity
75%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

Inductive Reasoning
70%
Importance

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Near Vision
70%
Importance

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Speech Clarity
70%
Importance

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Top 10 Work Activities

Getting Information
93%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Documenting/Recording Information
90%
Importance

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
90%
Importance

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Communicating with People Outside the Organization
87%
Importance

Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Processing Information
87%
Importance

Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
85%
Importance

Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
84%
Importance

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
84%
Importance

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Working with Computers
84%
Importance

Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
81%
Importance

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Inform individuals or organizations of status or findings.
  • Review license or permit applications.
  • Examine financial records.
  • Advise others on legal or regulatory compliance matters.
  • Prepare research reports.
  • Communicate with government agencies.
  • Conduct eligibility or selection interviews.
  • Collect payments for goods or services.
  • Administer personnel recruitment or hiring activities.
  • Inspect facilities, equipment or supplies to ensure conformance to standards.
  • Evaluate information related to legal matters in public or personal records.
  • Stay informed about current developments in field of specialization.
  • Update knowledge about emerging industry or technology trends.
  • Maintain knowledge of current developments in area of expertise.
  • Verify accuracy of records.
  • Implement organizational process or policy changes.
  • Communicate organizational policies and procedures.

Interests

Conventional
91%
Importance

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Enterprising
58%
Importance

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Investigative
44%
Importance

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Social
43%
Importance

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Realistic
37%
Importance

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Artistic
15%
Importance

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Work Values

Relationships
72%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Independence
67%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Support
67%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Achievement
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Recognition
48%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Colleges

SAGE Scholars Member Schools that offer majors leading to this career.

Check out the College Search to see the full list of schools with majors for this career.