NRCS Student Programs

 Welcome to the NRCS Student Programs page! This will be your one-stop site for information about NRCS internship opportunities. We offer internships for high school students and degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students studying agricultural and natural resources related fields such as plant pathology, agronomy, range science, soil science, forestry, ecology, botany, biology, civil and agricultural engineering.

Each year the NRCS offers hundreds of paid and unpaid internships in the Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP), the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP), and NRCS Earth Team Volunteer Program. These opportunities provide students with valuable and meaningful experience helping people help the land.

The Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) allows college students to combine academic studies with on-the-job experience. You'll work with NRCS professionals while you earn money. The work you choose doesn't need to be related to your academic or career goals, and you can work part time when school is in session and/or full time during school break.

The Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) is the NRCS' primary source for external recruitment of entry-level positions. SCEP gives you valuable work experience that is directly related to what you're studying – or your career goals. As a result of participation in SCEP, you are eligible to non-competitively converted to career, term, or career-conditional appointments within the NRCS upon graduation. For information about student employment with the NRCS, ask your academic advisor or contact a local NRCS State or Field Office.

Typically, NRCS’ recruitment period begins in the fall and STEP and SCEP hiring is completed by late spring every year. Check this site early next fall for student recruitment and application deadlines for NRCS internships.

The Earth Team Volunteer Program offers exciting opportunities for students seeking unpaid work in the conservation field. Students can fulfill their school’s community service requirements, earn academic credit, serve an unpaid internship, get resume building work experience or simply help the environment as a volunteer. You may apply to volunteer year-round. For more information, please visit the Earth Team Volunteer Program website.

Pathways Programs – Coming Soon!

On December 27, 2010 President Obama signed E.O. 13562, entitled "Recruiting and Hiring Students and Recent Graduates." This executive order establishes the Pathways Programs. These programs are tailored to recruit, hire, develop, and retain students and recent graduates. As directed by the E.O., the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will issue Pathways Program regulations to offer clear paths to Federal internships for students from high school through post-graduate school; to careers for recent graduates, and provide meaningful training and career development opportunities for individuals who are at the beginning of their Federal service. The Pathways regulations include the following three programs: the Internship Program, the Recent Graduates Program, and the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program.

Internship Program
The Internship Program is for current students and individuals accepted for enrollment in a qualifying educational program. It replaces the existing Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) and Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP). The Internship Program provides students enrolled in a variety of educational institutions, with paid opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school.

Recent Graduates Program
This new program targets individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs. To be eligible, applicants must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion, except for veterans precluded from doing so due to their military service obligation, who will have up to six years after degree or certificate completion. Successful applicants will be placed in a dynamic, two-year career development program.

Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program 
For more than three decades, the PMF Program has been the Federal Government's premier leadership development program for advanced degree candidates. E.O. 13562 expands the eligibility window for applicants, making it more "student friendly" by aligning it with academic calendars and allowing those who have received a qualifying advanced degree within the preceding 2 years to participate. It also directs OPM to set eligibility requirements and minimum qualification standards, and to make changes in order to make the PMF experience more robust and substantive for participants. 

NRCS Student Internship Webinars – Coming Soon!

Check back early fall 2012 for NRCS Student Internship webinars on NRCS careers, the new Pathways Programs, NRCS student opportunities nationwide, NRCS qualifications and how to apply.

NRCS Scholarships 

Tribal Scholars Program

This scholarship is for applicants attending 1994 Land Grant Tribal Colleges and Universities seeking careers in agriculture and natural resource sciences, and/or other related disciplines.

The aim of the Tribal Scholars Program is to strengthen a partnership between NRCS and 1994 Institutions, increase the number of students studying in agriculture and Agency-related disciplines, and to offer employment opportunities.

The application period opens each fall, and closes in February. Please come back and check this website for additional application information in the fall.

For Tribal Scholars Program information and application: Tribal Scholars Application (pdf)

USDA/1890 National Scholars Program

The National Scholars Program is a major effort of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the 18 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Institutions, to award scholarships to students to attend one of the 18 1890 Institutions in any field of study in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences or other related disciplines.

1890 National Scholars Program 

 (Hispanic) Public Service Leaders Scholarship

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Public Service Leaders Scholarship Program is designed to promote public service and create access to higher education for undergraduate and graduate students. The scholarships are operated by Hispanic Serving Institutions and the USDA and are for students interested in pursuing a career with USDA after graduation.