USPS Hiring Pipeline

The step-by-step breakdown nobody at USPS will explain to you. Click any stage to jump to the details.

1
Application Received
2
Assessment / Exam
3
Pre-Hire List
4
Hiring List
5
Selection List
6
Offer Phase (Ext)
7
Offer Accepted

Where Am I in the Hiring Process?

Select your current status to find out what's happening and what to expect next.

Stage 1: Application Received / Pre-Screening

You submitted the application. USPS is checking basic eligibility — age, citizenship, work history. This is automatic. If you filled everything out correctly, you move on.

  • Typical wait: 1-3 days

Stage 2: Assessment / Exam

You'll be invited to take the assessment for your position:

  • VEA 474 — CCA (City Carrier Assistant)
  • VEA 475 — MHA (Mail Handler Assistant) and PSE Mail Processing
  • VEA 476 — PSE Sales & Services
  • VEA 477 — RCA (Rural Carrier Associate)
  • Exam 916 — Laborer Custodial
  • Exam 955 — Maintenance Mechanic, MPE, Electronic Technician
  • Exam 944 — Tractor Trailer Operator (TTO)

Score 70+ to pass. Higher score = higher on the list = faster you get looked at.

VEA exams are personality/situational judgment based — no studying needed, just answer honestly. Exams 916, 955, and 944 test actual technical knowledge — you should study for these.

The exam and application are FREE. Anyone charging you money is a scam. Report them to the Postal Inspection Service.

  • Typical wait: 1-7 days for the invite, then complete it within 7 days of receiving it

Stage 3: Pre-Hire List

You passed the exam. You're now in the candidate pool.

THIS IS NOT A JOB OFFER. Most people freak out here because they don't understand what it means. All it means is you're qualified and waiting to be reviewed by a local office.

You could be on the pre-hire list for weeks, months, or up to a year. How fast you move depends on:

  • Your exam score (higher = better ranking)
  • How badly that office needs people
  • How many other applicants there are
  • Whether veterans with preference are ahead of you (that's federal law)

This is where people sit the longest and where most of the anxiety happens. Pro tip: Apply to multiple postings and locations. Don't put all your eggs in one office.

  • Typical wait: 2 weeks to 6+ months (seriously)

Stage 4: Hiring List

You've been screened further. Your name is on a ranked list organized by exam score and veteran preference status. The hiring manager at the local office now has access to your name.

  • You may get a call or email for an interview at this stage (not all positions require one)
  • Maintenance and some EAS positions are more likely to require interviews
  • Carrier positions (CCA, RCA) usually don't interview — they go off your score
  • Typical wait: 1-4 weeks

Stage 5: Selection List

The local office has reviewed the hiring list and selected you as a candidate. Now the real checks begin:

  • Background check (NACI) — National Agency Check with Inquiries. Covers the last 5 years: employment history, criminal record, education, references.
  • Drug test — Standard urine test. Marijuana WILL disqualify you even in legal states. USPS is a federal agency.
  • Fingerprinting happens at this stage.

STILL NOT HIRED. A failed background check or drug test kills your application here.

  • Typical wait: 1-4 weeks for results

Stage 6: Offer Phase (Ext)

You've been selected, background check is processing or cleared, drug test passed. This is the final stage before the actual offer letter.

You're waiting on approvals from HR and district management. Can take days to weeks. Some people report being stuck at Offer Phase Ext for months.

  • DO NOT quit your current job yet.
  • If you've been stuck here for more than 4 weeks, it's okay to call the contact number on your original job posting to check in.
  • Typical wait: 3 days to 4+ weeks

Stage 7: Offer Accepted → Orientation Letter

You got the official offer letter. You accepted it. The orientation letter arrives with your start date, reporting location, and what to bring.

  • Orientation is typically 3-5 days of classroom training. You are PAID starting day one of orientation.
  • Dress: business casual for orientation.
  • What to bring: two forms of ID (for I-9 verification), voided check or bank info for direct deposit, Social Security card.
  • After orientation: Both CCAs and RCAs must pass the driving exam/course (usually 1-2 days). Then CCAs attend CCA Academy, RCAs attend REACT Academy. MHAs and PSEs go to on-the-job training.
  • NOW you're officially hired. Your 90-day probation starts.

Key Things Nobody Tells You

  • Pre-hire list ≠ hired. It just means you're in the pool.
  • Selection list ≠ hired. It means they picked you but haven't cleared you yet.
  • You can sit on the pre-hire list for up to 1 year before anything happens or they tell you no.
  • Your exam score matters way more than people think — it determines your ranking on the hiring list.
  • Veterans get preference and jump ahead of you on the list. That's federal law.
  • Apply to MULTIPLE postings and multiple locations to increase your chances.
  • Check your email constantly, including your spam folder. ALL USPS communication is through email. They will not call you.
  • The entire process can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 6+ months depending on position and location.
  • Nobody at USPS will proactively update you. You have to log in and check your application status yourself.
  • Don't pay anyone for exam prep, application help, or "guaranteed hiring." It's all free. Report scams to the Postal Inspection Service.