How to become a TSA officer

1. 1Check that you meet the basic requirements

   Sources 1, 8

   You must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national, at least 18 years old, and hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent certificate. Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with Selective Service. You also need to be able to lift and carry bags and bins up to 50 pounds, work odd-hour shifts with some overtime, and travel for training. No security or law enforcement experience is required.

2. 2Apply on USAJOBS

   Time: Under an hour to applySources 1, 2

   TSO openings are posted on USAJOBS, often for specific airports. You create an account, fill in personal information and an eligibility questionnaire, and choose your preferred locations. A resume is not required for TSO jobs. TSA gives veterans special consideration in hiring, so have your DD-214 or other proof of service ready if it applies to you.

3. 3Pass the computer-based test

   Time: One appointmentSources 1, 2, 8

   Qualified applicants are invited to take TSA's computer-based test, which measures image interpretation aptitude, the skill of spotting objects in X-ray images like those you will read at the checkpoint. Applicants who pass move on to a panel interview at the airport and the rest of the screening. No prior security experience is expected.

4. 4Clear the medical evaluation, drug test and background check

   Time: Several weeks or longerSources 1, 2, 4

   The medical evaluation includes a physical exam, bloodwork, color and distance vision tests and a hearing exam. The federal drug test cannot show illegal drugs, including marijuana, even in states where it is legal. For the background investigation you complete the SF-86 security questionnaire, get fingerprinted and undergo credit and criminal history checks. Applicants who finish every step go into a ready pool until their airport has openings.

5. 5Complete paid TSA training

   Time: About 3 months plus 3 weeks, then on-the-job trainingCost: PaidSources 3, 8

   New officers spend about three months working at their home airport, then take a week of virtual training and two weeks of in-residence training at TSA Academy East at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers in Glynco, Georgia, or TSA Academy West in Las Vegas. The curriculum covers threat detection and resolution, pat-down techniques and screening personal property, and officers practice on a dedicated training checkpoint with real equipment. Training wraps up with on-the-job training back at the home airport.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Visual attention to detail

Reading X-ray images means spotting the outline of a blade or wires in a crowded bag within seconds.

Staying calm with the public

Officers explain rules and do pat-downs for travelers who may be late, angry or anxious, sometimes hundreds of them per shift.

Following procedures exactly

Alarm resolution and bag searches follow strict standard steps, and skipping one can let a threat through.

Physical stamina

The job means standing for hours and repeatedly lifting bags and bins of up to 50 pounds.

Clear communication

Officers give simple instructions at a loud checkpoint and report problems to supervisors and police precisely.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: speaking, monitoring, active listening, critical thinking, reading comprehension.

Training cost

No tuition

Before financial aid

Time

Several months: the hiring process, then about 3 months at the home airport, 3 weeks of academy training and on-the-job training

Typical path

Median pay

$66,770

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

No training cost

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

TSA's official hiring pages list no application or testing fee, and all training after hire is paid, including the three weeks of standardized academy training. The only costs are personal ones, such as earning a GED if you need one or travel to testing appointments.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Lead or Supervisory Transportation Security Officer

  Experienced officers can move up to lead and supervisory TSO roles that run checkpoint lanes and teams.

• TSA training instructor or Transportation Security Specialist

  TSA lists training instructor and transportation security specialist roles as next steps, along with HR, program analysis and contracts jobs.

• Police officer$76,210 median

  Requires applying to a police department and completing its police academy; screening experience helps but does not replace academy training.

• Air traffic controller$148,080 median

  Requires passing the FAA's hiring process and training at the FAA Academy.