KEY REQUIREMENTS

 

 

• Pass a background investigation including a credit and criminal check
• Pass a Drug Screening and Medical Evaluation
• No default on $7,500 or more in delinquent debt (but for some bankruptcies)
• No delinquent Federal or State taxes or past due child support payments
• Selective Service registration required

For more information on working at Minneapolis-St. Paul Int'l Airport, please Click Here.

 

Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) provide security and protection of air travelers, airports and aircraft in a courteous and professional manner.  This includes:

 

 

• Operating screening equipment to identify dangerous objects in baggage, cargo and on passengers, and preventing those objects from being transported onto aircraft;
• Performing searches, to include hand-wand and pat-down searches;
• Controlling terminal entry and exit points;
• Interacting with the public, giving directions and responding to inquiries;
• Maintaining focus and awareness while working in a stressful environment which includes noise from alarms, machinery and people, crowd distractions, time pressure, and disruptive and angry passengers, in order to preserve the professional ability to identify and locate potentially life threatening or mass destruction devices, and to make effective decisions in both crisis and routine situations.

Applicants must meet these qualifications in order to be further evaluated in the TSO hiring process:

• Be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National at time of application submission;
• Be at least 18 years of age at time of application submission;
• Be proficient in the English language (i.e., able to read, write, speak, and listen);
• Have a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) credential OR at least one year of full-time work experience in the security industry, aviation screening, or as an X-ray technician.

 

 

The qualification requirements listed above must be met at the time of application submission.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you may be invited to take a Computer Based Test (CBT) to confirm English language proficiency and evaluate x-ray interpretation aptitude.  Upon passing the CBT, you will be eligible to be scheduled for additional assessments, which include:  (1) a color vision test; (2) a structured interview to determine, among other qualities, your decision making skill and your ability to work with teams and the general public;  (3) a drug screening; and (4) a job related medical evaluation that includes a vision exam, hearing exam, and adequate joint mobility exam (in part to determine the physical potential to repeatedly lift and/or carry up to 70 pounds, to stand between one to four hours without a break, and to walk up to two miles during a shift).  Upon passing these assessments, you will be subject to a pre-hire background investigation.  Based upon passing the pre-hire background investigation and a qualitative evaluation of the criteria above, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

 

Best Qualified:  Applicants demonstrating a superior level of all evaluation criteria.

Highly Qualified:  Applicants demonstrating a more than satisfactory level of the evaluation criteria.

Qualified:  Applicants demonstrating minimal or basic satisfactory qualifications, with general knowledge, skills, and abilities.

 

For more information on TSO eligibility standards and background requirements, please Click Here.

 

For more information on TSO medical requirements, please Click Here.

To preview questions please click here.

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays.  Other benefits may include: tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; and health and wellness programs.  DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information on employee benefits, please Click Here.

 

TSA also provides part-time TSOs the opportunity to take advantage of receiving Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) while only paying the same low cost as full-time employees.  

 

TSA is an excepted service agency.  Employment with TSA does not confer the "Competitive Status" that generally results from selection and service in Competitive Service agencies.  However, permanent employees who have at least one year of continuous service with TSA will be eligible to apply for positions in other Federal agencies under the OPM-DHS Interchange Agreement.  

 

No moving, relocation or pre-employment travel expenses will be paid for this position, or while in application for this position.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Veterans' Preference:   TSA will provide employment preference to eligible veterans by applying veterans' preference as defined in the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (PL 107-71) and to those eligible under the provisions of Title 5, United States Code (USC), Section 2108.  For more information, please Click Here.

 

Selective Service Registration Requirement:   TSA policy requires verification of Selective Service registration for male applicants born after 12/31/59.  To find out if you initially meet the Selective Service registration requirement for TSA employment, please Click Here.

 

Reasonable Accommodation:  Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the TSA HRAccess Help Desk at 1-877-872-7990 or TTY 1-877-872-7992.

 

Initial Training Requirement:   Initial training may require two weeks of full time attendance and may potentially require travel to a training location that will require overnight stays away from the new employee's address of record.  Employees will be paid for any compensable hours and reimbursed for any authorized travel expenses associated with the initial training requirement.

 

TSO Dress and Appearance Responsibilities:   TSOs are required to adhere to the Personal Appearance Standard that requires a neat, clean and professional appearance while on duty or while wearing a uniform.  This includes adherence to policies on accessories and grooming.  For example, with the exception of 1/4 inch stud-type earrings, body and/or tongue piercing may not be visible to the public.  In addition, tattoos must be covered at all times and not visible to the public (visible tattoos are defined as those present on the body anywhere outside of the standard long-sleeved TSO uniform). Each airport's Federal Security Director has the discretion whether to permit exceptions and allow visible tattoos to be covered by an acceptable band or skin-colored make-up that does not detract from the TSO uniform.

 

Work Schedules for Part-time Positions:   Specific work shifts and schedules will be determined by the airport.

• Part-time shifts generally range from 16-32 hours per week;
• Part-time work consists of shift-work on any day from Sunday through Saturday, which may include irregular hours, nights, holidays, overtime, extended shifts and weekend shifts, changing shifts, and split shifts;
• A "split-shift" consists of any two work shifts, each lasting at least two (2) hours in one 24-hour period, with at least two (2) hours between work shifts.

Maintaining Employment:   All TSOs must maintain the standard level of certification and fitness for duty, to include:

• Completing classroom training, on-the-job training, and all initial certification testing;
• Recurrent and specialized training and recertification tests on a periodic basis; and
• Passing background investigations, including a criminal check and credit check, and all randomly administered drug screening tests.