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Non-Research Positions
Degree: major in biological science in an accredited college or university that included at least 6 semester hours in aquatic subjects such as limnology, ichthyology, fishery biology, aquatic botany, aquatic fauna, oceanography, fish culture, or related courses in the field of fishery biology; and at least 12 semester hours in the animal sciences in such subjects as general zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, entomology, parasitology, ecology, cellular biology, genetics, or research in these fields. (Excess course work in aquatic subjects may be used to meet this requirement when appropriate.)
OR
Combination of education and experience: Courses in an accredited college or university equivalent to a major in biological science (i.e., at least 30 semester hours), of which a minimum of 6 semester hours were in aquatic subjects and 12 semester hours were in the animal sciences, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field. In addition to courses in the major and related fields, a typical college degree would have included courses that involved analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, etc. These courses would have provided an applicant with skills and abilities sufficient to perform progressively more responsible work in the occupation. Therefore, creditable experience should have demonstrated similarly appropriate skills or abilities needed to perform the work of the occupation.
Click here for information on how experience and education may be combined.
Research Positions
Applicants must show that they have a degree with major study in biology, zoology, or biological oceanography that included at least 30 semester hours in biological and aquatic science and 15 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences. This course work must have included:
Additional Experience and Education Requirements For GS-7 and Above
In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants must have specialized experience and/or directly related education in the amounts shown in the table below:
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Grade |
Education |
OR Specialized Experience |
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GS-7 |
1 year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement |
1 year equivalent to at least GS-5 |
|
GS-9 |
2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree |
1 year equivalent to at least GS-7 |
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GS-11 |
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree |
1 year equivalent to at least GS-9 |
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GS-12 and above |
1 year equivalent to at least next lower grade level |
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NOTE: Education and experience may be combined for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable. |
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Graduate Education: Completion of graduate level education in the amounts shown in the table, in addition to meeting the basic requirements, is qualifying for positions at grades GS-7 through GS-11 if it provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered an academic year of graduate study. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.
Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
Examples of Qualifying Specialized Experience may include:
For GS-7: Assisting higher graded Biologists in the application of standard protocols and approaches to collect fish, algal, and habitat samples; compiling and summarizing basic data; and accomplishing routine analysis. At this level the work is closely controlled and the supervisor or higher graded specialist assigns the work with clear, specific, and detailed instructions as to the methods, procedures, and guidelines to use.
For GS-9: Assisting in the design and implementation of fishery surveys and standard fishery field procedures, technical evaluation of habitat, logistical planning of field studies, quality control of data collection, data management and analysis, and report preparation. At this level the work involves following established methods and procedures, or detailed instructions; using some judgment in applying basic principles and procedures; solving minor problems and making routine decisions.
For GS-11: 1) participating in the planning and execution of fishery biological studies with limited number of variables; 2) performing established, standardized tests and analyses on a broad range of biological samples; 3) conducting fishery biological studies using established fact finding procedures. For examples 1-3, assignments were made with the objectives, priorities, and deadlines defined. The work was planned and carried out independently in accordance with proven techniques, methods, and practices. Controversial use of approaches or modifications of standard procedures were typically discussed with a designated person before being carried out.
For GS-12: 1) independently planning and conducting comprehensive fishery biological studies and investigations; 2) modifying and adapting standard biological techniques, processes, and procedures; 3) serving as a technical resource on fishery biological issues. For examples 1-3, the assignments were planned and carried out independently, resolving most of the conflicts that arose, coordinating the work with others as necessary, relating new work situations to precedent ones, extending or modifying existing techniques, and interpreting and applying program policy in terms of established objectives.
For GS-13: 1) planning and coordinating fishery biology projects of considerable depth and/or breadth; 2) analyzing and interpreting fishery related project data with novel and obscure problems; 3) developing new or significantly modified biological techniques, methods, or criteria; 4) providing advisory, planning, or reviewing services as a technical specialist on a fisheries biological issue. For examples 1-4, the work provided wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment to perform scientific work of marked difficulty and responsibility.