Persons with Disabilities Hiring

man in Forest Service uniform sitting in a wheel chair — Cibola National Forest Volunteer Coordinator & VIS Program Manager Antonio Garcia is seen at Capulin Picnic Area in Albuquerque, NM. (Forest Service photo by Andy McMillan)

Supporting a welcoming and inclusive work environment allows us to attract, retain, and grow a workforce representative of the public. If you're a person with a disability, consider applying today. If you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may qualify for the Schedule A hiring authority.

Eligibility Requirements

For a list of qualifying disabilities, review the Self-Identification of Disability form from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Documentation of disability from a licensed medical professional, licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist, or an agency that issues disability benefits is required. This documentation needs to state that you “have a severe disability that qualifies this person for consideration under the Schedule A hiring authority for Persons with Disabilities.” The letter does not need to disclose specific details about your disability. Review the sample letter from OPM.
Noncompetitive eligibility can be used to fill any type of position. There is not a limit on pay, job series, or if the position is permanent or temporary.

Probationary Period

The first 2 years of employment are a probationary period. During this time the supervisor of the position assesses the performance of the individual to determine if it is appropriate to consider a permanent position. If so, there is not a limit on job series or level of pay.
During the probationary period, the employee can still pursue career advancement bot noncompetitively under Schedule A and competitively. If they are selected for another position under Schedule A, they must start again on another 2-year probationary period.

Veterans and Schedule A

Veterans “30% or More Disabled” may obtain Schedule A Certification from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) Program.
Any veteran with a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) definition of “disability,” whether service-connected or not, may qualify.
When applying for competitive job opening using Schedule A, hiring officials must still apply veteran preference to the pool of qualified Schedule A applicants. Veterans with qualifying disabilities, whether service-connected or not, should consider obtaining Schedule A Certification to gain access to this additional hiring avenue.

Find Careers and Apply

As a Person with a Disability, there are a few avenues for you to search and apply for Forest Service careers.

Noncompetitive Options

With your Schedule A letter you may qualify for noncompetitive eligibility (NCE) and it's possible that we may be able to hire you even faster than the traditional hiring process. The following resources may help you use your NCE to join the Forest Service.

Regularly check our Outreach Database. This website shows upcoming opportunities and allows you to respond to the hiring official to share that you are interested and have NCE. Feel free to reach out to them to ask if they are considering filling the position more quickly by using a candidate with NCE. Even if they do not plan to use NCE, if you are still interested in the position, complete the response request to get a heads up on when the job opens on USAJOBS.gov.
Reach out to your local Forest Service office to ask about any upcoming opportunities.
Check the Open Opportunities website for details open to internal Forest Service employees

Competitive Process

The competitive process happens through USAJobs.gov and. however, Forest Service job announcements on USAJOBS also accept positions under Schedule A, 213.2102(u). Your eligibility provides opportunity but does not guarantee you a job.

The Forest Service accepts all job applications on USAJOBS. USAJOBS connects job seekers with federal employment opportunities across the United States and around the world. To apply for a position in the Forest Service:

Visit USAJOBS.gov.
Create a USAJOBS profile.
Upload or create a federal resume.
Search for jobs in USAJOBS.
Review the job announcement.
Apply! On the application, include your interest and eligibility to be considered noncompetitively under Schedule A.Use the How to Apply webpage for tips on how to set up a profile and resume on USAJOBS.gov and how to find jobs.

Employees Paving the way for Accessibility

Learn about Tara Chavez's journey with the Forest Service and the work she has done to pave the way for accessibility within our agency.

Questions?

Please direct questions about career opportunities and applications to Human Resources Management at 1-877-372-7248 (select Option 2 and follow prompts). The Contact Center is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (MST) Monday through Friday and closed on all federal holidays.