U.S. Department of Transportation

Airlines

Screening Companies

Airport Authorities

Dear Colleague:

On November 19, 2001, President Bush signed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA), which created the new Transportation Security Administration (TSA).  One of the requirements of this Act is to establish qualification standards for screeners to be employed by the Federal Government.

In response to this requirement, TSA has promulgated basic employment eligibility requirements.  The attachment to this letter describes the employment eligibility requirements for all screeners hired after the TSA takes over the screening responsibility.

In general, it is the intention of the U.S. Department of Transportation to contract directly with screening companies by mid-February in order to provide airport screening services in the transition period prior to deployment of a federal screening work force later this year.  The attached eligibility requirements would apply to those third party screening employees hired after the date of the U.S. Department of Transportation contracting with a screening firm.  Existing employees of such firms would, in other words, continue to be eligible for employment under the U.S. Department of Transportation contract in the transition period.

We are working hard to make the conversion to an all-Federal screening workforce as smooth as possible.  I know we can count on your cooperation during this transitional period as we all have a common goal of protecting the flying public.

Sincerely,

MPJ

Attachment

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Screener Employment Eligibility Requirements

When the TSA takes over the responsibility for passenger screening operations all newly hired screeners must:

• Possess a high school diploma or general education diploma or have one year of any type of work experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position. 

• Be a U.S. Citizen.

• Pass a background and security investigation, including a criminal records check, in accordance with Federal law and standards established by the Transportation Security Administration. 

• Possess certain basic aptitudes and physical abilities as measured through a medical examination.  These include color perception, visual and aural acuity, physical coordination, and motor skills, that satisfy the following standards:

  • Be able to distinguish objects on the screening equipment monitor at the appropriate imaging standard as specified by the Transportation Security Administration;

  • Be able to distinguish each color displayed on every type of screening equipment and explain what each color signifies;

  • Be able to hear and respond to the spoken voice and to audible alarms generated by screening equipment in an active checkpoint environment;

  • Be able efficiently and thoroughly to manipulate and handle baggage, containers, and other objects subject to security processing; and

  • Have sufficient dexterity and capability thoroughly to conduct hand-metal detector and pat-down search procedures over an individual’s entire body.

• Be able to read, speak, and write English well enough to:

  • Carry out written and oral instructions regarding the proper performance of screening duties;

  • Read English language identification media, credentials, airline tickets, and labels on items normally encountered in the screening process;

  • Provide direction to and understand and answer questions from English-speaking individuals undergoing screening; and

  • Write incident reports and statements and log entries into security records in the English language.

• After tentative selection for a position be subject to a pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening test.  Persons occupying screener positions will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.

•  Pass a Federal Civil Aviation Security Screener Aptitude test.  The test will measure:

  • Aptitude necessary to conduct screening;

  • Ability to deal effectively with the public; and

  • English proficiency.

The Federal Aptitude test is being developed and should be ready for use in February 2002.

These new criteria will be effective once TSA assumes contract responsibilities for the screening function.  Current screening company employees will be allowed to continue to be employed until such time as the work they are performing is taken over by Federal employees.  At that time they may apply, and if qualified, be hired as new Federal screeners.  In the interim, retraining of the current workforce may be required to ensure a consistent level of performance.

As provided by law, the TSA will give hiring preference to Veterans. The TSA will also recruit and give consideration to displaced aviation workers.