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Learn to become a TSA officer (TSO)

Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) play a key role in the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), ensuring airport safety and helping to protect travelers and staff. As a TSO, you’ll enjoy a fast-paced work environment, and the career can be rewarding. There is no specialized education required, but you will need to follow a specific application path and meet eligibility requirements.

Key TSO daily responsibilities

Before you decide to become a TSO, it’s helpful to understand just what’s involved in the job. As a TSO, your main responsibilities are to provide security and protection to travelers. In addition, you might need to help secure high-profile events or protect important figures as they travel. 

During the course of a day, TSOs have many responsibilities:

As you work, you’ll always be expected to understand and follow TSA standard operating procedures.

Important characteristics for Transportation Security Officers

Before you decide to become a TSO, consider whether you have the characteristics and skills that this career requires: 

Transportation Security Officer eligibility requirements

To become a TSO, you’ll need to meet several eligibility requirements outlined by the TSA. You must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or national
• Be 18 years or older
• Have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent certificate

If you’re a male, you will need to register for Selective Service. Registration applies to males who are age 18 through 25, and it doesn’t automatically induct you into the military. If the country faced a situation requiring a draft, a random lottery number and year of birth would call registrants into the military. 

Additionally, all TSO applicants must be able to pass a federal drug screening and medical evaluation. During the medical evaluation, your vision and hearing will be tested. You will also need to provide documentation of current medical diagnoses and a list of prescribed medications, treatments and therapies. 

A background investigation is also part of the application process. You will complete an e-86 form, which will require information such as citizenship documentation, your residential history, education history, employment history, information about your relatives and details about any criminal record and foreign activities. 

Keep in mind that you may need to have a flexible schedule, since you may be asked to work shifts at odd hours. Overtime may occasionally be necessary, plus you may need to travel for training. 

How to apply to become a Transportation Security Officer

The TSA provides an online guide to help you apply to become a Transportation Security Officer. It provides step-by-step information to help you navigate the application, as well as tips for success. 

To get started, you’ll need to apply to the Transportation Security Officer job listing on USAJOBS.gov, the government’s official job site. You can’t apply for this position on Indeed or any other hiring boards. To get started:

• Find a TSO job opportunity on USAJOBS.gov. 
• Create an account and log in. 
• Add demographic details in the application. 
• You don’t need to submit a resume, and resumes aren’t reviewed for the TSO position. 
• Be sure to answer all questions on the application, including the minimum qualifications question to confirm that you qualify for the position. 
• Review your answers for accuracy. Once you’re satisfied, click the “Submit Application” button. You will receive an email confirming if you have met the eligibility requirements. 

After you’ve submitted the application, you will need to schedule a proctored computer-based assessment designed to evaluate your ability to interpret images. You will receive an email including a link to schedule the examination, and you must complete the assessment with in 21 days of receiving the invitation.

What happens after you receive a tentative TSO job offer

Once you successfully complete the above steps, you may receive a tentative job offer. At that point, you will need to accept the offer and sign additional release forms. 

From there, you will complete an airport assessment in the form of a panel interview. That assessment will evaluate your skills and knowledge to determine if you’re a good fit for the TSO position. 

If you successfully complete the interview, you’ll complete a medical evaluation, federal drug screening and a background check. Once you’ve completed all of these steps, you’ll be added to the “ready pool” and may receive a final job offer when an airport needs to hire a Transportation Security Officer.

Completing training as a Transportation Security Officer

Once you’ve completed your initial TSO training, you’ll need to complete a training program at a TSA Academy. This program lasts between two and three weeks, and all of your travel and lodging expenses are covered by the TSA. While attending the TSA Academy, you’ll learn the key skills to succeed as a TSO. 

In addition to that initial TSA Academy training, you will receive additional training throughout your career to keep you informed of updated policies and technology. 

Do you need a degree to become a Transportation Security Officer?

Since the TSA only requires Transportation Security Officer applicants to have a high school diploma or equivalent, you don’t necessarily need a college degree to apply or to become a TSO officer. However, by earning a college degree, you may develop skills and specialized knowledge that can contribute to your success as a TSO. 

For example, a degree in criminal justice or criminology can provide you with a detailed understanding of factors like legal ethics and how the justice system works, which can be valuable in your job as a TSO. Pursuing a degree in sociology or psychology can help you better understand factors like body language, human behavior and how to best handle difficult conversations and high-stress situations, all of which can be valuable as a TSO. 

Since becoming a Transportation Security Officer won’t necessarily be the last step in your career, earning a degree may help prepare you for career advancements. After developing your skills and experience as a TSO, you might decide to apply those skills to other related careers, like a career as a federal air marshal, TSO training instructor, HR specialist and more. In these cases, having a degree may help you stand out as a job candidate.

Take the next steps to becoming a Transportation Security Officer

Becoming a TSO can be a rewarding experience, and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you’re helping protect travelers and staff daily. While you can apply to become a TSO officer with just a high school diploma, you might decide to earn a degree in a related field to help develop the skills you’ll need in a TSO career and in other positions. You can explore available criminal justice degree programs today to get started on your education path.