High School

Recommended high school courses include geography, business, mathematics, and physical education. Speech, English, and even a foreign language will help to develop communication skills that are needed in dealing with mail carrier customers as well as coworkers and supervisors.

Postsecondary Training

No postsecondary training is required for mail carriers.

Certification or Licensing

Although certification is not required, applicants for USPS mail carrier jobs must take civil service examinations. The written examination is composed of four parts: cross-comparison of addresses, completion of forms, memory and coding, and personal characteristics and experience. The general intelligence part includes questions on simple arithmetic, spelling, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. Applicants must also pass a test section that covers reading accuracy, in which they compare addresses arranged in pairs and indicate similarities or differences. They are also tested in their ability to follow instructions in making changes on a mailing scheme and in routing mail.

Other Requirements

Prospective mail carriers may also need to pass a road test to demonstrate their ability to handle vehicles of the type and size that carriers are required to drive under various conditions. These applicants must have a valid driver's license at the time of their test appointment. Private mail carriers must be at least 21 years old.

To apply for a career with the USPS, you must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent alien residence status in the United States, meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years of age (16 years of age for those who have earned their high school diploma early), and pass the civil service exam and road test, if required. Applicants must also take eye and hearing tests.

A great deal of mail is delivered on foot and carried in heavy shoulder sacks, so applicants must also pass rigorous physical examinations to ensure that they are capable of withstanding the strenuous demands of the job. Although wheeled mail carts are being used increasingly in urban areas, which eliminates the need for heavy physical labor, carriers must still be able to stand for long periods and walk considerable distances. Their corrected vision should be within normal limits both for reading and for distance, because they must be able to read names and addresses accurately and are often required to drive postal vehicles.

No experience is needed, but those with experience are more likely to land jobs, earn higher pay, and get promoted. A good memory is a definite asset for mail carriers. In addition to remembering many postal regulations and rules, they must be able to rely on memory when arranging the mail for their route for correct delivery. Desirable personal qualities include the ability to work cooperatively with others, the ability to follow instructions, and a degree of flexibility for performing more than one kind of job.

Lifting and loading heavy sacks of mail is often strenuous. Foot carriers in suburban and rural areas may have to carry up to 35 pounds of mail in a shoulder bag. USPS applicants may be asked to demonstrate that they can lift mail sacks weighing 50 pounds. Federal Express couriers must be able to lift 75 pounds. Carriers must be able to adhere to all the pertinent postal regulations and be courteous when dealing with the public. Approximately once a year, carriers are evaluated by their supervisors on how well they perform their jobs.

Mail carriers are primarily on their own while delivering mail and are responsible for adhering to postal codes and regulations and meeting specific time schedules. They frequently have the opportunity to meet and talk with the people on their routes. Many have a feeling of accomplishment in filling a responsible job and serving the public. The majority of these workers are members of unions that represent postal employees.