Individual Occupational Requirements for
GS-1884: Customs Patrol Officer Series
The text below is extracted verbatim from
Section IV-B of the Operating Manual for Qualification Standards
for General Schedule Positions (p.IV-B-248), but contains minor edits
to conform to web-page requirements.
This is an individual qualification standard.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
The following table shows the amounts of education and/or experience required to qualify for positions
covered by this standard.
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GRADE |
EDUCATION |
OR |
EXPERIENCE |
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General |
Specialized |
GS-5 |
4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree |
1 year equivalent to at least GS-4 |
None |
GS-7 |
1 full academic year of graduate education or law school or superior academic achievement |
None |
1 year equivalent to at least GS-5 |
GS-9 |
None |
None |
1 year equivalent to at least GS-7 |
GS-11 |
None |
None |
1 year equivalent to at least GS-9 |
GS-12 and above |
None |
None |
1 year equivalent to at least next lower grade level |
Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for grade levels for which both education
and experience are acceptable. Note that academic study may be prorated to allow combinations of education
and experience that total 1 year for GS-5, e.g., 1 year of college study is equivalent to 3 months of general
experience, 2 years of study to 6 months of general experience, and 3 years of study to 9 months of general
experience. |
EDUCATION
Major study--any field.
Major study--fields related to law enforcement, e.g., police science, or law
school education meets the requirements for GS-7.
Education is not creditable for positions above the GS-7 level.
OR
EXPERIENCE
Experience that demonstrated the ability to:
- Take charge, maintain composure, and make sound decisions in stressful situations;
- Learn law enforcement regulations, methods, and techniques through classroom training
and/or on-the-job instruction; and
- Gather factual information through questioning, observation, and examination of documents
and records.
These abilities may have been gained in positions such as:
- Interviewer in a public or private service agency who deals with requests for services or
benefits; and who explains, interprets, and applies rules, regulations, and procedures.
- Claims adjuster or journalist whose work requires gathering information through public
contacts.
- Participant in community action programs who performs work such as volunteer teaching or
counseling.
- Building guard, prison guard, institutional police, or similar position that requires
learning regulations and dealing with people.
- Customer relations work that requires the applicant to obtain accurate information, make
logical determinations, and resolve practical problems.
Experience in law enforcement or other responsible
work that demonstrated:
- Ability to make arrests and exercise sound judgment in the use of firearms.
- Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups of persons in a courteous, tactful
manner in connection with law enforcement matters.
- Ability to analyze information rapidly and make prompt decisions or take prompt and
appropriate law enforcement action in light of applicable laws, court decisions, and sound
law enforcement procedures.
- Ability to develop and maintain contact with a network of informants.
- Ability to remain calm and use sound judgment in the face of threats of personal danger and
other hazards or emergencies.
- Knowledge and understanding of the laws, regulations, precedent decisions, and instructions
pertaining to law enforcement or customs patrol work, i.e., relating to such matters as
search and seizure and the rights of those subject to arrest.
These abilities may have been gained in work such as:
- Inspection of persons and their baggage to detect narcotics, contraband, prohibited and
restricted items, and to seize or detain such merchandise.
- Correctional or rehabilitation work involving criminal offenders, or residents in public
or private institutions.
- Criminal investigation, police officer, or other law enforcement work that required the
ability to plan and conduct investigations, plan and make arrests, serve court orders, use
firearms, and deal with people in a persuasive, tactful, and resourceful manner.
For positions at GS-9 and above, experience must have included interpreting and enforcing Customs
Service or comparable laws, rules, and regulations.
TEST REQUIREMENTS
Refer to Section V of this Manual for information about test requirements.
ABILITY TO USE FIREARMS
All positions require qualification in the use of firearms. Proficiency with standard issue firearms must
be demonstrated for successful completion of training.
VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE
Applicants must possess a valid driver's license at the time of appointment. They must qualify to
operate motor vehicles in accordance with applicable government regulations after they are hired.
MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
The duties of positions in this series involve physical exertion under rigorous environmental conditions
including unpredictable exposure to loud sounds, stress, and extremes of heat and cold; irregular and
protracted hours of work over rugged terrain; patrol duties on foot, motor vehicle, and aircraft; and
participation in physical training. Applicants must be in sound physical condition and of good muscular
development.
Binocular vision is required and must test 20/40 (Snellen) without corrective lenses.
Uncorrected vision must test at least 20/200 in each eye. Vision in each eye must be corrected to
20/20. Near vision, corrected or uncorrected, must be sufficient to read Jaeger Type 2 at 14 inches.
Ability to distinguish basic colors by pseudoisochromatic plate test (missing no more than four plates)
is required, as is normal peripheral vision. Based on the results of clinical studies of candidates who
have undergone Radial Keratotomy eye operations to correct vision defects, the medical techniques of
Radial Keratotomy or Orthokeratology will not be accepted as a means of meeting vision requirements.
Using an audiometer for measurement, there should be no loss of 30 or more decibels in each
ear at the 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz levels.
Diseases or conditions resulting in indistinct speech are disqualifying.
Any chronic disease or condition affecting the respiratory system that would
impair the full performance of duties of the position is disqualifying, e.g., conditions that result in
reduced pulmonary function, shortness of breath, or painful respiration.
The following conditions are disqualifying: organic heart disease (compensated
or not), hypertension with repeated readings that exceed 150 systolic and 90 diastolic without
medication, and symptomatic peripheral vascular disease and severe varicose veins.
Chronic symptomatic diseases or conditions of the gastrointestinal tract are
disqualifying. Medical conditions requiring long-term use of medication(s) may be disqualifying. Each
case will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis prior to any employment decision.
Systemic metabolic disease that is likely to affect job performance adversely, such
as uncontrolled diabetes, is disqualifying.
Chronic, symptomatic diseases or conditions of the genito urinary tract are
disqualifying.
Any deformity or disease that would interfere with range of motion or dexterity
to the extent that it would affect adversely the full performance of the duties of the position is
disqualifying.
Inguinal and femoral hernias with or without the use of a truss are disqualifying. Other
hernias are disqualifying if they interfere with performance of the duties of the position.
Applicants must possess emotional and mental stability with no history of a basic
personality disorder. Any neurological disorder that could result in seizures, convulsions, loss of
consciousness, or decreased neurological or muscular function is disqualifying.
Though not mentioned specifically above, any other disease or condition that interferes
with the full performance of duties is also grounds for medical rejection.
These medical requirements apply to employees occupying positions covered by this standard, as well
as to applicants for such positions.
Before entrance on duty, all applicants must undergo a pre-employment medical examination and be
medically suitable to perform the full range of duties of the position efficiently and without hazard to
themselves and others. Failure to meet any one of the required medical qualifications will be
disqualifying for appointment. Applicants found to have a correctable condition may be restored to any
existing list of eligibles for further consideration for appointment when the disqualifying condition is
satisfactorily corrected or eliminated.
When an employee does not meet the medical standards for retention, his/her condition will be
evaluated on an individual case basis to determine whether the employee can perform the full duties of
the current position efficiently without hazard to himself/herself or others.
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