Physical Requirements and Maximum Entry Age
The duties of probation officers require the investigation and management of alleged criminal offenders or convicted offenders who present physical danger to officers and to the public. In the supervision, treatment, and control of these offenders, these duties require moderate to arduous physical exercise, including prolonged periods of walking and standing, physical dexterity and coordination necessary for officer safety, and use of self-defense tactics. On a daily basis, these officers face unusual mental and physical stress because they are subject to danger and possible harm during frequent, direct contact with individuals who are suspected or convicted of committing Federal offenses.
Because officers must effectively deal with physical attacks and are subject to moderate to arduous physical exertion, applicants must be physically capable. Officers must possess, with or without corrective lenses, good distance vision in at least one eye and the ability to read normal size print. Normal hearing ability, with or without a hearing aid, is also required. Any severe health problems, such as physical defects, disease, and deformities that constitute employment hazards to the applicant or others, may disqualify an applicant. Examples of health problems that may be disqualifying are an untreated hernia, cardiovascular disorders, serious deformities or disabilities of the extremities, mental health disorders, fainting and/or seizure disorders, metabolic disorders, bleeding disorders, pulmonary disorders, and marked speech abnormalities.
First-time appointees to positions covered under law enforcement officer retirement provisions must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment. Applicants 37 or over who have previous law enforcement officer experience under the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees' Retirement System and who have either a subsequent break in service or intervening service in a non-law enforcement officer position may have their previous law enforcement experience subtracted from their age to determine whether they meet the maximum age requirement.
Security Investigations
Applicants considered for this position must undergo a full Office of Personnel Management (OPM) background investigation, as well as a local background investigation.
Medical Examinations
Prior to appointment, the selectee considered for this position will undergo a medical examination and drug screening. Upon successful completion of the medical examination and drug screening, the selectee may then be appointed provisionally, pending a favorable suitability determination by the court. In addition, as conditions of employment, incumbent will be subject to ongoing random drug screening, updated background investigations every five years and, as deemed necessary by management for reasonable cause, may be subject to subsequent fitness-for-duty evaluations.
The medical requirements and the essential job functions derived from the medical guidelines for probation officers, pretrial services officers and officer assistants are available for public review .
Training Requirements
During their first year of duty, probation officers receive extensive local training and must also successfully complete a six-week national training program at the Federal Probation and Pretrial Services Academy (FPPA) in Charleston, South Carolina.
Citizenship
Applicants must be citizens of the United States or eligible to work in the United States. To review citizenship requirements for employment in the Judiciary, please visit the U.S. Courts website .
Failure to submit the cover letter, resume, and AO-78, in one pdf document will result in immediate disqualification. Incomplete applications will not be considered, retained, or returned. Only one application per candidate will be accepted for this announcement.
- Applicants for law enforcement officer positions are required to complete the AO 78, Federal Judicial Branch Application, Revised 5/2024. The application form must be filled out thoroughly to determine eligibility for the position. This includes the Optional Background Information (questions, 19, 20, and 21) on page 5 of the application form.
- The U.S. Probation Office, Eastern Judicial District of California, is headquartered in Sacramento, with offices in Roseville, Redding, Modesto, Fresno (Divisional Office), Visalia, and Bakersfield. Although it is the agency’s practice to try to accommodate individual duty station preferences, all employees of the U.S. Probation Office are subject to transfer to any office in the judicial district, if necessary, to perform the work of the courts. The individual’s duty station is at the discretion of the Chief.
- The U.S. Probation Office is not authorized to reimburse candidates for testing, interviewing, or relocation expenses.
- More than one position may be filled from this announcement.
- Applicants must possess a valid driver’s license.
- This position is subject to mandatory Electronic Funds Transfer participation for payment of net pay.
- The office reserves the right to amend or withdraw any announcement without written notice to applicants.
- The officer’s performance will be monitored closely during the first year in this position.
- Due to the volume of applications received, only applicants who are tested and/or interviewed will receive a written response regarding their application status.
- Applications received after 4 p.m. PT on Sept. 7, 2026 will not be considered.
