For any meteorology student who is interested in operational meteorology, the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) through the National Weather Service (NWS) is an experience that should be considered. SCEP is a great opportunity for a student to work in a Weather Forecast Office (WFO) alongside operational NWS meteorologists, and learn the ins and outs of the weather service, and obtain permanent employment. As a SCEP, you are a temporary federal employee, working shifts and learning duties that are required of the weather service employees. Within each WFO, there are opportunities to shadow the forecasters, assess severe weather events, participate in community outreach, work alongside forecasters on separate projects, and also work on projects of your own, as well as work shifts.After a competitive application process, if selected for a SCEP position, the student is assigned to a WFO that is close to the specific university of attendance. Scheduling is done per the specific office and the student’s schedule. Typically, a student will work full time at the office during semester breaks and either part time, or leave without pay, during the semester. This schedule will continue until the student graduates from his or her university, resigns from the program, or is let go. Before graduation, the student is required to work 640 hours at his or her WFO to be eligible for conversion.
Upon graduation, as long as the student is eligible, there is a greatly increased likelihood that the student will be converted to a permanent employee with the NWS. Although employment is not guaranteed, the great majority of SCEP students who graduate from their universities successfully do move on to an entry level position. The conversion is not competitive, unlike the SCEP application process, and is aided by the NWS’s SCEP coordinator and specific WFO. A significant portion of the NWS’s entry level positions are actually filled by SCEP graduates.
Since the application process is very competitive, many students will take positions as student volunteer at a WFO before applying in order to increase the chances of SCEP selection. This position is unpaid, but provides valuable experience and insight into the NWS and operational meteorology, and is highly recommended.
The application for SCEP is typically due in February, and questions about the process can be forwarded to: nws.scep-reply@noaa.gov. Additional details regarding NOAA opportunities, including the SCEP, may be found at the Chicago-Romeoville NWS WFO website. Finally, NIU students may want to discuss the SCEP experience with Ms. Rose Sengenberger, a current student who was awarded a SCEP during 2010-11. Congrats Rose!
