NRCS Student Information
Welcome to the NRCS Student Programs page! This will be your one-stop site for information about NRCS internship opportunities. We offer internships for high school students and degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students studying agricultural and natural resources related fields such as plant pathology, agronomy, range science, soil science, forestry, ecology, botany, biology, civil and agricultural engineering.
Pathways Programs
NRCS Scholarships
NRCS Interns Experience
USDA Student And Recent Graduate Webinars - 2012 and 2013
National Recruitment Fairs
Pathways Programs
On December 27, 2010 President Obama signed E.O. 13562, entitled "Recruiting and Hiring Students and Recent Graduates."
This executive order established the 
Pathways Programs. These programs are tailored to recruit, hire, develop, and retain students and recent graduates. As directed by the E.O., the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued Pathways Program regulations to offer clear paths to Federal internships for students from high school through post-graduate school; to careers for recent graduates, and provide meaningful training and career development opportunities for individuals who are at the beginning of their Federal service.
The Pathways regulations include the following three programs: the Internship Program, the Recent Graduates Program, and the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program. Each program link below will take you to the OPM website.
Internship Program
The Internship Program is for current students and individuals accepted for enrollment in a qualifying educational program. It replaces the existing Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) and Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP). The Internship Program provides students enrolled in a variety of educational institutions, with paid opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school.
Recent Graduates Program
This new program targets individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs. To be eligible, applicants must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion, except for veterans precluded from doing so due to their military service obligation, who will have up to six years after degree or certificate completion. Successful applicants will be placed in a dynamic, one-year career development program.
Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program
For more than three decades, the PMF Program has been the Federal Government's premier leadership development program for advanced degree candidates. E.O. 13562 expands the eligibility window for applicants, making it more "student friendly" by aligning it with academic calendars and allowing those who have received a qualifying advanced degree within the preceding 2 years to participate. It also directs OPM to set eligibility requirements and minimum qualification standards, and to make changes in order to make the PMF experience more robust and substantive for participants.
All Pathways positions must be posted on OPM’s USAJOBS. To search for Pathways Program vacancies currently open with NRCS please go to https://www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads.
The Earth Team Volunteer Program
Although Earth Team Program is not a Pathways Program, it does offer exciting opportunities for students seeking unpaid work in the conservation field. Students can fulfill their school’s community service requirements, earn academic credit, serve an unpaid internship, get resume building work experience or simply help the environment as a volunteer. You may apply to volunteer year-round. For more information, please visit the Earth Team Volunteer Program website.
NRCS Scholarships
Tribal Scholars Program
This scholarship is for applicants attending 1994 Land Grant Tribal Colleges and Universities seeking careers in agriculture and natural resource sciences, and/or other related disciplines.
The aim of the Tribal Scholars Program is to strengthen a partnership between NRCS and 1994 Institutions, increase the number of students studying in agriculture and Agency-related disciplines, and to offer employment opportunities.
The application period opens each fall, and closes in February. Please come back and check this website for additional application information in the fall.
For Tribal Scholars Program information and application: Tribal Scholars Application (pdf)
USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
The National Scholars Program is a major effort of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the 18 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Institutions, to award scholarships to students to attend one of the 18 1890 Institutions in any field of study in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences or other related disciplines. For more information, visit the 1890 National Scholars Program website.
(Hispanic) Public Service Leaders Scholarship
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Public Service Leaders Scholarship Program is designed to promote public service and create access to higher education for undergraduate and graduate students. The scholarships are operated by Hispanic Serving Institutions and the USDA and are for students interested in pursuing a career with USDA after graduation. Please visit the USDA Hispanic-Serving Institutions National Program website.
NRCS Intern Experience
NRCS employs students in a variety of positions across the country. Read about their experience with NRCS:
Page 1 Becca Dominick - Jared Everson
Page 2 Christian Ransom - Melissa Vila Rodriguez - Chayla Rowley
Page 3 Joy Sims - Anneke Vermeulen - Merica-Wheesuk Xiong
USDA will conduct a series of webinars for current students, recent graduates, college / university faculty and career services staff in September and November of 2012 and January and February of 2013. For more information see the web page or download a PDF copy of the flyer (PDF, 99KB)
National Recruitment Fairs
NRCS will be attending The following career fairs in an effort to recruit for students nationally. Student contact information will be collected in order follow up with Pathways Program information. If you are in the local area, please visit our NRCS booth to discuss professional career opportunities with NRCS.
