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Soil Conservationist Qualification Determinations

The test below is extracted from National Instructions , Title 360, Part 301, Qualification Standards, Subpart A, GS-457, Soil Conservation Qualification Determinations, at http://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/NI_360_301_A.htm and from the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Operating Manual for Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions ( Section IV-B).

Individual Occupational Requirements

for

GS-457 Soil Conservationist

Basic Requirements: The individual occupational requirements typically provide at least two methods (Method A and Method B) for applicants to meet the basic requirements of the occupations covered by this standard:

Method A

Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study or specific course requirements from an accredited institution.  The degree may be in the following disciplines: soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, agricultural education, or agricultural engineering.

Studies must have included 30 semester hours in a natural resource or agricultural field, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science.  Of the 12 semester hours, a minimum of 3 semester hours must have been in soils and 3 semester hours in crops or plant science.

Method B

Appropriate combination of education and experience sufficient to demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field.

Appropriate combination of education and experience--at least 30 semester hours in one or more of the disciplines as shown in Method A above, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soils and crops or plant science, plus appropriate experience or additional education; of the 12 semester hours, a minimum of 3 semester hours must have been in soils and 3 semester hours in crops or plant science.

Soil Conservation Technician work may not be used as specialized experience for GS-0457 position above the GS-7 grade level.  The Soil Conservation Technician is not a professional series and does not require positive education.

Evaluation of Education: Education that provided specialized knowledge and skills in soil and water conservation is more valuable than education that imparted broad but general knowledge and skills. Courses in soil fertility, soil chemistry, soil genesis, plant physiology, plant science, and field crops are examples of specialized courses that contribute towards meeting the required 12 semester hours as described above. Courses in the physical sciences or engineering such as geology, civil engineering, and hydrology also meet the soils, crops, or plant science course requirements where such courses included a complete introduction to the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils.

Evaluation of Experience: Experience that included the application of techniques, principles, and methods from a variety of agricultural and natural resource fields is appropriate, given the interdisciplinary character of the soil conservation occupation. For example, experience gained in a specialized field such as soil science, forestry, or agronomy is as fully acceptable as experience directly obtained in soil conservation work.

College Transcripts: All candidates applying for positions in the GS-457 occupational series are required to submit transcripts with their application.  Candidates may submit unofficial transcripts with their application.  Candidates selected for appointment are required to submit official transcripts before entrance on duty or conversion to a new appointment.  The transcripts must be presented to the Human Resources Office in a sealed envelope and must contain the school’s official seal.  Candidates selected for employment or conversion to new appointment may personally deliver the sealed envelope or direct the university or college to mail the official transcripts to the Human Resources Office.

Course Work-Non-Accredited Institutions: Course-work from non-accredited institutions may be considered when evaluating for specialized experience.  When evaluating positive education requirements, course-work from non-accredited institutions shall not be considered.

Creditable Natural Resources Degrees: Creditable four-year bachelor degrees include, but are not limited to soil science, soil conservation, or related agricultural or natural resource discipline such as agronomy, forestry, agricultural education, agricultural engineering, and plant and environmental soil science. 

Thirty (30) Semester Hour Requirement-Creditable Courses: The following courses may count towards the 30-semester hour requirement; however, the list below is not all-inclusive.  Human Resources may require a course syllabus to verify that the course is appropriate for crediting.

GS-457 Series Creditable Courses
Agricultural Chemistry

Agriculture Business

Agriculture Economics

Agriculture Education

Agriculture Engineering

Agriculture Law

Agriculture Policy

Agricultural Science

Agronomy

Animal Science

Animal Breeding and Genetics

Animal Husbandry

Animal Nutrition

Biochemistry

Bioenvironmental Sciences

Biology*

Biophysics*

Botany*

 Chemistry*

Dairy Science

Earth Science*

Ecology*

Entomology

Farm and Ranch Appraisal*

Farm and Ranch Management*

Farm Machinery*

Farm Organization and

Management*

Floriculture

Forestry

Geology*

Geo Physics*

Horticulture

Hydrology*

Land Appraisal*

Land Economics*

 Land Evaluation*

Parks and Recreation*

Plant Breeding

Plant and Environmental Soil Science

Plant Pathology

Plant Physiology

Plant Protection

Plant Sciences

Poultry Science

Rangeland Ecology and Management*

Renewable Natural Resources

Soil Microbiology*

Soil Science

Spatial Sciences

Surveying*

Turf Management*

Wildlife*

Zoology*

*The Human Resources Specialist may be required to require course syllabus to determine if course work is
related to natural resources conservation and appropriate for crediting towards meeting positive education requirements.

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