FAQs – Careers

Yes. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with DCSA.

Individuals who hold dual citizenship are not precluded from applying for positions at DCSA. Dual citizenship may raise questions about foreign preference or loyalty, and will need to be resolved before a clearance can be granted. These concerns may vary from case to case and will be addressed on an individual basis.

Yes. All applicants for employment are considered without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, or status as a parent. If you believe that you are a victim of unlawful discrimination based on the above-protected categories, you must contact an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) counselor within 45 days of the alleged discriminatory event before filing a formal complaint with the Agency. To contact an EEO Counselor, please call 571-305-6297.

Yes. Employees must not use illegal drugs or misuse prescription medications. Employees are subject to random urinalysis testing in accordance to Executive Order 12564 “Drug-free Federal Workplace.” Applicants applying to our positions are subject to pre-employment drug testing. To read the Executive Order, please refer to the OPM website. During the pre-employment applicant process, a urine test will be required to detect the presence of illegal or controlled substances in an applicant's system. Positive test results or refusal to be tested will be considered in determining an applicant's eligibility for employment, and may be the basis for denial of employment.

Veterans' Preference principles under DCIPS (a personnel system established under Title 10 of the U.S. Code) is not applied in the same way it is applied in Competitive or Excepted Service personnel systems governed by Title 5 of the United States Code. However, it is policy that DCIPS external hiring actions will follow veterans’ preference principles. Veterans' preference in DCIPS applies to all external applicants except for DISES and political appointments. DCIPS does not apply veterans' preference for current government employees or reinstatement of former Federal employees, or to promotions, reassignments, changes to lower grade, band or work level, transfers, or reinstatements, or to direct-hire actions."

Yes. You should submit more than one application through USAJOBS.

The clearance process can be lengthy. Each applicant is unique in terms of life experience and background. Factors that may lengthen the process include the location and number of investigative interviews required (e.g., a person with several employers and residences will likely take longer to investigate than a person with only one residence or employer during the period of investigation) or foreign affiliation.