MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: You must have the education and/or experience required to qualify for the grade level(s) to which you apply.
GL-05: To qualify at this grade level, you must meet ONE of the following:
General Experience: You must have 3 years of progressively responsible work experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level, that demonstrates:
Such experience demonstrates the ability to acquire particular knowledge and skills sufficient to perform highly structured entry-level work designed to develop broader and more in-depth knowledge and skill to perform higher level assignments.
OR
Education: You must have completed (or expect to complete within 9 months) a 4-year course of study above high school level leading to a bachelor's degree with major study in any field.
OR
Combination: You may combine education and experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements. (1) determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required. (2) determine your education as a percentage of the education required. (3) add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree may be combined with experience to qualify at the GL-05 grade level.
GL-07: To qualify at this grade level, you must meet ONE of the following:
Specialized Experience: You must have at least 1 year of responsible law enforcement experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level that required the exercise of tact, courtesy, and the ability to deal effectively with associates, subordinates, the public, and prisoners. This specialized experience must be gained in a full-time certified law enforcement officer position(s) which included: planning and carrying out investigations, planning and making arrests, serving court orders, using firearms, and dealing with people in a persuasive, tactful, and resourceful manner. This experience should have provided knowledge of the law and court precedents as they relate to such matters as search and seizure, making arrests, and using firearms.
OR
Education: You must have completed (or expect to complete within 9 months) 1 full academic year of graduate study or law school education related to law enforcement. Related fields include: Criminal Justice, Criminology, Homeland Security, Forensic Science, Computer Forensics, Psychology, Sociology, Public Administration, Political Science, Intelligence Studies, or Law. Such education demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position.
OR
Combination: You may combine education and experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements. (1) determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required. (2) determine your education as a percentage of the education required. (3) add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate education may be combined with experience to qualify at the GL-07 grade level.
OR
Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): You must have completed (or expect to complete within 9 months) all requirements for a bachelor's degree with major study in a field related to law enforcement. Related fields include: Criminal Justice, Criminology, Homeland Security, Forensic Science, Computer Forensics, Psychology, Sociology, Public Administration, Political Science, or Law. Such education demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position. AND you must meet ONE of the following:
- A GPA of "B" (a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. OR
- A GPA of "B+" (a GPA of 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. OR
- Rank in the upper one-third of your 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
- Membership in a national scholastic honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.
GPAs are to be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9. If more than 10 percent of your courses were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim must be based on class standing or membership in an honorary society. For more specific details on SAA, click here.
When citing your education and/or experience, be clear and specific. We cannot make assumptions about your education and/or experience. If your transcripts and/or resume do not support your application questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).
It is your responsibility to provide documentation that you meet the education qualification(s) you claim. If you do not submit transcripts, we will not use your education when determining if you are qualified for the position.
Transcripts: You may submit official or unofficial transcripts as part of the application process. If you are selected, you will be required to provide official transcripts to receive a final offer of employment. A transcript is a copy of your permanent academic record and includes:
- The name of the college, university, or other educational institution.
- Your major and degree.
- The date your degree was awarded/conferred.
- Your cumulative grade point average (GPA).
- Any honors you received.
- The dates you attended the school.
- A list of the courses you took, to include the total number of credits completed.
Academic degrees must be granted from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. To determine if a school or program is accredited, refer to the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
If you are a current student and using Superior Academic Achievement to qualify, you must be within 9 months of completing a qualifying bachelor's degree and your transcript must show that you are currently enrolled. Include your anticipated graduation date (month/year) in your resume. Education must be complete and verified before you can be appointed.
If you are a current student and using Graduate Education to qualify, you must be within 9 months of completing 18 semester hours of qualifying graduate level coursework and your transcript must show that you are currently enrolled. Include your anticipated completion date (month/year) in your resume. Education must be complete and verified before you can be appointed.