How postal hiring works in 2026

The postal entry-level hiring process changed significantly in 2024–2025. Here’s how it works now, step by step.

1. 1

   Create your official careers account

   Most entry-level jobs now use the newer official postal careers site. If you had an account on the older eCareer system, it doesn't carry over, so you'll create a new one. Some jobs (such as drivers and maintenance) still use eCareer.

2. 2

   Find a posting near you

   New postings are usually added on Fridays and stay open through Wednesday. Some close sooner, so apply the day you see one. Turn on the official careers-site job alert and set it to Daily (it starts on Monthly), so you hear about postings in time.

3. 3

   Apply

   Apply the day a posting opens: exam invitations stop once enough people have applied, and the deadline is 11:59 p.m. Central time. Answer the eligibility questions carefully, and keep your dates and history consistent; gaps and inconsistencies can cause problems later in your background check.

4. 4

   Take the exam within 72 hours

   Depending on the job, you'll either start the Virtual Entry Assessment for that job (Exam 474, 475, 476 or 477) as part of your application or get an email invitation from the official testing vendor. If you get an invitation, you have 72 hours from when it's sent (not when you open it). Applying to several jobs that use the same exam shares one exam window.

5. 5

   Get your results

   70 is the minimum passing score, but postings often refer only the highest-ranked candidates or use a higher cut-off. A valid score carries over to later postings that use the same exam until the expiration date on your results; apply after it expires and you'll take the exam again. For the 474–477 assessments, if you don't pass you may have to wait up to a year to retake that exam.

6. 6

   Conditional job offer

   Most entry-level (pre-career) jobs no longer include an interview. Qualified applicants may receive a conditional offer based on the assessment and screening.

7. 7

   Screening

   Expect a criminal background check and medical assessment, plus a driving-record check for jobs that drive. Drug screening is listed as a requirement; if you're asked to test, go right away. You'll also be fingerprinted. Screening emails come from @usps.gov, @geninfo.com and @uspis.gov, and nonresponses can disqualify you, so add those domains to your contacts and answer fast.

8. 8

   Orientation & your first day

   Once you clear screening, you pick a start date and begin orientation and on-the-job training. The first 90 days are the hardest, so go in prepared.

Based on official postal hiring publications and Office of Inspector General reports as of 2026. Details vary by job and location; always follow the instructions in the official posting and emails.