Qualifications
GS-4: In addition to the basic requirements, your resume must also demonstrate at least 6 months of general experience and 6 months of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-3 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. General and specialized experience must demonstrate the following:
- Experience applying a sound technical knowledge of engineering devices are a requisite for this position.
- Experience applying initiative and resourcefulness to independently complete assigned tasks.
- Experience applying verbal and written communication skills.
- Experience applying knowledge of basic computer skills and programs.
GS-3: In addition to the basic requirements, your resume must also demonstrate at least 6 months of general experience at or equivalent to the GS-2 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. General and specialized experience must demonstrate the following:
- Experience applying initiative and resourcefulness.
- Experience applying basic computer skills.
- Experience applying verbal and written communication skills.
Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website:
Engineering Technical Series 0802 (opm.gov)
General Schedule Qualification Standards (opm.gov)
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
Education
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 or equivalent and above):
Examples of qualifying specialized experience include technical work in: drafting, surveying construction estimating, physical science, mathematics, aerospace, architecture, chemicals, electrical or mechanical systems, mining, petroleum, or nuclear systems.
Experience in a trade or craft may be credited as specialized experience when the work provided intensive knowledge of engineering principles, techniques, methods, and precedents. Examples are trade positions with substantial developmental, test, or design responsibilities such as:
- Planner and estimator who analyzed designs for production purposes.
- Instrument maker or model maker who performed design or development work on devices fabricated.
OR
For positions at GS-3 (or equivalent):
Successful completion of l year of post secondary study that included at least 6 semester hours in any combination of courses such as engineering, engineering or industrial technology, construction, physics, drafting, surveying, physical science, or mathematics.
For positions at GS-4 (or equivalent):
Successful completion of 2 years of post secondary study that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses such as those shown above for GS-3 (or equivalent). At least 3 of the 12 semester hours must have been in drafting if the position has been designated by a drafting area of specialization.
Certification:
Engineering technicians may be certified by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies, an organization sponsored by the National Society of Professional Engineers. Certification by the Institute will be helpful as a measure of the technician's quality of experience.
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE:
Applicants may substitute the following education for the required experience, provided it demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position:
GS-4:
Successful completion of at least two full academic years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours of courses in safety, fire prevention, industrial hygiene, psychology, engineering, or in the agricultural, biological, or physical sciences
OR
A combination of experience and post high school education as described above that equates to one year of experience
GS-3:
Successful completion of 1 year above high school with course(s) related to the occupation, if required
If you are using education to meet all or part of the qualification requirements, you must submit a copy of your transcripts or an itemized list of college courses which includes equivalent information from the transcript (course title, semester/quarter hours, and grade/degree earned) in your resume.
IF CLAIMING EDUCATION, FAILURE TO SUBMIT TRANSCRIPTS/ITEMIZED LIST WILL RESULT IN AN INELIGIBLE RATING. See OPM's General Policies for information on crediting education.
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the qualification requirements if the applicant can provide documentation indicating that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide such evidence when applying for further information, visit:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html