Qualifications
Forgot to turn your homework in last week? If you're planning to be a bailiff, it won't matter. In the grand scheme of things, aspiring bailiffs don't need to worry much about school. This is a Ph.D.-free zone. At most, court bailiffs need a high school diploma or GED.
Not that a Ph.D. would hurt you, per say. In fact, a couple years of higher education—whether that's at a traditional college or a police academy—would certainly look nice on a résumé. Same deal for CPR and first aid training. And after getting the job, your employer (the state or federal government) might expect you to take a formal training course to be all legit and stuff.
But a lot of this job requires skills you won't learn in a classroom, like how to communicate effectively with judges and the people they're sentencing, and how best to handle a can of pepper spray. It's an art form, we'll tell ya.
And speaking of defense mechanisms...most bailiffs carry firearms. Each state has its own rules on weapons in the courtroom. But generally whether you need a license to carry depends on whether you're a certified sheriff or peace officer. Peace officers complete specific training programs, after which they're licensed to carry a gun.
If you're not a peace officer, though, you can still carry a concealed weapon—but you'll need to get a permit (and undergo a background check) first. Rules differ by state, but generally, a permit and training course will run you a couple hundred bucks.