Operating Manual
Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements for
Fish Biology Series, GS-482
The text below is extracted verbatim from
Section IV-B of the Operating Manual for Qualification Standards
for General Schedule Positions (p.IV-B-76), but contains minor edits
to conform to web-page requirements.
Use these individual occupational requirements in
conjunction with the "Group Coverage Qualification Standard for
Professional and Scientific Positions."
Basic Requirements:
Nonresearch Positions:
- Degree: major in biological science 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 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 in A above, plus appropriate experience or
additional education.
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:
- At least 15 semester hours of preparatory training in zoology beyond
introductory biology or zoology in such courses as invertebrate zoology,
comparative anatomy, histology, physiology, embryology, advanced vertebrate
zoology, genetics, entomology, and parasitology; and
- At least 6 semester hours of training applicable to fishery biology in such
subjects as fishery biology, ichthyology, limnology, oceanography, algology,
planktonology, marine or fresh water ecology, invertebrate ecology, principles
of fishery population dynamics, or related course work in the field of fishery
biology; and
- At least 15 semester hours of training in any combination of two or more of the
following: chemistry, physics, mathematics, or statistics.
FOR DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR POSITIONS WITH PILOT DUTIES
Applicants must:
- Possess a current FAA Commercial Airman Certificate with ratings appropriate
for the duties performed;
- Possess an instrument rating;
- Have completed a minimum of 500 hours of flight time as Pilot-in-Command and
25 hours of flight time as Pilot-in-Command at night; and
- Possess a current Class II Medical Certificate.