Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals; Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP); and Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP).

Location Negotiable after Selection: For more information on NPS law enforcement and to view available locations, see "Find Positions and Locations": Become a Law Enforcement Ranger

Park Ranger (Protection) Duties:

• Enforce Federal laws, regulations and policies; patrol front country and backcountry sites.
• Emergency response (Incident Command System), including medical services, search and rescue, and wildland/structural fire suppression.
• Facilitate visitor stewardship and orientation; wilderness management; boundary enforcement; protection of natural and cultural
• resources
• Assist with preliminary investigations of felonies, crimes, and violations of park rules, public use, safety requirements, and motor vehicle accidents.
• Crowd control activities; proactively protects park resources from all forms of degradation.
• Conduct law enforcement investigations into misdemeanor violations; Under the supervision of a Type I commissioned personnel, investigate felony violations and fatalities.

Additional duties for GL-9:

• Conduct law enforcement investigations into misdemeanor, felony violations and fatalities.
• Provide specialized knowledge of resource protection, resource education, and public use management.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Other Position Requirements:

• Prior to appointment, you MUST be determined physically fit by an authorized physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties, pass a medical examination, and pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB). The PEB is a fitness test consisting of five different components: 1) agility run - measures the ability to get up from the ground and sprint while changing directions; 2) bench press - measures upper body strength for one repetition; 3) 1.5 mile run - measures cardio/respiratory fitness; 4) sit and reach - measures flexibility in the lower back, legs and shoulders; and 5) body composition - measures body fat. Prior to appointment, selectees will be tested in all five components, and must pass the agility run, bench press and 1.5 mile run in the 25th percentile. Learn more about the PEB here.
  • Required scores for your age and gender here.
  • Learn about the Medical Standards Program here.
  • Learn about FLETC Physical Performance Requirements (PPRs) here
• Required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
• Required to wear a uniform and comply with the NPS uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• Occupancy of government quarters may be required.
• Government housing may be available.
• May be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
• May be required to travel overnight away from home.
• May be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
• Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position and recommendation by the supervisor.
• Cost of Living Allowance (COLA): The salary annotated on this announcement does not include the cost-of-living allowance, nor locality pay.
  • Nonforeign Area Cost-of-Living Allowances to calculate locality pay.
  • OPM Salaries and Wages (Special Rates L001-L059) to calculate locality pay.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.
• This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:
  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.
• Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship or U.S. National Required.
• Subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
• Complete the online assessment and USAHire Assessment.
• Subject to a pre-employment medical exam and drug test; Must pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB).
• Required to attend & successfully complete the NPS Basic Academy Bridge Training Program AND Field Training Evaluation Program OR FLETC Land Management Police Training AND Field Training Evaluation Program (see Qualifications section for more information).
• Must successfully complete agency-sponsored training to obtain an NPS Type I Law Enforcement Commission.
• Will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• Will be required to carry a firearm while performing duties and maintain firearm proficiency.
• Must be free of any domestic violence convictions. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
• Required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties; also pass a pre-employment medical examination (which includes vision, hearing, cardiovascular, and mobility of extremities) given by an authorized physician. You will also be required to undergo periodic medical examinations throughout employment.
• Required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required.
• Applicants must be at least 21 years old.
• Must not have reached your 37th birthday prior to employment.
• Exception to mandatory age requirement: Applicants who have prior Federal service in a primary covered position sufficient to complete 20 years of service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57 OR if an applicant is a qualified veteran and is preference eligible, in which case the mandatory entry age is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service.
• See Duties section for more position requirements.

Qualifications

ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION:
NPS Basic Academy Bridge Training Program (BABTP) and Field Training & Evaluation Program (FTEP) Information - If selected, you are required to attend and pass the 4-week BABTP at the Albright Training Center, South Rim, Grand Canyon, AZ (location subject to change). Housing and per diem will be provided. You will be employed and paid by your park while attending training. Upon BABTP completion, you must complete and pass the required FTEP. FTEP may or may not occur at your employing park. Failure of the BABTP or FTEP may result in termination of employment or a requirement to attend a full basic academy.

If your Police Training Program, commissioned experience, or other qualifications are determined by the NPS or Department of the Interior as ineligible for the NPS BABTP, you will be required to attend and complete the FLETC, Land Management Police Training.

QUALIFICATIONS:
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-02/13/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your 2-page resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the 2-page resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience.

For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

In addition to the standard Park Ranger (Protection) qualifications listed below, If you would like to be considered for this option, the applicant must be conversationally fluent in at least one of the following languages, and support within your resume. You will NOT be rated ineligible if you do not possess the optional language in your application.

• Spanish

Some parks on this announcement may require Park Ranger (Protection) to be certified in Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) duties will be less than 20% of the time. If you would like to be considered for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) you must provide your certification in your supporting documents at the time of application. (Note: You will still be considered for this position without EMT certifications. These are additional designations applicants can be considered for by parks that require it). You will NOT be rated ineligible if you do not possess the optional certifications in your application.

Mandatory Requirements for Park Ranger (Protection):

1. Selective Placement Factors: Applicants must meet ALL of the following to qualify:

• This is a primary position covered by enhanced retirement provisions which stipulate mandatory retirement at age 57 after 20 years of service. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, and must not have reached their 37th birthday upon appointment to this position. Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in a primary covered position sufficient to complete 20 years of service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service.
• Must have a current, valid State Driver's License by 02/13/2026.
• Applicants must have worked in a sworn officer position within the last 3 years AND successfully completed a Police Training Program certified by, sponsored by, or approved by, a local, state, tribal, or Federal agency, or by the military, OR must have successfully completed a Police Training Program certified by, sponsored by, or approved by, a local, state, tribal, or Federal agency, or by the military within the last 3 years.

2. Applicants must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

For GL-07 level:
A. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GL/GS-05 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as performing law enforcement work as a sworn officer with a Federal, state, tribal and/or local agency, OR the military, that included oversight and assistance of a senior law enforcement officer. -OR-
B. Education: You must possess one full academic year of graduate education directly related to the occupation (see Education section - related education; one year of full time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours). -OR-
C. Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): SAA is based on: 1) class standing, 2) grade-point average, or 3) honor society membership. Specific requirements are: 1) Class Standing: Upper third of graduating class based on completed courses; 2a) Grade Point Average: 3.0 or higher as recorded on official transcript or as computed based on 4 years of education; 2b) based on courses completed during the final full 2 years of curriculum; or 2c) 3.5 or higher based on average of courses completed in the specific major field of study; or 3) Honor Society Membership: Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society listed in the Association of College Honor Societies, Booklet of Information, and/or Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision).-OR-
D. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

For GL-09 level:
A. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GL/GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as independently performing law enforcement work as a sworn officer with a Federal, state, tribal and/or local agency, OR the military. -OR-
B. Education: You must possess 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or Master's or equivalent graduate degree directly related to the occupation (see Education section - related education; one year of full time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours). -OR-
C. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

Specialized Experience - MUST include hours per week worked in your resume.

Volunteer Experience: 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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of two categories:

• Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.

You will be evaluated on the following competencies:

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessments, including the USA Hire Assessment. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 02/13/2026:

1. 2-Page Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, dates specified in month and year format, and the resume must reflect either full-time or 40 hours per week. If a part-time work schedule is reflected, the hours must be annotated to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
2. Complete All Required Assessments.
3. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as:
   • Veterans Preference Documentation:
     • If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
     • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
     • If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.
4. Selective Factor documentation.
5. College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.
6. Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc.; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated above 85.0 on the rating criteria for this position.
7. If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here.

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Do not submit photographs with your application package.

Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

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