How hard is it to become a National Park Ranger?
You’re going to want to apply for Visitor Use Assistant or Interpreter positions. VUAs are GS-4 positions and essentially campground rangers. Interpreters give guided tours and are GS-5 positions. There’s usually 1-2 weeks of training when you’re hired, so you can start learning your tours. Law Enforcement (LE) rangers carry guns, so you’ll need to get that training before you apply. You don’t mention what your education/experience is. IIRC, for GS-4 positions, it’s 2 years of experience, 1 year experience + 1 year post-HS studies, or a B.A./B.S. GS-5 is something like a BA or experience, but I don’t remember the specifics. Your job apps will tell you what your options are though. There’s a ton of competition now. NPS gives priority to veterans, regardless of whether you’re more qualified than them. Additionally, you might not get the park you want the first time around, so take what you can get (if financially feasible) and keep applying to your dream parks. Don’t take any permanent p
