6502 - Explosives Operating

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Federal Occupation Description

Federal Occupation Description

This standard covers nonsupervisory work involved in the manufacture of powder, propellant grains, solid or liquid explosives, and mixtures for flares or signals, and the manufacture, assembly, disassembly, renovation, modification, and deactivation of ammunition, explosives, or chemical or toxic filled munitions. Included are jobs which involve operation of equipment, jigs, or machines that were designed or modified to perform particular munitions operations. This work requires a knowledge of explosives and explosives safety practices, the ability to operate equipment that is designed or modified for munitions operations, and the skill to safely perform operations with explosives.

For job opportunities in this series, go to the Office of Personnel Management USAJOBS website.

Other Federal Occupations

It is not uncommon for individuals in one federal occupational series to perform duties related to another series within the same federal occupational group. To find out about the certifications for another series in the AMMUNITION, EXPLOSIVES, AND TOXIC MATERIALS WORK FAMILY, click on that series below. Note that credentials have not yet been identified for all series – links are provided only to those series for which the identification of credentials has been completed. Additional series will be added over time.

  • 6505 - Munitions Destroying
  • 6511 - Missile/Toxic Materials Handling
  • 6517 - Explosives Test Operating

The following certifications have been identified as most relevant to the broad duties of this federal occupational series. Please note that these credentials may not reflect all of the unique job functions that you perform within your organization. Also these credentials may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about any credential, click on the credential title below.

Compare Credential Agency Related As GI Bill® Accreditation ID
Certified Safety Professional (CSP) In DemandIs In Demand Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) mostMost GI BillGI Bill AccreditationAccreditation
Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) In DemandIs In Demand American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS) mostMost GI BillGI Bill  
Machining Level I - Measurement, Materials, and Safety Skills Is Not In Demand National Institute for Metalworking Skills, Inc (NIMS) mostMost GI BillGI Bill  
Certified Hazardous Materials Practitioner (CHMP) Is Not In Demand Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM) mostMost   AccreditationAccreditation
Associate Safety Professional (ASP) In DemandIs In Demand Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) someSome   AccreditationAccreditation
Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) Is Not In Demand Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) someSome GI BillGI Bill  

State Licenses

Some states have specific licensing requirements for the following related civilian occupations. These state licenses may require additional education, training or experience. Click on the occupation below to get more information on state requirements from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Related Civilian Private Sector Occupations

The following civilian private sector occupations are similar to the duties performed by 6502 - Explosives Operating. These occupations may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about these occupations, click on the civilian occupation below.

Civilian Job Duties Matched Bright Outlook Registered Apprenticeship Local Salary Info
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters mostMost   Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers someSome     find local salaryfind local salary
Helpers--Production Workers mostMost Bright OutlookBright Outlook    find local salaryfind local salary
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers mostMost   Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders mostMost   Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists someSome   Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians someSome Bright OutlookBright Outlook  Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Packers and Packagers, Hand someSome Bright OutlookBright Outlook    find local salaryfind local salary
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks someSome   Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Tool and Die Makers mostMost   Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Top
This is an official U.S. Navy websiteUpdated: October 16, 2019
Click here to go to Certified Safety Professional (CSP) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), Certified Safety Professional (CSP) is an intermediate-level credential for professionals who support workplace safety practices. Candidates are required to have professional experience that includes safety responsibilities. CSPs conduct worksite assessments, determine risk, measure hazards and controls, evaluate risk and hazard control measures, investigate incidents, maintain incident and loss records, and prepare emergency response plans. Candidates are required to hold a bachelor's degree in any field. CSP candidates must meet experiential requirements that relate to the field of workplace safety. Candidates must pass a written exam.

Click here to go to Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

The CPIM designation is aimed at professionals involved in career fields such as Production and inventory management, Operations, Supply chain management, Procurement, Materials management, and Purchasing. Candidates must pass two examinations and agree to adhere to the APICS Code of Ethics.

Click here to go to Machining Level I - Measurement, Materials, and Safety Skills COOL Snapshot page.

The Machining Level I - Measurement, Materials, and Safety Skills certification is an entry-level machinist credential. Applicants are not required to have any minimal education, experience or training, however passing the exam is required.

Click here to go to Certified Hazardous Materials Practitioner (CHMP) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

As a Certified Hazardous Materials Practitioner (CHMP) your job encompasses more than just environmental protection, waste management, dangerous goods transportation, safety, or materials handling. Candidates must have at least 5 years of relevant experience with responsibilities directly related to the handling of hazardous materials and/or waste in the workplace; or, an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree from an accredited college or university in hazardous materials management, environmental science, environmental management, or environmental technology, plus 3 years of relevant experience as described above. Candidates must pass a written exam.

Click here to go to Associate Safety Professional (ASP) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), Associate Safety Professional certification (ASP) validates an individual's knowledge and experience in the safety profession. ASP certifies an individual's ability to perform at least 50% of professional-level safety duties in safety, health, environment and ergonomics. Safety professionals are required to make worksite assessments to determine risks, potential hazards and controls, evaluate risks and hazard control measures for equipment, systems, facilities and processes, investigate incidents, maintain and evaluate incident and loss records, and prepare emergency response plans. ASP candidates are required to have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in any field or an associate's in safety, health, or the environment, or a closely related field. In addition, candidates must have one year of professional safety experience where safety is at least 50%, preventative, professional level with breadth and depth of safety duties. Candidates must take a written exam.

Click here to go to Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: Not Renewable

The Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC), Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) is a foundational-level credential and is a prerequisite for the Certified Logistics Technician (CLT) certification. MSSC training and assessment addresses the need for employability and academic skills as well as technical skills. MSSC strongly recommends that individuals be at the 8th grade level of math and 9th grade level of English before attempting MSSC courses and assessments. There are no experiential or hands-on requirements for MSSC certification as it is expected that individual employers will determine those requirements based upon their own specific needs. MSSC does not require that individuals take MSSC courses prior to testing. Critical work functions and their related key activities for the CLA include: global supply chain logistics life cycle, logistics environment, material handling equipment, safety principles, safe material handling and equipment operation, quality control principles, workplace communications, teamwork and workplace behavior to solve problems, and using computers.

In Demand

This certification is considered in demand

GI Bill®

Reimbursement for exam fees has been approved for payment through the GI Bill. Click for external link to GI Bill licensing and certification information.

Note: GI Bill approval data is updated quarterly. For the latest information, visit the WEAMS Licenses/Certifications Search page. Make sure to select "Both" in the LAC Category Type drop-down before searching.

Click here to go to the GI Bill site.

ANSI

This credential has been accredited by ANSI. Click for external link to the ANSI web site.

ICAC

This credential has been accredited by ICAC. Click for external link to the ICAC web site.

NCCA

This credentialing program has been accredited by NCCA. Click for external link to the NCCA web site.

ABSNC

This credential has been accredited by ABSNC. Click for external link to the ABSNC web site.

IAS

This credential has been accredited by IAS. Click for external link to the IAS web site.

Some

Credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the rating (at least one critical task but less than 80%)

Most

Credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the rating (at least 80%)

Other

Credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will likely require additional education, training, or experience

Most – Tasks in these careers match most duties of the military job or specialty (approximately 80% or greater)
Some – Tasks in these careers match some duties of the military job or specialty (greater than 20% but less than 80%)
Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job
Registered Apprenticeship
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Helpers--Production Workers
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Helpers--Production Workers
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Packers and Packagers, Hand
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Packers and Packagers, Hand
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Tool and Die Makers
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Tool and Die Makers