where can I go to receive an education to become a park ranger?

Question

I am an adult, willing to travel anywhere other than the northern sections of the us.

Answer 1

U.S. national park rangers work as naturalists/interpreters, fee collectors and law enforcement officers. Their main responsibility is the safety of the millions of people who visit the parks each year, but they also interact with scientists on environmental issues within the parks.


Steps:
1. Realize that you'll need at least a bachelor's degree in park management, natural history, forestry, outdoor recreation or a related environmental field for a full-time entry-level position as a park ranger. Prior to that, you'll need to have worked for two to five years as a seasonal (part-time) ranger. The seasonal work will also allow you to make connections.

2. Maintain a high grade point average in high school, especially in the sciences.

3. Obtain college catalogs before your senior year and apply to colleges that offer degrees such as those mentioned earlier.

4. Request applications for seasonal work from the National Park Service after you're in a college degree program (see Tips for contact information). You'll need to have certifications in at least CPR and advanced first aid.

5. Receive a seasonal law enforcement certification if you want to be a seasonal law enforcement ranger. This requires approximately 300 hours of training, which can be provided through courses offered by many community colleges.

6. Include a related science minor in your undergraduate work so that you'll stand out when you apply for a full-time park ranger position.

Tips:
For a seasonal work application, write to Seasonal Employment Program, Human Resources Office, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Mail Stop 2225, Washington, DC 20013-7127; [phone]; [e-mail].

Consider obtaining a master's degree in an environmental field to greatly improve your chances of being hired for the best positions of the NPS.

Answer 2

Requirements to become a park ranger vary, and how you become a park ranger varies depending on the agency. Getting park ranger jobs and other law enforcement officer jobs can be very competitive. Consider trying to attend the NPS Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program. Some states have what is referred to as POST basic training. This is the law enforcement training required to become a peace officer or law enforcement officer in the particular state. To become a state park ranger, you might have to complete POST training. Some law enforcement training academies allow you to register to attend. If you meet the requirements, you can attend the training at your own expense in hopes of getting a law enforcement officer job after you complete the training. Many academies are run by or through colleges or universities, and you can sometimes get college credits from completing the training.

Consider local, state, and federal law enforcement officer jobs. In addition to park ranger jobs, you might also want to consider game warden or conservation officer jobs, and other federal law enforcement officer jobs such as Uniformed Law Enforcement officer for the United States Forrest Service or Special Agent or Wildlife Inspector for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Do whatever you can to make yourself the best candidate that you can. For example, don't do anything illegal, maintain a good reputation, keep a good driver's license, don't get bad credit, improve all of your communication skills as much as possible, and become as physically fit as you can. If you don't have a college degree, consider getting one if you can.

Answer 3

Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Ar. One of the best colleges in the state!!