The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) serves as the chief human resources agency and personnel policy manager for the federal government.
Two of the many federal occupational series that may be of interest to graduates of our WFS baccalaureate degree program are the Fish Biology Series 0482 and the Wildlife Biology Series 0486.
Employment in the Fish Biology Series 0482 requires a degree 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.)
Employment in the Wildlife Biology Series 0486 requires a degree that included
- At least 9 semester hours in such wildlife subjects as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, wildlife management, or research courses in the field of wildlife biology; and
- At least 12 semester hours in zoology in such subjects as general zoology, invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, genetics, ecology, cellular biology, parasitology, entomology, or research courses in such subjects (Excess courses in wildlife biology may be used to meet the zoology requirements where appropriate); and
- At least 9 semester hours in botany or the related plant sciences.
Unlike the AFS and TWS certification requirements outlined on the previous pages, it is our understanding that the federal employment process does not permit the splitting of credits to satisfy qualifications. For example, in the Wildlife Biology Series, do not assume that 2 split credits of BIOL 240W will count towards the required "9 semester hours of botany or the related plant sciences." Be sure that you have distinct courses and credits to satisfy the stated qualifications.
For more information, visit the USAJOBS website specifically for students and recent graduates, and the USAJOBS Help Center.
