Education Requirements
Most full-time permanent park rangers have college degrees, usually in forestry or a closely related field. Some seasonal and temporary positions do not require a bachelor's degree. In addition, both services welcome students and volunteers.
Experience
Previous experience is required for most full-time park ranger positions. This might include working at other recreational or historic sites, backcountry management or law enforcement. More relevant would be Forest Service experience, which can be gained by taking the more relatively available seasonal positions or by volunteer work.
Intangibles
Working as a park ranger combines all the hardships of outdoor labor, customer service and bureaucracy. Success requires the flexibility to adapt to change, and the patience to deal with the random forces of nature, the demanding public and endless paperwork.
Fierce Competition
Despite the harsh demands of the job, Forest Service jobs are highly competitive. Prospective employees must go through the federal government application process.
Government Job
All federal government jobs come with a lot of regulation and paperwork. Job descriptions and pay grade are set according to a standardized process.
About The Author
Tony Padegimas is a freelance writer based in Phoenix. His articles on outdoor pursuits, general fitness, sports, theater, the inside guts of buildings, and many other random topics have appeared in numerous local and national magazines. He is the author of Day and Overnight Hikes - Tonto National Forest, published by Menasha Ridge Press.
