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Student Trainee (Administrative and Office Support)

Department of Justice
Drug Enforcement Administration
Field Divisions listed under summary section.

Summary

This is a Student Internship position under the Pathways Internship Program. This position is located in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Office of Forensic Science and Special Operations Division.

These position(s) primary purpose is to provide clerical and administrative support to the field offices. There are positions available in the following offices: Pleasanton, CA, Miami, FL, Chicago, IL, Dallas, TX, Dulles, VA, and Richmond, VA.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/11/2026 to 05/15/2026
This job will close when we have received 250 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$27,708 - $40,436 per year

Salary listed is the 2026 GS Base Pay only. The locality pay will be adjusted once the duty location assignment is determined.

Pay scale & grade
GS 3 - 4
Locations
Pleasanton, CA
1 vacancy
Miami, FL
1 vacancy
Chicago, IL
1 vacancy
Dallas, TX
2 vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Multiple
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
5
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
H-DEA-26-12954561-PW-LK
Control number
868819500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current students enrolled in an accredited educational institution or certificate program at least half-time, leading to a degree or graduate/professional certification.

Duties

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As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.

The Pathways Internship Program gives Interns the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and the opportunity to foster networking relationships. If you are seeking a diploma/degree and are looking for an opportunity to challenge your teambuilding skills, then this opportunity is for you!

As a Student Trainee (Office and Administrative Support), your typical work assignments may include the following:

  • Communicating with internal and external customers.
  • Providing clerical support to assigned office.
  • Performing data entry, data queries, manipulating and extrapolating data for reports and presentations.
  • Using computer and various software to produce written products.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Must be at least 16 years old.
  • Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
  • Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
  • The intern is in a trial period throughout the entire Pathways Internship appointment.
  • Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 and receive no grade below average (C or equivalent) for the duration of their internships to continue their eligibility for participation in DEA Internship Program.
  • Must sign a Participant Agreement that sets forth the expectations for the internship.
  • Must type a minimum of 40 words per minute.
  • Must be enrolled in classes a minimum of half time for the duration of the internship.
  • Must provide all transcripts/proof of enrollment/acceptance, and/or current class schedule.
  • Must submit to a pre-employment drug test.
  • DEA uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.

Qualifications

For more information on eligibility requirements see: DEA Employment Eligibility.

Applicants must meet all of the required qualification requirements described below by the closing of this announcement.

Positions are open to current students pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate in an accredited high school, college (including 4-year colleges/universities, community colleges, and junior colleges); professional, technical, vocational, and trade school; advanced degree programs; or other qualifying educational institution on at least a half-time basis (as defined by the institution in which the student is enrolled).

To qualify for a Student Trainee (Administrative and Office Support) as a GS-03 grade level must include at least completion of 1 full academic year of post- high school study.

To qualify for a Student Trainee (Administrative and Office Support) as a GS-04 grade level must include completion of 2 full academic years of post-high study or an associate's degree

  • At the undergraduate level, successfully completed education that has not led to possession of a degree is credited based on its relationship to 120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours. For example, 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours is comparable to 1 year of undergraduate education. Four years of progressive study or 120 semester hours meets the degree requirements. Additional credit cannot be given for duplicate course work.
  • For study at a business or technical school, 36 weeks of study (20+ classroom hours per week) is comparable to 1 academic year above high school.
  • An academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 academic year of full-time study. This determination is made based on normal course loads for a full year of study in the graduate program. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.
  • When academic credit is expressed in contract months, units, or other terms that differ from conventional semester or quarter hours, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide an interpretation of such credits from the appropriate institution in order to equate them to the semester or quarter hours specified in the standard.
NOTE: If your college, vocational, trade, or technical institution's definition of "academic year" differs from above, you must submit proof of this difference (e.g., copy of course catalog that defines an academic year). Absent this documentation, you will screened for academic qualifications based on the academic hours as defined in the bullets above.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Only education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review in our office, in other Federal agency personnel offices, and on OPM's web site.

Competencies: Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competencies in the following areas:
Attention to Detail, Flexibility, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Problem Solving, Self-Management, and Technology Application

For this internship, you must be able to work part-time when school is in session and full-time when not attending classes.

Interns will be assigned tasks designed to increase familiarity with the target occupation in a real-world work environment.

This opportunity follows a standard promotional path:
  1. Internship selection will be made at the GS-03 or GS-04 level. These grade levels are what typical college students in their first or second year may qualify.
  2. Within 120 days after completion of Internship requirements, you may be eligible for conversion into a permanent position without further competition and provided the Hiring Division/Office has an appropriate vacant position available at that time.
  3. Entry level for these positions are typically at the GS-05 level. The actual grade level at the time of conversion depends on academic achievement and other factors. The full performance level of this position is GS-05.
  4. Progression from the entry-level to the full performance level for this occupation will depend on successful completion of all requirements for promotion. Promotions may be considered after a year at each grade level but are not guaranteed to occur on a specific time schedule.
See requirements for conversion to permanent or term position in the "Additional Information" section below.

This position is a temporary excepted service appointment, Not To Exceed (NTE) for one year with the possibility of extension without further posting. This student position can possibly be extended until the student graduates or is no longer enrolled at which time the position will be terminated.

If selected, you must sign a Pathways Participant Agreement; be able to furnish course registration information at the start of each school term; and be able to provide verification of academic status (official transcript) at the end of each academic term.

The student intern serves a trial period for the duration of their excepted service appointment.

Education

Pathways Student Program Education Requirements

To be eligible for an appointment, you must meet requirements A, B, and C.

A. Must be currently accepted for enrollment OR currently enrolled in a qualifying educational institution (a public high school whose curriculum has been approved by a State or local governing body; a private school that provides secondary education as determined under State law, a home school that is allowed to operate in a State; any of the following educational institutions or curricula that have been accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education: technical or vocational school; a 2-year or 4-year college or university; a graduate or professional school (e.g. law school, medical school); or a post-secondary home school curriculum), on a full or half-time basis. You must remain enrolled and will be required to provide proof of current student status to be eligible for this program. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, click here.

B. You must maintain student eligibility and enrollment for the duration of the internship. If you do not maintain eligibility and enrollment, you are ineligible for this program. Please review this vacancy announcement in its entirety to ensure that you qualify to apply to this internship.

C. Every semester, you must maintain good academic standing with an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of a least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) throughout their appointment to remain in the program. All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Applicants MUST submit a current transcript with the online application that details current classes or enrollment status and GPA. For transcripts which do not include current enrollment status then applicants can attach proof of enrollment in addition to their current transcripts.

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.


FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, click here.

Additional information

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office listed in this announcement.

Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to similar positions in any Division/Office listed in this announcement. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.

Recruitment and/or Relocation Incentives maybe considered and approved under conditions specified provided the agency has determined that the position is likely to be difficult to fill in the absence of an incentive and funding for such an incentive is available.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

If eligible, telework and/or remote work agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. Please note that any approved remote work arrangement is subject to the locality pay area of the alternative telework worksite.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Attention to Detail
  • Flexibility
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Problem Solving
  • Self-Management
  • Technology Application

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12954561.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements, as described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement and meet or exceed the cut score requirements, will be assigned to one of three quality categories:

  1. Qualified Category: In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must demonstrate a basic level of the required competencies (knowledge, skills and abilities) for the position.
  2. Highly Qualified Category: In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all, of the requirements of the position.
  3. Best Qualified Category: In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must possess the type and quality of experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position.

Best qualified applicants may be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities) required for this position. The assessment questionnaire includes four short, free-response essay questions which provides an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question in 200-words or less. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and have not used a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot.

Drug Enforcement Administration

TOUGH WORK. VITAL MISSION. Challenge yourself! You have the power to help combat drug trafficking. Be a part of DEA! It's tough work, but a vital mission. Whatever your background or expertise, your work at DEA will be tremendously rewarding because it will have a daily impact on national security and the quality of life of all Americans.

Agency contact information

LaNesha Kearse
Email
LaNesha.E.Kearse@dea.gov
Address
Drug Enforcement Administration
Do Not Send Postal Mail
Springfield, VA 21310
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Drug Enforcement Administration, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.dea.gov/

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