Location Negotiable after Selection: - For more information on NPS law enforcement and to view available parks/locations, see "Find Positions and Locations": Become A Law Enforcement Ranger Anticipated Entry on Duty date: FLETC classes in October 2025 and beyond (class dates have not been released yet) Open to the first 350 applicants or 05/19/2025 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-5/19/2025-unless otherwise stated in this announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule & determine the amount of qualifying experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of 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. 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. 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 5/19/2025. 2. Applicants must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: GL-05 level: A. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GL/GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors), performing work that provided broad knowledge of resource protection, resource education, and public use management. Examples where this experience could have been gained include serving as a park guide or tour leader; assisting with law enforcement or investigative work; assisting with emergency response; assisting with archaeological or historical preservation work; assisting with forestry or fire and/or management; or similar operations. -OR- B. Education: A 4- year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of course work directly related to the occupation (see Education section - related education; one year of full time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours). -OR- C. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. 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 (obtained in either the public or private sectors), performing work that provided specific knowledge of resource protection, resource education, and public use management. Examples where this experience could have been gained by informing visitors about organizational policies, rules, or laws; gathering information or collecting evidence as part of an investigation; monitoring or inspecting resources (e.g. buildings, roads, land, etc.) to identify potential hazards or illegal activities; performing emergency response or wildland firefighting; or other similar work. -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. 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 (obtained in either the public or private sectors), performing work that provided specialized knowledge of resource protection, resource education, and public use management. Examples where this experience could have been gained performing law enforcement or investigative work; emergency response management work; formal interpretation and education regarding park resources; archaeological or historical preservation work; forestry and/or fire management work; 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; or other similar work. -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 & 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, & skills and can provide valuable training & experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Selected candidates will attend training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia. Completion of Ranger Specific Basic Training (RSBT) and Land Management Police Training (LMPT) is required. Completion of the Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) is also mandatory. FTEP may or may not occur at the candidate's employing park. Training occurs on-site at FLETC and students are housed in dormitories or hotels at no cost to the trainee. Students are employed and paid by their park while attending training. See the "Additional Information" section for more information. For more information about becoming a Park Ranger prior to applying to this announcement go to the Become a Law Enforcement Ranger website. Park Ranger (Protection) Standard Duties: Enforce Federal laws, regulations and policies; patrol front country and backcountry sites. Emergency response (utilizing 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 (e.g. wildlife, plants, archaeological sites, and historic buildings). 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. Additional duties for GL-7: The incumbent will independently 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: The incumbent will independently conduct law enforcement investigations into misdemeanor, felony violations and fatalities. The incumbent will 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 Requirement Information: Prior to selection or 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 Physical Efficiency Battery (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 Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB) here. You can look up required scores for your age and gender for PEB here. Learn more about the Medical Standards Program here. Learn more about FLETC Physical Performance Requirements (PPRs) here. If selected, you will initially report to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) located in Glynco, Georgia. You will be required to successfully complete law enforcement basic training which is approximately 18 weeks in duration. Upon FLETC basic training completion, you will be detailed to a designated park for 11 weeks to complete required FTEP on-the-job training. You will be officially assigned to your permanent duty location once FLETC training is successfully completed. To learn about Ranger-Specific Basic Training and Land Management Police Training go to this Reference Occupancy of government quarters may be required. Government housing may be available. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. You may be required to travel overnight away from home. You 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) Statement: The salary annotated on this announcement does not include the cost-of-living allowance, nor locality pay. 2025 Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Locality Pay Tables Nonforeign Area Cost-of-Living Allowances to calculate locality pay. Click here for the OPM Salaries and Wages to calculate locality pay.