Park Ranger Series, 0025

Individual Occupational Requirements

Education and Experience Requirements

The following table shows the amounts of education and/or experience required to qualify for positions covered by this standard.

GRADE	EDUCATION	EXPERIENCE
		General	Specialized
GS-1	None	None	None
GS-2	High school graduation or equivalent	6 months	None
GS-3	1 year above high school with 6 semester hours of related course work	6 months	3 months
GS-4	2 years above high school with 12 semester hours of related course work	6 months	6 months
GS-5	4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of related course work	None	1 year equivalent to at least GS-4
GS-7	1 full academic year of graduate education related to the occupation or superior academic achievement	None	1 year equivalent to at least GS-5
GS-9	2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or master's or equivalent graduate degree related to the occupation	None	1 year equivalent to at least GS-7
GS-11	3 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree related to the occupation	None	1 year equivalent to at least GS-9
GS-12 and above	None	None	1 year equivalent to at least next lower grade level

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable.

Education

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, museum sciences, business administration, public administration, behavioral sciences, sociology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources. Course work in fields other than those specified may be accepted if it clearly provides applicants with the background of knowledge and skills necessary for successful job performance in the position to be filled.

OR

Experience

General Experience (for positions at GS-4 and below): Experience in administrative, professional, technical, investigative, or other responsible work that provided a familiarity with natural or cultural history; fish or wildlife habitat characteristics; techniques of resource protection and use; recreational use of public lands and facilities; enforcement of laws, rules, or regulations; fire prevention techniques and fire suppression methods; or the practice of interpersonal relations skills in dealing with the general public. Experience in substantive and relevant secretarial, clerical, or trades and crafts work is also qualifying if pertinent to the position to be filled. Experience of a routine nature, such as typing, filing, maintaining records, or other nonspecialized tasks is not qualifying.

Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-3 and above): Experience that demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled. Experience may have been in technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, law enforcement, or other park-related work. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Park guide or tour leader.
• Law enforcement or investigative work.
• Archeological or historical preservation research work.
• Forestry and/or fire management work in a park, recreation, or conservation area.
• Management, assistant, or program specialist work involving the development and implementation of policy related to protection, conservation, or management of park areas or similar operations.

Use of Selective Factors

Some Park Ranger positions may require knowledge, skills, abilities or other qualifications that are in addition to those described in this standard. Examples include specialized certification(s), possession of a law enforcement commission, or other qualifications essential to successful performance in the position to be filled.

Test Requirements

Refer to Section V of this Manual for information about test requirements.

For Department of the Interior Positions With Pilot Duties

Applicants must:

• Possess a current FAA Commercial Airman Certificate with ratings appropriate for the duties performed;
• Possess an instrument rating;
• Have completed a minimum of 500 hours of flight time as Pilot-in-Command and 25 hours of flight time as Pilot-in-Command at night; and
• Possess a current Class II Medical Certificate.

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