- You are able to read, write, and speak English.
- You are a U.S. citizen.
- You are a legal permanent resident, or non-citizen with an appropriate work visa, and you possess a bilingual skill for which there are no available qualified U.S. citizens.
- You are at least 18 years old.
- You have a valid social security number.
- You take a written test of basic skills.
- You have a valid driver's license.
- You pass a background check.
- You commit to four days of training. You will be paid for training days. Training can be held either during daytime hours or during evening and weekend hours.
If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/59, you must confirm that you are registered with the Selective Service System. For more information, please visit the Selective Service System's Web site at: http://www.sss.gov.
Bilingual speakers are encouraged to apply!
All census takers must be able to speak English, but people who have bilingual skills are needed in communities where a large number of residents primarily speak other languages. If you have the appropriate language skills and cultural knowledge to communicate well in your community, we encourage you to apply.
What does the employment test consist of?
The employment test consists of 28 multiple-choice questions designed to measure the basic skills and abilities required to perform a variety of census jobs. These include clerical skills, reading, number skills, interpreting information, evaluating alternatives, and organization skills. You will have 30 minutes to complete the test, and you may retake the test if you would like to improve your test score. If you wish to retake the test, you may do so on another day. You may only take the test once a day.
A practice test similar to the actual test is available at your Local Census Office, or it may be downloaded here.
What does the background check consist of?
The Census Bureau performs criminal background checks and reviews criminal records as part of assessing applicants' past conduct and suitability for employment. Applicants generally will have the opportunity to correct inaccuracies discovered through the criminal background check and/or provide relevant information why the applicant should be hired despite information acquired in law enforcement records. More information about the background check is provided in the Application Materials section.
What identification do I need?
See the list of approved forms of identification to learn more.