Public Land Corps Internships
Public Lands Corps (PLC) is a work and education program established by the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. Through PLC partnerships, young adults and veterans contribute to the conservation of public lands while gaining paid work experience and job training in a variety of resource management fields. After 640 hours of service under an eligible PLC agreement, participants earn a 2-year non-competitive hiring authority.
Because many federal 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.
Eligibility
Eligible participants must:
- Be between 16 and 30 years old at the time when service begins, or veterans up to 35 years old
- Be U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents of the United States
- Possess or agree to pursue a high school diploma or equivalent
Benefits
- Complete 640 hours of project work to earn a 2-year non-competitive hiring authority. PLC non-competitive hiring authority allows you to apply for permanent federal positions with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and other land management agencies.
- Earn a living stipend, allowance, or wage.
- Gain practical hands-on job experiences that can lead to established careers within government service.
- Work alongside Service employees to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats.
- Develop technical, interpersonal, and applicable job skills.
- Engage in professional development, networking, and mentorship opportunities.
Project Types
- Wildlife and Habitat Management/Restoration
- Invasive Species Removal
- Trail Building/Restoration
- Wildfire and Fuel Management
- Climate Mitigation and Resilience
- Emergency and Natural Disaster
- Visitor Services & Environmental Education
- Public affairs, communications, and digital media
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Transportation/Community Connectedness
- Law Enforcement
- Infrastructure and Maintenance
- Virtual and/or in-person opportunities hosted by FWS Headquarters, Regions, or Divisions (e.g. Ecological Services, Migratory Birds, etc.)
Find Eligible Internship Opportunities
We partner with nongovernmental organizations to provide internship or fellowship opportunities. These partners help us promote and build a robust and diverse applicant pool for our conservation positions. Most of our partners are also members of the FWS Youth Corps which allows them to provide Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority for their interns’ service. View our map of available internship opportunities to find out which opportunities are available.
After securing an internship, let the organization you are employed by (e.g., conservation corps, non-profit organization, college or university) know that you are interested in receiving your PLC certificate of eligibility for noncompetitive hiring authority upon completion of your term or internship. They can assist you in completing a PLC Work Hours Verification Form and submitting this form to your FWS Regional Intern and Fellow Coordinator. If you meet all the eligibility requirements, the Service will issue you a signed PLC certificate that you may use to apply for federal positions.
Use Your Hiring Authority
PLC non-competitive hiring authority allows you to apply for permanent positions with the Service. If your PLC certificate was issued by the Service, you may also use it to apply for permanent positions with the U.S. Forest Service and Department of Interior agencies, such as the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and U.S. Geological Survey, as well as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under Department of Commerce.
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.
You must apply, be selected, and be onboarded into your position within 2 years of when your PLC certificate was signed. You must also meet the requirements listed on the job announcement to qualify for the position. Make sure that you apply with a robust Federal resume and provide all required documents including your PLC Certificate, high school diploma, and post-secondary or college transcripts, if applicable.
When completing an application’s assessment questionnaire, be sure to respond “Yes” to designate your eligibility as a Public Lands Corps (PLC) certificate holder. To verify your eligibility, you must provide a copy of your "Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Competitive Hiring Status (PLC)".