The following requirements are prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management and used to determine minimum qualifications.

Individual Occupational Requirements

Education

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- outdoor recreation planning or a related field such as: sociology, forestry, landscape architecture, economics, biological science, park administration, earth science, natural resource management and conservation, civil engineering, urban planning, or recreation. Applicants who qualify on the basis of graduate work in related disciplines must have one or more courses in outdoor recreation.

OR

Experience

General Experience (for GS-5 positions): Experience that provided a knowledge of the requirements and practices of outdoor recreation planning or natural resource utilization and conservation.

Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience that demonstrated the ability to plan and coordinate the use of land, water, and related resources for recreation and conservation purposes. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:

Education and experience requirements

The following table shows the amounts of education and/or experience required to qualify for positions covered by this standard.

GRADE EDUCATION EXPERIENCE
GENERAL SPECIALIZED

GS-5

4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree

3 years, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4

None

GS-7

1 full year of graduate level education
or
superior academic achievement

None

1 year equivalent to at least GS-5

GS-9

master's or equivalent graduate degree
or
2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree
or
LL.B. or J.D., if related

None

1 year equivalent to at least GS-7

GS-11

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree
or
3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree
or
LL.M., if related

None

1 year equivalent to at least GS-9

GS-12
and
above

None

None

1 year equivalent to at least next lower grade level

NOTE: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable.

  • Ability to deal with people of differing backgrounds and behavioral patterns.
  • Analysis and evaluation of outdoor recreation interests, habits, and needs of diversified groups, and the means for meeting those needs.
  • Evaluation of land or water areas for their recreation and related potential use, such as wildlife reserve.
  • Preparation or review of plans and programs for natural resource utilization and recreation area development.
  • Solution of administrative, intergovernmental, socioeconomic, and other problems involved in providing adequate recreation opportunities while preserving, restoring, and enhancing the quality of the outdoor environment.

This page was last updated on August 18, 2020