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Government · Youth

Student Trainee (Forestry)

Natural Resources Conservation ServiceMultiple Locations, United StatesFull-time$35,749 - $59,174 per yearPosted Oct 19, 2026Closes Nov 17, 2026
Job description

About the role

Full text from the employer, as published on USAJobs, arranged into sections. Nothing added or removed.

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts.

Program Eligibility Requirements Applicant must meet the definition of a student that is: Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited technical or vocational school, two-year or four-year college or university, graduate or professional school. You must be taking at least a half-time academic course load leading to a degree or certificate.

A certificate program is defined as a post-secondary education, in a qualifying educational institution, equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum. Be planning for or pursuing a certificate or degree in, or related to, the internship opportunity being advertised.

Examples of relevant educational fields for this position include but are not limited to: Forestry, or other natural resource-related disciplines that will allow applicants to qualify for the conversion requirements listed within the vacancy announcement upon graduation. Position Qualifications: Applicants must meet position qualifications requirements as shown below at the time of appointment. The agency must be able to verify that the education was completed successfully before the applicant can be appointed.

Below is the education requirement to be qualified for this position: GS-2 Completion of high school or possession of a GED diploma. GS-3 Completion of 1 full academic year of post-high school study. GS-4 Completion of 2 full academic years of post-high school study. One full academic year of undergraduate education is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours or the equivalent as defined by the accredited college or university.

One full academic year of graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours or the equivalent as defined by the accredited college or university. Conversion Information: Candidates selected from this announcement may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a permanent position in the competitive service, provided that all terms of the Internship Program are met and there is an available position. Conversion is not mandatory or guaranteed and is at agency discretion.

Pathways Interns may convert to a permanent position for which they qualify for (e.g., GS-0460) as outlined in the intern's Pathways agreement. Upon conversion to the competitive service, this position will have a career ladder up to the GS-09 full performance level.

To be eligible for conversion, you must satisfactorily complete all Pathways Program requirements: Complete at least 480 hours of work experience prior to graduation; Complete all mandatory training requirements; Meet performance expectations and be recommended for conversion; Meet suitability requirements; and Meet the position's Qualification Requirements of the associated occupational series as outlined in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, General Schedule Qualifications Standards.

See the link below: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/forestry-series-0460/ GS-0460 Basic Requirement: Degree: forestry; or a related subject-matter field that included a total of at least 30 semester hours in any combination of biological, physical, or mathematical sciences or engineering, of which at least 24 semester hours of course work were in forestry.

The curriculum must have been sufficiently diversified to include courses in each of the following areas: Management of Renewable Resources, Forest Biology and Forest Resource Measurements and Inventory. 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Receives intensive and specialized training in all phases of forestry and related natural resource conservation programs.,Assists in program and conservation planning for a variety of forestry practices such as woodland, windbreak, visual resource management, recreation activity and others.,Assists in gathering and assembling preliminary data for use in developing and applying conservation plans.,Work assignments are selected to ensure that the Intern receives on-the-job training and exposure to one or more program functions.,This position is designed to provide a career-oriented introduction to the background, philosophy, concepts, and scope of the NRCS Forestry Management Programs and a practical understanding of the policies of the employing organization.,Receives training in the principles, concepts, work processes, and regulations of one or more functional areas of Forestry and Biological Sciences.,Receives formal and on-the-job training in OPM, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resource Conservation Service policies, rules, regulations, and procedures,On a scheduled basis, following the Pathways Participant Agreement, receives assignments in various Forestry and Biological Sciences functions.,Is instructed on the use of personal computers, and file and data management.

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DGJ Insight

Our own data about this role and place, from official statistics and our live job index.

Updated Oct 23, 2026
Pay benchmark
Average wage, United States
$86,977 average / year

This job's listed pay is 45% below the benchmark.

This job: $35,749 to 59,174

Source: OECD Average annual wages, 2025

Work permit route
  • H-1B specialty occupation: Employer petition, bachelor's degree or higher in the specialty; annual cap and lottery
  • L-1 intracompany transferee: Employees of a related company abroad transferring to a US office
  • O-1 extraordinary ability: Evidence of extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics

Official routes: USCIS

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