The role of a mail carrier with the United States Postal Service (USPS) is a consistent presence in neighborhoods, ensuring the reliable flow of communication and goods. The path to securing this role is a structured process with specific requirements every applicant must meet, involving several stages to verify a candidate’s suitability for the job.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
The first step for any prospective mail carrier is to meet a series of non-negotiable baseline qualifications. Without meeting these fundamental criteria, an individual cannot move forward in the hiring process.
Age and Education
An applicant must be at least 18 years old at the time of appointment. An exception exists for individuals who are 17 years old but have already earned a high school diploma.
Citizenship and Residency
Candidates must be a United States citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or a citizen of American Samoa or another U.S. territory. As postal employment is a federal position, proof of status is required during the application phase.
Driving Record
A safe driving history is another mandatory condition. Applicants must possess a valid state driver’s license and have at least two years of documented driving experience in the U.S. The USPS will review an applicant’s driving record for the preceding two-year period to ensure a history of safe operation.
Selective Service Registration
For male applicants born after December 31, 1959, registration with the Selective Service System is a legal requirement for federal employment. Applicants must be in compliance with this federal law, and verification of registration is a component of the initial eligibility check.
Passing the Postal Exam
After meeting the basic eligibility criteria, candidates must take and pass a specific entrance examination. This standardized test is used by the USPS to identify individuals with traits suited for a mail carrier position and to assess their genuine aptitude for the work.
The required test for mail carrier positions is the Virtual Entry Assessment (VEA), specifically Postal Exam 474. This online assessment is not a test of academic knowledge but rather a measure of work-related personality and situational judgment. It is designed to build a profile of the candidate by evaluating how they would likely respond to common on-the-job scenarios. The exam can be taken from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, and applicants are given a 72-hour window to complete it after receiving the email invitation.
The assessment itself is composed of several sections, including “Work Situations,” “Tell Us Your Story,” and “Describe Your Work Style.” In the “Work Situations” part, candidates are presented with hypothetical job-related challenges and must choose their most and least likely course of action from a set of options. The other sections explore a candidate’s background, experiences, and personal approach to work, stress, and interaction with others.
Completing Post-Offer Screenings
Once a candidate has successfully passed the VEA and received a conditional job offer, they enter the final verification stage. This phase involves a series of screenings designed to confirm the candidate’s background and physical fitness for the role. These are the last hurdles to clear before employment can be finalized and are conducted to ensure the safety, security, and integrity of the postal service.
A comprehensive background check is a standard part of this process. The USPS Inspection Service conducts a five-year inquiry into a candidate’s criminal and employment history, using federal and state resources like FBI fingerprint checks. Alongside the background check, a mandatory drug screening is required for all potential hires. As a federal agency, the USPS enforces a drug-free workplace policy.
The final component is a medical assessment, which verifies that the applicant is physically capable of performing the strenuous duties of the job. This evaluation is specific to the physical demands of a mail carrier, which include the ability to lift and handle mail containers weighing up to 70 pounds and carry satchels weighing up to 35 pounds. The assessment confirms that the candidate has the physical capacity for prolonged periods of standing, walking, and bending in various weather conditions.
Essential Skills for the Job
Beyond the formal requirements, certain personal skills and attributes are necessary for excelling and finding long-term satisfaction as a mail carrier. These are not qualifications checked on an application but are the underlying abilities that allow an individual to thrive in the day-to-day work environment. They speak more to a person’s character and work ethic than to their documented history.
Physical stamina is paramount, as the job requires walking for extended periods across long routes, often while carrying heavy mailbags in all types of weather. Strong organizational skills are also needed to efficiently sort mail for an entire route and manage a variety of tasks without error. This includes meticulous attention to detail to ensure every piece of mail reaches its correct destination.
A high degree of independence and reliability is expected. Mail carriers spend most of their day working alone with minimal direct supervision, requiring self-motivation and a strong sense of responsibility to complete their duties effectively and on schedule. These personal skills are what truly define a successful and dedicated mail carrier.