National Park Service

National Park Service Pathways Program

The Pathways Program offers current students and recent graduates paid internships and streamlined hiring programs to explore federal career opportunities. Pathways consists of three excepted-service programs, the Internship Program, the Recent Graduates Program, and a reinvigorated Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program.

Internship Program
The Pathways Internship Program offers current students enrolled in high school, college, trade school or other qualifying educational institutions paid opportunities to work with the National Park Service and explore careers while completing their education. You can find current National Park Service student position job announcements on USAJOBS by clicking here.

Recent Graduates Program
This program targets recent graduates of trade and vocational schools, community colleges, universities, and other qualifying educational institutions. Find out more on Office of Personnel Management’s video introduction. You can find current National Park Service recent graduate position job announcements on USAJOBS by clicking here.

Presidential Management Fellows

This program is for recent graduates with an advanced degree—either a professional or graduate degree such as a master’s, Ph.D. or J.D. You may be eligible if you:

• Have completed an advanced degree from a qualifying educational institution or program within the past two years.
• Are a current graduate student and will complete all of your degree requirements (including dissertations) by the PMF application deadline.

For additional information on how to apply for the Presidential Management Fellows Program please visit the PMF website.

In addition to the Pathways program, the National Park Service has eight national internship programs for 2024. Some are directly with the National Park Service, with others the National Park Service is partnering with another organization.

1. Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program (CRDIP) American Conservation Experience (ACE) – Environmental Service Corps (usaconservation.org)
2. Fish & Feathers Internship Program (FFIP)  Fish & Feathers Internship Landing Page – Environment for the Americas (environmentamericas.org)
3. Historically Black Colleges and Universities Internship Program (HBCUI) InternXL – Helping students excel
4. Latino Heritage Internship Program (LHIP), Latino Heritage Internship Program | Engaging Tomorrow’s Conservation Stewards
5. Scientists in Parks Program (SIP), Scientists in Parks  
6. Mosaics in Science Diversity Internship Program (MIS),   Mosaics in Science Diversity Internship Program
7. Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP), Traditional Trades Advancement Program 
8. Youth Empowerment Stewards (YES) direct employment and workforce development of youth and young adults with disabilities in land management and conservation. Youth Empowerment Stewards