Four park rangers in front of trees

Park Ranger (1-3) Job - Minimum Qualifications

Learn the minimum qualifications and disqualifiers for applying to be a Washington State Park Ranger.

Minimum qualifications and disqualifiers

Before applying to be a Washington State Park Ranger, ensure you meet the minimum qualifications and that you won’t face automatic disqualification for any of your past behaviors or actions.

If you have questions about the minimum qualifications or disqualifiers, please contact our Recruitment Team at HR.Recruitment@parks.wa.gov. 

Minimum qualifications for Park Ranger 1-3

Applicants must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
  • Have no felony convictions
  • Have a valid unrestricted driver’s license (other than corrective lenses)
  • Be 21 years of age or older (applies to armed Park Ranger 2-3 only)
  • Not have used marijuana in the previous 12 months (applies to armed Park Ranger 2-3 only)

Requirements for entry level Park Ranger 1-2

Applicants must have two years of:

  • College coursework (60 semester or 90 quarter credits), or
  • Paid, full-time natural resource experience, or
  • Active-duty military service

Additional requirements for Park Ranger 3

In addition, applicants for a Park Ranger 3 position must possess:

  • Two years of experience as a fully commissioned Washington State Park Ranger, or
  • A Bachelor’s Degree and two years of professional experience as a Park Ranger, Commissioned Law Enforcement Officer, or equivalent experience in a natural resource field

Position disqualifiers

Some parts of the hiring process are intended to reveal omissions or oversights in your self-disclosed personal history. In other words, it’s better to be honest up front than risk having your application rejected after you’ve advanced in the employment process. Typically, if you're found to be deceitful in the application process, current and future applications are automatically flagged as disqualified.  

Failure to disclose required information on the personal history statement (supplemental questions) may result in automatic disqualification if discovered during the hiring process, or dismissal if activities are discovered after hire.

Driving record disqualifiers

Automatic disqualification

Applicants will be automatically be disqualified if they have a:

  • DUI within five years. Also includes reduced charges (e.g. negligent driving).
  • Pattern of traffic violations and/or auto accidents in the past five years or while employed in a criminal justice capacity.

Potential disqualification

Applicants face potential disqualification if they have a pattern of traffic violations and/or auto accidents in the past five years or while employed in a criminal justice capacity.

Drug use/possession disqualifiers (Park Ranger 2-3 only)

Automatic disqualification

Applicants will be automatically disqualified if they:

  • Have used marijuana in the last 12 months.
  • Used illegal drugs other than legal marijuana use in the last 10 years. 
  • More than three lifetime illegal drug uses.
  • Have possessed illegal drugs in the last 10 years.
  • Used illegal drugs while employed in a criminal justice capacity (including military).
  • Manufactured, sold, transported for sale, or facilitated the sale of illegal drugs (unless under 21 at the time and the act occurred more than 10 years ago).

Additional notes

"Illegal drugs" are controlled substances listed in drug schedules 1-5 derived from RCW 69.50.204, RCW 69.50.206, RCW 69.50.208, RCW 69.50.210 and RCW 69.50.212. Possession is defined as having actual physical control of any illegal drug for personal or other use. Use is defined as trying, testing or experimenting, which includes but is not limited to tasting, smoking, injecting, absorbing, sniffing or inhaling.

Criminal activity disqualifers

Automatic disqualification

Applicants will be automatically disqualified if they have:

  • Any felony conviction.
  • Any criminal conviction while employed as a criminal justice professional.
  • Conviction for any crime under a domestic violence statute.

Potential disqualification

Applicants will be potentially disqualified if they have:

  • Adult misdemeanor convictions.
  • A pattern of unlawful conduct.

Past employment disqualifiers 

Automatic disqualification

Applicants will be automatically disqualified if they have a:

  • Dishonorable discharge from the U.S. armed forces.
  • Falsification on an application, personal history questionnaire, or any other forms during the hiring process (for any law enforcement agency). 
  • Previous revocation or denial of any CJTC/POST certified status, or suspension of current CJTC/POST certified status.
  • Any termination, or resignation in lieu of termination, from a law enforcement agency.

Potential disqualification

Applicants will be potentially disqualified if they have:

  • Substandard performance, evaluations, termination, or resignation in lieu of termination from any position.  

Other disqualifiers

Automatic disqualification

Any conduct or pattern of behavior that would disrupt, diminish or otherwise jeopardize public trust in the law enforcement profession would result in automatic disqualification for applicants

Potential disqualification

Potential disqualifiers include:

  • Candidates with any tattoos that are deemed offensive may be evaluated by the Chief of Law Enforcement and HR Director on a case by case basis and may be disqualified.
  • Incomplete personal history statement, or inaccurate/outdated information provided in personal history statement.
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