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Permanent Full Time

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Permanent full-time (PFT) employees are hired through a competitive process that includes an application and interview. They may gain competitive status after one year of continuous service and full career tenure after three years of continuous service. 

View Currently Open Positions

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A Lifelong Career

Man in FEMA vest laughing and gesturing.

"FEMA has given me the opportunity to work alongside the nation’s most dedicated emergency managers and public servants at all levels of government. Through responding to countless disasters, I have learned to find order in chaos, always have bias towards action, and strive to make my colleagues smile on those especially tough days."
- Jeremy G., Director, Operations Division, PFT employee

Competitive Service

PFT positions are “Competitive Service” jobs. This means they are filled based on ability. The competitive process includes an application and interview. There may also be a written test and an evaluation of an applicant’s education, experience, and any other qualities needed to be successful in the job. 

Through fair and open competition, PFT jobs may be filled by previous or current federal employees or those from outside the federal government. Rarely, certain types of PFT jobs fall under the excepted service, which excuses applicants from the competitive process, but does not allow the employee to gain competitive status.

Career Tenure and Competitive Status 

After one year of continuous service PFTs, hired through the competitive process, gain competitive status. After three years of continuous service PFTs, hired through the competitive process, gain full career status. Full career status allows an employee to keep their competitive status if they leave the federal government and later reapply for federal jobs.

What to Expect During the Hiring Process

  1. Current 1. Find Right Role
  2. 2. Apply for Job
  3. 3. Application Review
  4. 4. Interview & Selection
  5. 5. Background Check
  6. 6. Final Job Offer
  7. 7. Onboarding & Orientation

Step 1:  Finding the right role

FEMA has many career opportunities for individuals interested in helping people before, during, and after disasters. We offer entry level to more experienced level positions as well as management positions.  We also offer different employee types with varying availability requirements from full time to intermittent based on disaster activity to short term opportunities for local residents to aid in recovery for their community.

To learn more about the various employee types and career paths, please visit:

Job Resources

Positions are available across the General Schedule with additional locality pay adjustments based on location.

Get the inside scoop on resume writing for a federal job. A federal resume is your application to a position and requires more detail than private-sector resumes.

Use the template to help prepare your resume.

Career Path Tool (CPT) lets current and prospective FEMA employees explore the many different careers that are available at FEMA.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.