Who May Apply: US Citizens
In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is
in this document.
Basic Requirement for Nurse (Clinical/Ambulatory):
Degree: A graduate or higher level degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program is required. This education must have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.).
Licensure: A current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States; and you must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination.
Foreign Degree: A degree from a Foreign Nursing School. Official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools is required for individuals who graduated from foreign nursing schools.
Exemption: You are exempt from the basic requirements above if you are a current federal employee occupying a position in the 0610 occupational series and have been continuously employed in this occupational series since September 27, 2017 or before. Applicants claiming this exemption must meet the requirement below. Note: You will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the respective Human Resources Office to validate your status.
Degree or diploma from a professional nursing program approved by the legally designated State accrediting agency at the time the program was completed by the applicant.
Active, current registration as a professional nurse in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:
GS-07 Nurse (Clinical/Ambulatory)
Education/Experience: A bachelor's degree in Nursing and at least one full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-5 grade level). Professional nursing experience is experience that demonstrates the following competencies: medication administration, patient bedside care, specimen collection, basic dressing/wound care/dressing change, infection prevention, and patient health assessments.
OR
Education/Experience: A diploma or associate degree in professional nursing and two full years of professional nursing experience. Professional nursing experience is experience that demonstrates the following competencies: medication administration, patient bedside care, specimen collection, basic dressing/wound care/dressing change, infection prevention, and patient health assessments.
OR
Education: At least one full year of graduate education in a professional nursing educational program.
OR
Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in Nursing at the baccalaureate level. Superior Academic Achievement is based on:
(1)
Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR
(2)
Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR
(3)
Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (
https://www.achshonor.org/).
EXEMPTION: You are exempt from the qualification requirements above if you are a current federal employee occupying a position in the 0610 occupational series and have been continuously employed in this occupational series since September 27, 2017 or before. Applicants claiming this exemption must meet the requirement below. Note: You will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the respective Human Resources Office to validate your status.
A professional nursing program and one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 level. Professional nursing experience is experience that demonstrates the following competencies: medication administration, patient bedside care, specimen collection, basic dressing/wound care/dressing change, infection prevention, and patient health assessments. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.).
OR
One full year of graduate education from a professional nursing program.
GS-09 Nurse (Clinical/Ambulatory)
Education/Experience: A diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's degree in Nursing from a professional nursing program and possession of at least one full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-7 grade level or above) which includes providing nursing care to patients, conducting patient assessments, and educating patients. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)
OR
Education: A master's degree in professional nursing.
EXEMPTION: You are exempt from the qualification requirements above if you are a current federal employee occupying a position in the 0610 occupational series and have been continuously employed in this occupational series since September 27, 2017 or before. Applicants claiming this exemption must meet the requirement below. Note: You will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the respective Human Resources Office to validate your status.
Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a master's or equivalent degree from a professional nursing program.
***See Education section for the GS-11 Nurse (Clinical/Ambulatory) qualification requirements***