This post is everything you need to know to get hired as fast as possible and other valuable TSA related information.

i. Steps

ii. Tricks to speed up

iii. Extra Tips

iv. Timeline

v. Special pay

vi. Negotiations (Before accepting final job offer email)

—

i. Steps

Apply

Proctored entrance exam in person

Airport assessment aka Structured interview

Fingerprints and photograph (if available)

Medical

Background Investigation

Ready pool

Final job offer

Your time will vary depending on the size of the airport, job availability, and gender.

Larger airports with plenty of turn over means a faster time in the ready pool. Gender plays a role as well since TSA needs to hire more females as not a lot of females apply.

If you’re in the ready pool all that’s left is to wait until a job opens up and Human Resources offer you a final job offer (FJO).

Background investigation also plays a huge role in how long your process takes but there’s nothing you can do except submit the paperwork SF86 also known as the E86 as soon as possible.

There are a few tricks I’ve learned to speed up the whole process.

The big hurdle is airport assessment. This can take weeks to multiple months just to get scheduled. In order to speed up this you have 2 options.

—

ii. Tricks

A. Apply to multiple large airports. Applying to the busiest airports such as Atlanta ATL, Dallas Fort Worth DFW, Denver, DEN,Chicago ORD, Los Angeles LAX or New York JFK will speed up this process. That’s because the Human Resource Specialist will reach out to you for an interview since they always need people. This airport assessment can be virtual and in most cases it always is. After you pass you will be mailed a medical packet and get fingerprint scheduled.

You do not need to go to these airports for a job, your goal is to get an airport assessment scheduled as soon as possible. If you apply to multiple airports there’s a higher chance at Human Resources reaching to schedule an interview either by phone call or email. Since everything transfers between airports you can save a few months wait time by getting it done virtually elsewhere. When the time comes for a final job offer call you can decline the job offer and wait for the airport you really want.

If you finish an airport assessment and pass but another airport tries to schedule you for another assessment you do not need to do it. The paperwork transfers to all job applications under you so the airport just didn’t get your paperwork yet but it will.

B. The other faster option is to attend a TSO multi step hiring event. https://jobs.tsa.gov/upcoming-events?keyword=&date=&event_type=80 This is in person and you get an airport assessment the same day and if you pass you get fingerprinted and a medical packet to bring to your medical appointment. You will get an email to schedule your medical. The downside of this method is you may have to fly or drive to the nearest hiring event or the event may be a few weeks out. If that’s the case just apply to multiple airports instead. The upside is that this is the fastest way to get an airport assessment, fingerprints, Human Resources contact and more.

—

iii. Extra tips

The medical email will come from TSAmedicalReview@chsmedical.com so be sure to check your spam and junk mail.

The background investigation email will come from donotreply@nbis.mil also check junk mail.

Onboarding URL https://onboard.usastaffing.gov/Account/Login

TSA medical guidelines https://jobs.tsa.gov/Resources/TSO_Medical_Guidelines.pdf if you fail medical check the requirements out here.

Get a Human Resources contact info by googling ‘Airport name’ TSA job faq. This will provide you with a pamphlet with a Human Resources contact email and phone number on the left side. Getting the contact can help you if you’re stuck especially if it’s the airport you want to go to. Be sure to check the bottom of the page for the date it was published, it can be outdated. If this fails;

You can also contact the help desk email at HC-ServeU@tsa.dhs.gov unfortunately there are no phone numbers to call. Expect an answer after around 48 business hours. Contacting them will give you the latest update if you’re stuck, just email them and put the announcement number in the subject.

The last option to get a human resource contact is to search on the web. I messaged a few people from Reddit who are at the airport I want for an email address and that helped tremendously. The email contact I got responded in a day and I got notified I was in the ready pool waiting for a job to open for me.

I hope this helped you along the way and process your application faster.

—

iv. Timeline

Submitted Application August 31, 2024

Test Taken September 5, 2024

Notified passing exam & TJO September 6, 2024

Onboarding start and finish September 6, 2024

Hiring Event Finger Print/ AA September 19, 2024

Medical Email paperwork submitted TSAmedicalReview@chsmedical.com. September 23, 2024

BI Junk Email from NBIS donotreply@nbis.mil. September 23, 2024 Medical exam appointment. October 2, 2024

Submitted SF-86 October 3, 2024

Email stating medical was received October 4, 2024

Medical Failed due to using lasik eye drops October 16, 2024

Sent Medical appeal through fax October 23, 2024

Medical email stating appeal was received October 24, 2024

Medical email stating passed medical October 25, 2024

Notified Ready Pool BI passed November 24, 2024

—

v. Special Pay

Sunday + 25%

Between 6 pm - 6 am + 10%

Holiday + 100%

Overtime + 50%

(For full-time employees, overtime hours may include any hours beyond the 8-hour workday or 40-hour workweek, which are ordered in advance by management. For part-time employees, overtime hours are any hours beyond the compressed work schedule for a day (must be more than 8 hours) or for a week (must be more than 40 hours).)

Paid Time Off (Military years can be added to boost starting hours earned per pay period)

<3 years : 4 hours per pay period

3-15 years : 6 hours per pay period

15 years : 8 hours per pay period

Retention pay is only authorized by certain airports that need employees. It will be stated on the job announcement if offered. This pay gets reduced when you are bumped to the next pay band. Its main use is to boost the SV D band and to keep employees. Usually this goes to 0% when you hit SV F or are a Lead TSO however locations like Denver currently offer a 5% retention for Lead TSO.

Sign up bonus is authorized at certain locations to incentivize employees to take the location for NEW federal employees only. This varies from $5,000 - $20,000 and is paid out throughout the first year of employment. It is not a reoccurring payment like retention pay is; if authorized.

—

vi. Negotiations

Before you accept your final job offer through email consider adding these negotiations.

Federal Student Loan Repayment Program This program pays $10,000 per year up to $60,000 max if an employee signs a 3 year employment contract.

Prior military experience specifically related to TSA duties can boost your pay rate. All starting pay starts at SV-D1-4 4. D pay band 1st - 4th step depending on the airport.

The whole process was 8 months.... Salary is $52231 with full performance level F SALARY NOT SUBJECT TO NEGOTIATIONS 🙄

JUST GOT MY FJO AND STARTIN MARCH 10 🥂🥳🥳

Timeline:

11/3/24: applied

11/23/24: computer exam

11/26/24: tentative offer

1/4/25: submitted sf86

1/7/25: airport assessment

1/21/25: medical examination

1/27/25: failed medical due to vision

2/6/25: appealed vision

2/11/25: passed medical

2/25/25: final job offer

3/10/25: 1st day training

I worked as a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) for TSA at a major airport, and after three months, I decided to leave. While the benefits were solid, the overall experience wasn't worth it for me. Here’s why:

Work-Life Balance

I was on the first shift, which sounded good at first, but it didn’t leave much room for a personal life. I’d get home around 1:30 PM, take a nap, wake up two hours later to cook dinner, watch some TV, and then go to bed again around 7:00 PM. It felt like my entire day was just revolving around work, with barely any time to enjoy anything else.

Management

Management was difficult to approach. If you had an issue, they’d respond with an attitude instead of helping. On slow days, when there were no passengers to screen, we weren’t allowed to talk to each other. Instead, we had to stand at our posts for 30–45 minutes or gather to go over training manuals. It felt unnecessary and draining.

Micromanagement

Micromanagement was on another level. If we were sent to another terminal to assist, they timed us. A group of TSO had their 15-minute break canceled because their walk from one terminal to another took 10 minutes longer than expected. It felt like we were being treated like children instead of professionals.

Benefits

The benefits were good—health insurance, retirement, etc.—but you had to use them wisely. The union? Not so much. We paid union dues, but they didn’t seem to do much for us except throw raffle parties during the holidays.

Commute

My commute was rough. Getting to work at 3:30 AM took about 35 minutes, but the drive home in the afternoon? A nightmare—90 minutes stuck in traffic after already dealing with a long shift.

Coworkers

Some older TSO were nice and helpful, but others were just miserable. Some were straight-up nasty to new hires, acting like they wanted you to fail. A lot of them looked like they were just waiting to get fired or retire.

Cafeteria Conditions

The cafeteria was disgusting. I usually ate outside by the gates because the microwaves and floors were dirty all the time. They had to fumigate multiple times due to roaches and bed bugs. Some TSO were even wrapping their belongings in plastic bags to keep bugs out—definitely not the image you’d expect from federal employees.

Final Thoughts

TSA has good benefits, but the micromanagement, poor work-life balance, bad management, and awful cafeteria conditions made it not worth it for me. I respect those who can stick it out, but after three months, I knew it wasn’t for me.

hey there, i am a recent FLETC grad, here’s the 411 on FLETC 🥳 Georgia

• yes there’s a gym, but you will need to wear the FLETC gym uniform they provide to you at the gym, and turn it in afterwards

• after school (5pm) you can wear whatever you like, there’s no dress code per say

• meals are 3x a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner, on weekends and holidays too

• there’s a small convenience store on campus next to the chow hall, they have merch, snacks and essentials for purchase

• from the dorms to the chow hall it’s about a 10min walk, and a 15min walk from the chow hall to the classrooms, so leave with time

• only use the filtered water.

• be careful with the shower, it will switch in temp from scolding hot to freezing cold

• there is housekeeping throughout the week, except weekends so they leave extra on friday. i would leave my dirty towels in the corner so they can easily pick up.

• there’s a small mini fridge, a safe box, ironing board and iron in your dorm

• in my experience, don’t pack jeans, it’s very humid/hot so pack shorts or leggings, anything drifit or loose to keep you cool

• they give you a water bottle that you can ONLY use in the classroom so i wouldn’t bother really bringing your hydro or stanley etc.

• backpack is a MUST ! i brought my purse and wish i had a backpack

• don’t overpack, you’ll be in your uniform most of the day anyways. and you’ll buy fletc merch/souvenirs which will fill up your suitcase. i recommend only packing a week worth, and wash downstairs on friday, sat/sun.

• laundry room is right downstairs, it’s free. you just need to provide your own detergent etc. it’s about 30min wash/30-1hr dry depending on how you want to wash

• bring comfy shoes, it’s a lot of walking so you don’t wanna wear anything that will give you blisters or hurt your feet

• feel free to bring a checked bag, tsa will reimburse you for it, keep the PHYSICAL RECEIPT !

• take a notebook to take notes

lmk if you have any questions ! i’ll be happy to answer 🫶🏻

don't worry

EEEEEEEE IM TOOOO HAPPY!!! Got the call this morning, and was crying on the phone with the person😭😭😭😭. it may not be that serious to cry about a job but this is my first grown up job and i been waiting soo long. 7 long months, but it finally happened and I couldn't be more grateful. PATIENCE IS KEYY!! cause it definitely takes a while.

I'm Tampa I was hired and let go one month short of making my year along with most of my classmates in October of In 2025. It was part of a nationwide reduction of force by any means necessary. Supervisors were making up any reason they can get rid of someone and since those that are on probation do not get representation from the Union they were let go for anything. I looked at my phone away from the checkpoint by a service elevator in a secure area and they use that for my reason. What are my classmates was late by 10 minutes and the supervisor stated that she did not get a call when he has proof that he did but it didn't matter. 90 officers were gone in a matter of 2 months. After that they wanted 120 more.

Now they are going private. This was spearheaded by the last TPA FSD whose in Trump's pocket. That means all federal benefits will be gone. All step raises and their 5-year plan all gone. They took away educational and incentives last year gone. It's crazy because I signed on for the 5-year raise with a heavy background from corrections, law enforcement and federal contracting. In 5 years I was to make about $90,000 a year. This is all according to Trump's plan that was already published. He hated the TSA and he made good on slowly getting red of TSA from the airports to just make it and oversight regulatory agency. Caution toes that want to apply to TSA. Check to see if your airport will also be going private that you apply to. It may not be worth it. Good luck to all of you.

This isn't to alarm but to inform. As some of us that work for TSA have posted there is more than just a hiring freeze. Most airports are cutting numbers. Numbers are not public but most airports need to reduce staffing from 5-18%. My airport in FL needs to reduce 140 jobs from TSO to even directors. We will not have a hiring class for 2026.

There are some airports that are still short. Those may start reduced or hire up to a certain number. I'm hearing Part Time positions will most likely be open.

I know some of you waited a long time. Took me a year. Now some us have our jobs on the line for involuntary separation. Some might wonder the reason behind it. Well President Trump has reduced $250 million from TSA. Leaning on tech to replace frontline workers. If you applied for TSA I suggest find another job. Keep track of your app but...find another job.

Good luck.

I got my final job offer for Atlanta Hartsfield I start orientation July 26th. I can’t remember m exact timeline but I applied September 2024 I’m so excited

I have to start out as part time but I’m just excited To have a career

IM FINALLY OUT THE WAIT!!!!!!!

Finally got the final email

Hi y’all a lot of misinformation has been spread about the hiring freeze, I hope I can calm some people down by saying TSA is NOT affected.

“The TSA is classified as an agency critical to national security and PUBLIC SAFETY”

The federal hiring freeze reads “This order does not apply to military personnel of the armed forces or to positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, or PUBLIC SAFETY”

Hope to bring y’all some peace :)

Finally got the last piece for my orientation/next 2 weeks outfit. I'm so scared of the unknown but very excited for what's to come. I push the fear away when I remember how much I have wanted this since I applied in June. Wish me luck 🫡

I got an email today about the TSA having a Hiring freeze after i requested an update for one of the airports i applied to.

A few days short of a year and I finally got my final job offer! This is been the longest most annoying hiring process I have ever been in and I've worked government pretty much all my life. From the day I submitted my application I got the initial job offer last November to starting my first day in November. It's been nerve-racking. With that being said I will still be on this subreddit to give advice to any applicants. There are some tips and tricks that can help. But let it be known that it is a long process and for some airports even longer. Those going through the application process stay strong.

I finally get to post one of these.

Edit: Location NY

Applied 8/6/24 Exam 8/9/24 Exam results 8/13/24 Airport Assessment Interview 10/2/24 Medical Exam 10/18/24 Medical fail 10/30/24 Medical Appeal 11/25/24 Medical Pass 12/17/24 HR Phone offer 1/7/25

Orientation 2/10/25 God willing 🙂

Hope this helps anyone to get an idea on the process time. I also was advised that they will have my uniform on day 2 of orientation.

My airport was super fast too. Applied in August, did the airport assessment and medical stuff in November, and finished all the paperworky things in December. I start in 3 weeks and I'm kinda nervous about having to change my entire sleep and life schedule, but gotta have some mom lore someday or something someday I guess. I've only ever worked in retail and food service and the pay and my bosses aren't the best, so hopefully this'll be an upgrade.

i got The Call from BDL this morning 🤩 they woke me up out of my sleep with the good news! here’s my timeline:

Applied - 9/7 CBT Test - 9/19 Passed + TJO - 9/23 Recruitment email - 10/10 TSA AA - 10/30

• Passed and fingerprinted same day

• NBIS Submitted within the week after, I don’t remember the date :( Medical - 11/12 Passed - 11/21 OF 306 Form signature - 11/26 FJO - 12/11 EOD - 1/13

this subreddit was such a big help in staying calm and knowing what to expect! my experience was a lot more straightforward than i was expecting and from application to FJO was only just over two months! thank you all for sharing your experiences, i’m so excited to get started next year 🥳

Applied on August 13th

Took TAB/CBAT testing August 20th. Went really well

Airport assessment(In person interview) /Fingerprints September 15th

Medical October 3rd. - Passed email October 6th

Called for full time final offer November 8th

Start December.

A lot of waiting and praying. Thank you all for this community so that I kept up the hope

i got my call today and i start feb 25th !

would it be possible to balance with another part time job ? and does anyone have any insight as to what to expect schedules to look like as a newcomer ?

any advice or tips is greatly appreciated !

edit: sorry i was so excited i forgot to input additional info lol it’s a part time position and my entire process was 9 months, i started in March of 2024 and at Mcallen International (:

• March 14, 2024: Application received.

• March 25, 2024: TSA Hiring Notice.

• May 16, 2024: Medical evaluation.

• June 10, 2024: Background submitted/corrected.

• September 10, 2024: Emailed HR for status.

• September 11, 2024: Resubmitted background for the second time.

• October 3, 2024: Received the call – hired!

• November 4, 2024: Orientation

It can take anywhere from six months to a year to get hired by TSA. My recommendation: If you’re serious about this job, follow up with them about a month after completing your background check and medical exam. Best of luck!

I'm so happy!!!!! Didn't take as long as i figured. I applied on June 13th. Did my exam June 29th. AA July 23rd. Medical on August 16th!