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Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership Public Service Internship Program

Asian American woman in Forest Service Uniform studies plant.
Explore and Grow with an Internship for Future Leaders

The Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership’s Public Service Internship Program offers paid opportunities to grow both personally and professionally while making meaningful contributions to the Forest Service. Projects may be in policy or scientific research, project coordination and management, business, law, communications, and more. 

2024 Application

Eligibility

  • Currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student

  • Maintain a 3.0+ GPA

  • U.S. citizenship is not required. Permanent residents and, in some instances, interns with appropriate work visas are eligible to apply.

  • Be between 16-30 years old, or up to 35 years old for veterans.

Program Length 

  • 640 hours. 

  • Spring and fall will be part-time or full-time.

  • Summer will be full-time only.  

Benefits 

  • Complete 640 hours of project work to earn a 2-year non-competitive hiring authority. The Public Lands Corps non-competitive hiring authority allows you to apply for permanent federal positions with the Forest Service and other land management agencies.

  • Gain paid work experience while developing and refining skills 

  • Explore a career path and network with professionals in the field, including Forest Service scientists 

  • Receive a stipend of $3,000 

  • Receive one-on-one mentorship  

  • Invitation to the roundtable series, socials, and other events 

  • Receive travel reimbursement for in-person programming 

How to Apply

Use the 2024 application form.

 

Asian American woman on bridge
Alyssa Chen, Eagle Creek Trailhead, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. USDA Forest Service photo by Lily Carey.

Contact Information 

Contact Julissa Gonzalez (julissa.gonzalez@usda.gov) or Hannah Park (hannah.park@capal.org) with questions.

Program Completion

If you work 640 hours in the program, you may earn a 2-year Public Lands Corps non-competitive hiring authority. 

The authority allows you to apply for permanent Federal positions with the Forest Service and other land management agencies such as the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Because many of these positions are not open to the general public, you will have the advantage of competing with a smaller pool of applicants such as current and former Federal employees and other applicants with special hiring authorities. You must apply, be selected, and be onboarded into your position within 2 years of when your PLC certificate was signed.

1. Find an Opportunity 

There are a few options for how to find a current or upcoming career opportunity that allows you to apply using the PLC hiring authority.

  • Search USAJOBS.gov for a career opportunity. Pay attention to the filters such as agency and hiring paths. The Public Lands Corps authority is under Hiring Paths and Special Hiring Authorities. You can select these filters to narrow your career search to opportunities open to your authority.

  • Reach out to a regional recruiter directly.

  • Sign up for the Job Seekers Database to receive weekly emails about the latest Forest Service job opportunities.

  • Regularly check our Outreach Database. This website shows upcoming opportunities and allows you to respond to the hiring official to share that you are interested in the position. The responses that hiring managers receive in the Outreach Database affect who the job is open to on USAJOBS.gov.

2. Apply

  • You must apply, be selected, and be onboarded into your position within 2 years of when your PLC certificate was signed.

  • Visit USAJOBS and find a career opportunity. Pay attention to the filters such as agency and hiring paths. The Public Lands Corps authority is under Hiring Paths and Special Hiring Authorities. You can select these filters to narrow your career search to opportunities open to your authority.

  • You must still meet the requirements listed on the job announcement to qualify for the position.

  • Make sure that you apply with a robust Federal resume and that you include all required documents such as your PLC Certificate, high school diploma, and post-secondary or college transcripts if applicable.

  • Make sure that you respond “Yes” to the following question in the assessment questionnaire, which is part of your application: “Have you completed a qualifying conservation project(s) with the U.S. Forest Service and received a Public Lands Corps Certificate of Eligibility for Noncompetitive Hiring Status?”

If you have questions about the internship program, please use the map and list above. If you need help using your PLC hiring authority after completing your internship, or if you have questions including about the status of your application, please use the following resources.

  • Visit the How to Apply webpage for tips, tricks, webinars, and more.

  • Call 1-877-372-7248 (select option 2 and follow prompts). We're open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time and closed on all Federal holidays.

 

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https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/careers/CAPAL