Park Ranger

Additional Information on the Screening Process

Length:
The recruitment and testing process will take approximately 3-4 months.

Out of State Candidates: You will be required to come to Washington State twice during the screening process. (Once for the fitness test and pre-offer psychological written examinations and again for the job interview, post-offer psychological written examinations, psychological interview, polygraph, medical examination and drug/alcohol screening).

Personal History Statement
The Personal History Statement requires applicants to list personal data, references, residences, education, experience and employment, military service, financial information, legal information, personal habits including drug and alcohol use, and driving record information. Candidates will be asked to verify the information reported during the polygraph and psychological interview.

Drug Standard:
Drug possession beyond these standards disqualifies you for eligibility for a commissioned ranger position:
"Possession" is defined as control, touching, holding, selling, or trafficking (transportation for sale) any illegal (non-prescribed) drug.

1. No possession of marijuana/hashish with the last 3 years. No possession of other illegal drugs within 10 years.
2. No possession of marijuana/hashish over 15 times, regardless of time frame. No possession in last 3 years.
3. No combined possession of non-prescribed stimulants (amphetamine/methamphetamine) over 3 times. Stimulants include speed, ritalin, crank, crystal, ice, etc. No possession in the last 10 years.
4. No injection of amphetamines, methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, barbiturates, valium, or clandestine crank.
5. No combined possession of hallucinogenic drugs (LSD, PCP, hallucinogenic mushrooms, etc.) over 3 times. No possession in the last 10 years.
6. No possession of non-prescribed opiates/narcotics (heroin, morphine, etc.).
7. No possession of cocaine over 3 times. No possession within the last 10 years.
8. No selling, offering to sell, or transporting for sale of any illegal drugs/narcotics, regardless of time frame.
9. No possession of non-prescribed drugs while employed or after having been employed in a commissioned capacity by a law enforcement agency, regardless of time frame, (including a military position with law enforcement powers).
10. No possession of anabolic steroids within the last 3 years.

Waiver:
If you do not meet the drug standard or any other standard as listed in the Personal History Statement, you may request a waiver by attaching a letter to your Personal History Statement. All waiver requests will be considered by the Park Ranger Review Panel.

Fingerprint Background Check
This includes a Washington State Patrol and FBI criminal history check.

Fitness Test:
The General Population Single Standard Cooper Fitness Test (40th Percentile) consists of the following:

Push-Ups - must complete 20 push-ups from the toes.
Sit-ups - must complete 27 sit-ups in one minute.
Bench Press - one repetition (see formula below).

(.68 x body weight) – 18.41

1.016

Vertical Jump - minimum of 15 inches OR Agility Run - must complete in 22.4 seconds.
Mile and a Half Run/Walk - must complete in 15 minutes, 20 seconds.
300 Meter Run - must complete in 72 seconds.

To participate in the fitness test, you must sign an Applicant Liability Release Agreement form. If you do not pass all of the fitness test elements you may retake the test on a later date. All candidates who retake the test must take and pass all elements. Fitness tests will be held in Burien.

Polygraph Examination
The polygraph is a 3-hour examination. The polygraph technician will use the candidate’s Personal History Statement to form questions. Anyone who is determined to be deceptive on the polygraph will be disqualified. Candidates who are not deceptive but disclose disqualifying information (i.e., drug use beyond the standard) will be disqualified. All polygraphs will be held in Olympia.

Psychological Examination
The Psychological examination consists of a 2-6 hour battery of written examinations and a one-hour face-to-face interview with a Psychologist. The Psychologist will use the written test results and the candidate’s Personal History Statement to form appropriate questions. Candidates who receive a marginal score may be required to go through an in-depth background investigation.

Pre-offer psychological written examinations will be held in Burien. All Post-offer examinations and psychological interviews will be held in Olympia.

Drug and Alcohol Screening
A urinalysis. All drug and alcohol screenings will be held in Olympia.

Medical Examination
A full physical examination. All medical examinations will be held in Olympia.

NOTE:
Washington State Parks is unable to disclose specific information to candidates who are disqualified. A candidate will be notified that they have been disqualified based on the results of the examinations but not which examination the decision was based on.