Chaplain

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

Duties

The primary duties of Bureau of Prisons Chaplains are religious accommodation, pastoral care, and faith-based reentry programming to those in federal custody.

Chaplains lead worship and religious programming from their own faith tradition, religious credentialing, and endorsement.

They work collaboratively with their correctional supervisory chains of command, other institutional departments, religious volunteers, and contracted faith-specific service providers to ensure the protected religious rights of federal offenders under federal laws and agency policies.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution. The staff correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.

Salary

• $63,780 - $145,468/year

Conditions of Employment

This position is in the excepted service. It is excluded from the provisions of the career transition assistance program, and is subject to a trial period.

EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.

Key Requirements:

1. U.S. Citizenship is Required.
2. See Special Conditions of Employment Section.
3. Selective Service Requirement

Qualifications

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following basic qualification requirements:

Education:

Bachelor's Degree: An applicant must have a conferred 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree, in an accredited college or university.

AND

Ecclesiastical Endorsement:

An Ecclesiastical Endorsement attests to the applicant's suitability for correctional ministry, support for his or her candidacy, a clear assurance statement that the applicant has no present or past legal or moral barrier to congregational ministry, and an affirmation that the applicant will facilitate inmates of all faiths opportunities to pursue individual religious beliefs and practices. The applicant's relationship to the endorsing body must reflect a minimum two-year association before endorsement.

In order to receive full consideration for this vacancy, you are required to complete and submit the Bureau of Prisons' Ecclesiastical Endorsement Form (BP-A0679). A copy of this form can be obtained by accessing www.bop.gov or Clicking Here and then click on "Find a Form".

AND

Religious Credentials:

Applicants will be ordained clergy or members of ecclesiastically recognized religious institutes of vowed men or women. In lieu of professional ordination credentials, adequate documentation of the applicant's recognized religious and ministerial roles in their respective faith communities is required.

In addition to the above Basic Requirements, applicants must meet the following qualification requirements:

Qualification Requirements:

Master's degree:

GL-09, GS-11, GS-12:

Candidates must have a Master of Divinity or equivalent theological education. Equivalent theological education represented by a conferred degree comprised of no less than 72 semester hours of graduate coursework including:

• 20 semester hours in pastoral ministry; and
• 20 semester hours in any combination of theology, ethics, and philosophy of religion; and
• 20 semester hours in the study of sacred writings, including the study of languages in which sacred writings are/were written; and
• 12 semester hours in religious history and/or world religions.

Applicants who meet the Basic Requirements and graduate education requirements qualify for GL-09 grade level.

AND

Professional Ministry Experience (Specialized Experience):

Experience in formal religious leadership compatible with the duties of a religious ministry provider in the applicant's organization and relevant to professional chaplaincy. Earned Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) units can be credited towards professional ministry experience. All professional ministry experience must be gained while in a relationship with the endorsing religious organization.

GS-11: 2,080 hours (1 year) full-time specialized experience at the next lower grade.

GS-12: 4,160 hours (2 years) full-time specialized experience at the next lower grade.

Note: Each CPE unit earned will count as 520 hours of professional ministry experience.

OR

Professional Ministry Experience In lieu of Graduate Theological Degree:

Experience in formal religious leadership compatible with the duties of a religious ministry provider in the applicant's organization and relevant to professional chaplaincy. Earned Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) units can be credited towards professional ministry experience. All professional ministry experience must be gained while in a relationship with the endorsing religious organization.

Applicants who meet the Basic Requirements, but do not meet the graduate education requirement, may be found qualified with Professional Ministry Experience.

GL-09: 6,240 hours (3 years) full-time specialized experience at the next lower grade.

GS-11: 8,320 hours (4 years) full-time specialized experience at the next lower grade.

GS-12: 10,400 hours (5 years) full-time specialized experience at the next lower grade.

Note: Each CPE unit earned will count as 520 hours of professional ministry experience.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience:

Experience in formal religious leadership compatible with the duties of a religious ministry provider in the applicant's organization and relevant to professional chaplaincy. Earned Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) units can be credited towards professional ministry experience. All professional ministry experience must be gained while in a relationship with the endorsing religious organization.

Combination of successfully completed graduate level education and/or professional ministry experience.

GL-09: 6,240 hours (3 years) of a combination of qualifying theological education, CPE units, and/or professional ministry experience.

GS-11: 8,320 hours (4 years) of a combination of qualifying theological education, CPE units, and/or professional ministry experience.

GS-12: 10,400 hours (5 years) of a combination of qualifying theological education, CPE units, and/or professional ministry experience.

Note: A two-year conferred graduate theological or religious degree will qualify as 4,160 hours (2 years) of professional ministry experience. Each CPE unit earned will count as 520 hours of professional ministry experience.

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, the experience must be properly documented in the resume (see Required Documents section below for more information).

AND

Selective Placement Factor:

Applicants applying for this position MUST also possess the following Selective Factor. In the event you do not possess the Selective Factor, you will be found ineligible for the position.

BUDDHIST:

GS-09: Applicant must be of a Buddhist community.

GS-11: Applicant must be of a Buddhist community and have a minimum of 1 year of formal ministry experience in the Buddhist faith.

GS-12: Applicant must be of a Buddhist community and have a minimum of 2 years of formal ministry experience in the Buddhist faith.

CATHOLIC:

GS-09: Applicant must be of a Catholic community.

GS-11: Applicant must be of a Catholic community and have a minimum of 1 year of formal ministry experience in the Catholic faith.

GS-12: Applicant must be of a Catholic community and have a minimum of 2 years of formal ministry experience in the Catholic faith.

JEWISH:

GS-09: Applicant must be of a Jewish community.

GS-11: Applicant must be of a Jewish community and have a minimum of 1 year of formal ministry experience in the Jewish faith.

GS-12: Applicant must be of a Jewish community and have a minimum of 2 years of formal ministry experience in the Jewish faith.

ISLAMIC:

GS-09: Applicant must be of an Islamic community.

GS-11: Applicant must be of an Islamic community and have a minimum of 1 year of formal ministry experience in the Islamic faith.

GS-12: Applicant must be of an Islamic community and have a minimum of 2 years of formal ministry experience in the Islamic faith.

NOTE: All applicants MUST clearly address the Selective Factor in their resume and, if applicable, upload any required documentation (i.e., licensure, certification, or transcripts) at the time you apply.

ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION MUST BE UPLOADED AT THE TIME YOU APPLY

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.

Education See Qualifications Section for education requirements, if applicable. ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here. Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty. Other Information All Chaplain applicants can be considered at any age. Age waivers are not needed for: Applicants with prior federal law enforcement coverage. Applicants who have been endorsed by the Catholic, Islamic or Jewish faiths. All others over the age of 36 require an approved age waiver prior to entry on duty. You must ensure you provide the documentation listed in the "Required Documents" section to support your claim. Failure to provide the required documentation may result in not receiving consideration for this position. LENGTH OF ELIBILITY: Eligible applicants will remain on the inventory until the closing date of the vacancy announcement. NOTE: This announcement is posted on a yearly cycle. This announcement will EXPIRE on 09/30/2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. In order to receive consideration for the next cycle, applicants MUST reapply to the new vacancy announcement. SALARY RANGE: The salary range for this announcement reflects Rest of US GS-09/01 $63,780 to highest GS-12/10 San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA $145,468. See current pay scales for locality area for which you are applying at OPM and search pay tables. SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT SECTION: Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview, urinalysis, physical, and background investigation. All applicants are subject to and must satisfactorily pass all screening requirements in relation to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check. All applicants not currently working in an institution will be required to complete a qualification inquiry regarding convictions of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence in order to be authorized to carry a firearm. Successful completion of the "Introduction to Correctional Techniques," three-week training course at Glynco, Georgia is required. Additional selections may be made if vacancies occur within the life of the certificate. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information) Required Documents

Failure to provide legible required documents and/or follow the prescribed format often results in removal from consideration. If uploading documentation, do not identify/save your documents utilizing a special character such as %, #, @, etc. Documentation should be identified/saved as VA Letter, DD-214, or Transcripts.

• Veterans' Preference Documentation:
  • Failure to submit all required documents at the time of application will result in the loss of claimed preference eligibility.
  • DD-214: Veterans MUST provide a DD-214 demonstrating that they have been discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions (i.e., the individual must have received either an honorable or general discharge).
  • SF-15: If you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, widow/widower of a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the parent of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit:
    • A completed Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference" AND all required documentation identified on the SF-15. NOTE: A Department of Veterans Affairs letter must contain the Veteran's Name and Combined Service-Connected Evaluation.For a copy of the most current SF-15, Click Here.
  • If you are on active duty and expect to be discharged or released from active duty service within 120 days, you may submit a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty from the appropriate Branch Personnel Office containing the following information:
    1. The military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and
    2. The character of service (must be an honorable or general discharge); and
    3. Any qualifying service/campaign/expeditionary medals.
• Resume (limited to 2 pages)must include your name, contact information, and relevant experience (cover letter optional). Experience that would not normally be part of the Federal employee's position is creditable when documented by satisfactory evidence of qualifying experience (e.g., a memorandum from the manager, Human Resource Manager, SF-52, MOU, etc.). If providing a memorandum, it must follow the format below AND clearly cite the duties performed.
• To receive credit for experience, your resume and/or any satisfactory evidence must include:
  • Start date and end date in month/year format (MM/YYYY) AND
  • Number of hours worked per week.
• College transcript: includes the School Name, Student Name, Degree, and Date Awarded (if applicable).
  • NOTE: If you are selected, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day.
• SF-50: for proof of prior LEO coverage, if applicable.
• Professional Certification/Endorsement

For more help, visit USAJOBS Help Center - What should I include in my resume?

We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software, delays in mail service, applicant application errors, etc.

How to Apply Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside about two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. USAJOBS Help Center - How to Add a Resume to Your Profile All required supporting documentation MUST be received by the Consolidated Staffing Unit by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time on09/30/2026. If applicable see Notice for Preference Eligible Veterans Applicants Benefits Nonforeign Area Cost-of-Living Allowances (COLA): There is an 8.64% (of basic pay) Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) authorized for FDC Honolulu, HI, and a 2.49% for MDC Guaynabo, PR. See COLA and Locality Pay Rates in Nonforeign Areas for more information.