What Are KSAs?
Knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are the requirements needed to perform a job and are demonstrated through qualifying experience, education, or training. Each vacancy announcement will list the KSAs required in terms of “specialized experience” or “selective factor” requirements. In determining if you qualify for a position, reviewers will evaluate your education and experience against the KSAs for each position. Because each position is different, the requirements for each will be different. When you apply for federal positions, it is important for you to show that you meet the “specialized experience” and “selective factor” requirements for the position in your application package. You can do this by either including the information in your basic application or by addressing these requirements separately from your application. If you choose to address your KSAs separately, you should keep your responses brief and to the point. You need to relate your responses to the requireme
