The NSEP Service Requirement stipulates that an award recipient work in the Federal Government in a position with national security responsibilities.  The Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, State, or any element of the Intelligence Community are priority agencies.  If an award recipient demonstrates to NSEP that no appropriate position is available in one of these agencies, the award recipient must seek to fulfill the requirement in a position with national security responsibilities in any Federal department or agency. Approval of service outside of a priority agency is contingent upon satisfactory demonstration of a full and good faith effort in accordance with conditions established by NSEP. If an award recipient demonstrates to NSEP that no appropriate position is available in the Federal Government, the award recipient may petition NSEP to fulfill the requirement. The education option is available only after exhausting all opportunities to fulfill the requirement in the Federal Government in accordance with conditions established by NSEP.

All Boren Scholars and Fellows must make a full and good faith effort to identify and secure positions in the federal government. Award recipients seek employment on their own, with some assistance from NSEP. This effort includes a requirement to create and routinely update an online resume that will be made available to hiring officials in the U.S. federal government departments and agencies. Boren Scholars and Fellows must document specific efforts to identify employment opportunities in the federal government that would fulfill the NSEP service agreement.

The duration of the NSEP Service Requirement is one year or the duration of assistance provided under the program, whichever is longer.

Boren Scholars must begin fulfilling the service requirement within three years of graduation.