Taking the postal exam for employment in the postal service is not exactly a walk in the park. There are various eligibility criteria that you have to fulfill before you can even attempt the examination. Some of these criteria include the following:

Age-Related Criteria

In order to be deemed eligible for USPS (United States Postal Service) jobs, the applicant should be at least 18 years of age when he submits his application. 16-years-old who possess a high school diploma or equivalent certificate can also apply.

Citizenship Requirements

All USPS applicants desirous of making their careers in the USPS should be U.S. citizens, or permanent residents (green card holders).

Language

The candidate should be able to demonstrate at least basic competency in English. All applicants will be assessed through the postal exam 473 and other tests and interviews will primarily be conducted in English.  It is absolutely imperative that you take the postal exam 473 in order to be considered eligible for most jobs in the postal service.

Educational Requirements

All aspiring USPS applicants should be high school graduates at the very least or they should have a valid GED.

Employment History

The candidate needs to provide 10-years of his/her employment history that includes their current employer (if any). The service encourages people who have a stable employment record and does not approve of candidates who shift jobs every few weeks.  

Background Checks

If you are considering applying for the US postal service, it is important that you realize that you will be subjected to comprehensive criminal background checks at the initial stage. After that, you will also have to undergo the most stringent checks after you have been shortlisted for a particular position.

Drug Screen tests

All candidates will have to undergo drug screen tests to ensure that they are not under the influence of any controlled substance.

Physical and Mental Health

All postal service applicants should be in sound mental and physical condition. Many jobs in the postal service require peak physical fitness, especially since service employees may be tasked with lifting mail bins or heavy packages that could easily weigh up to 50 pounds.  If the employee is physically weak, he would not be the right fit for a job that requires a lot of hard labor.

Driving Records

If you are applying for a postman position or similar jobs such as rural area carriers or a vehicle operator, then it is very important that you have a clean driving record.

Conclusion

In light of the above, we can safely state that passing the postal exam is only a part of the overall shortlisting process. In order to secure your dream job in the US postal service, you have to fulfill all the eligibility criteria before you can start your dream career!