Launch Your Career with NASA: A Guide to the Pathways Internship Program

At NASA, exploration of the extraordinary is a daily endeavor, fueled by lifelong pursuit and passion. The NASA Pathways Internship Program offers students a unique opportunity to contribute to the agency's mission while gaining invaluable experience. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the program, its benefits, eligibility requirements, and application process.

Introduction to NASA Pathways

The NASA Pathways Internship Program is designed to provide students with opportunities to work and explore careers while still in school. NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement annually provides more than 2,000 students the opportunity to impact the agency’s mission through a hands-on internship. These internships offer practical work experience alongside research scientists, engineers, and other professionals. A NASA internship provides a stellar opportunity to launch your future as part of America’s aerospace workforce.

Who Can Apply?

A common misconception is that NASA only offers engineering internships. NASA offers internships for non-STEM majors. Even if you are not a science or engineering student, you can get an internship at NASA! NASA needs employees with a variety of knowledge and skills. At NASA, engineers, mathematicians, scientists, accountants, writers, IT specialists, project managers, program analysts, and many other professionals work together to break barriers to achieve the seemingly impossible.

Benefits of the NASA Pathways Internship Program

Joining the NASA team as an intern offers numerous advantages:

Valuable On-the-Job Experience: Interns gain practical experience in their field of study, working on real-world projects that contribute to NASA's mission.
Resume Building: A NASA internship significantly enhances a student's resume, making them more competitive in the job market.
Career Readiness: The program helps students develop essential skills and knowledge, preparing them for future careers in the aerospace industry and beyond.
Networking Opportunities: Interns work alongside experienced professionals, building valuable connections that can lead to future job opportunities.
Exploration of Career Paths: The program provides opportunities to work and explore careers while still in school, helping students make informed decisions about their future.
Impact on NASA's Missions: Interns contribute to the advancement of NASA's missions, playing a role in space exploration and scientific discovery.

Types of Internships Offered

NASA offers a variety of internship opportunities across a range of disciplines. Interns may support a variety of business and program management work, including human resources, administration and program analysis, accounting and budget, communication and public relations, procurement and contracts, information technology, security, and education. These opportunities are available at various NASA centers and facilities. Internships may be full time or part time on a NASA center or facility.

Read also: A Look at NASA Intern Compensation

Financial Considerations

Interns are responsible for making their own housing arrangements. This includes locating their own housing options and paying for their housing. Your center location and housing options will determine if you need a car. At most centers, unless you find housing within walking distance, you will most likely need a car. As Pathways interns are civil servants, pay is set by OPM rules. A full-time civil servant position is 80 work hours per two-week pay period (i.e., average 40 hours per week). Learn more about the General Schedule (GS) classification and pay system here. The total salary incorporates the GS base pay plus the locality pay for the Hampton Roads geographic area.

The NASA Pathways Program as a Co-op

The NASA Pathways program is a type of co-op where students intern for at least 480 hours prior to graduation. Generally, Pathways interns work full-time during their rotations and are on Leave Without Pay (LWOP) when they are at school.

Salary and Promotion

The starting salary is the salary of the lowest grade step 1 listed in the vacancy announcement. Pathways interns may promote as they progress through their degree. For example, if you start as an undergraduate with less than 90 credits, a GS-5, and then take courses which push you above 90 credits, you progress to a GS -6. If you are selected to convert after graduation, you would then follow the regular civil servant promotion potential. Promotion potential means how high an employee can go without competing for a new position. The vacancy announcement will state the position’s promotion potential. Positions below GS-13 generally have promotion potential of GS-13. That is, after one year in grade, the employee is eligible to be promoted to the next higher grade level without having to reapply to a vacancy announcement and compete again - through GS-13.

By law, the GS base pay schedule is adjusted annually each January, with an across-the-board pay increase based on nationwide changes in the cost of wages and salaries of private industry workers. That said, the pay increases involve and are dependent on the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act, the President, and Congress.

How to Apply for a NASA Pathways Internship

The application process for the NASA Pathways Internship Program involves several steps:

Read also: Interning at NASA JPL

Create an Account on USAJOBS: Federal agencies must post Intern opportunities on USAJOBS. We strongly suggest that you create an account on USAJOBS, upload or build a resume in USAJOBS, and gather reference contact information and useful documents in advance. Once the USAJOBS vacancy announcement is posted, you may apply no later than the closing date. When Pathways applications open, a direct link will appear on the NASA Pathways page to apply through USAJOBS.gov.
Prepare Your Application: Upload a resume or use the resume builder in USAJOBS; either way, it can only be a maximum two pages. While it takes some time to create the USAJOBS resume, you may use it for multiple applications. Your USAJOBS resume can also be more detailed than a resume for the private sector. Details help demonstrate how you meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the vacancy announcement. Your relevant work experience may meet the requirement! Read the vacancy announcement closely. You may create your resume in USAJOBS, gather useful documents in advance, and periodically check the NASA Pathways page for when the applications will open. Useful documents commonly include education transcripts.
Search for Vacancies: NASA Pathways vacancy announcements are usually only open on USAJOBS.gov for a short time period - only days, sometimes. Vacancies for the Pathways Internship Program open on Sept. It’s never too early to get started. explore careers while still in school. Federal agencies must post Intern opportunities on USAJOBS. You may go directly to USAJOBS to begin your search.
Apply to a Vacancy: When you apply, be sure to apply to the vacancy that aligns with BOTH your academic major and preferred geographic location(s) in order to route your application to the type of work you’re interested in. Your responses to the initial application questionnaire will determine the grade for which you will be considered. Your resume is reviewed by real people!

Important Considerations for Your Application

NASA prohibits candidates from plagiarizing any portion of their employment application to include responses to questions in which you must provide a narrative response. You must create your own responses originally and not copy or adapt them from other sources. While NASA encourages you to create your narratives with great care, including correct use of grammar and style, you are prohibited from using any artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool, to include but not limited to ChatGPT. Any information you provide during the application process is subject to verification. NASA wants to get to know you and see your story - so be clear and concise, but elaborate! Your resume is your best opportunity to demonstrate what sets you apart from other applicants.

Read also: Your Guide to NASA Internships

What NASA Looks For in Candidates

NASA seeks well-rounded students from diverse backgrounds who demonstrate:

Curiosity
Team-orientation
Excellence
A passion for exploration
Agility
Resilience

Prior experience is not required!

Pathways Recent Graduate Program

The NASA Pathways Recent Graduate Program (RGP) provides individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions with the opportunity to participate in a career development program at the beginning of their careers. As a Recent Graduate appointee, you will be placed in a dynamic, one-year career development program. To be eligible, you must be a U.S. citizen and apply within two years of completing a degree or certificate at a qualifying educational institution. To Find Opportunities: Federal agencies must post Recent Graduate opportunities on USAJOBS. You may go directly to USAJOBS to begin your search.

Presidential Management Fellows Program

The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program provides employment opportunities for individuals who have received a qualifying masters, doctorate or professional degree within the last two years. PMF opportunities are announced once a year by the Office of Personnel Management and over 100 Federal government organizations participate.

Success Stories

Former interns have gone on to achieve remarkable success:

Aaron Yazzie: A former intern at JPL, inspires a new generation of Diné scientists and engineers, proving their voices have an essential place in the story of the cosmos.
Clare Luckey: Was selected as one of Forbes’ 30 under 30. Her hard work and determination has landed her at the forefront of space exploration as she helps plan how the first astronauts will land on Mars.
Vivian Li: Remotely operating NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover from millions of miles away is no easy task.

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