Working for the Treasury Department, Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) may entail a wide variety of positions and career options, but you will likely benefit most from either a chemical technician educational background or experience in anti-counterfeit underwriting.

The United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing focuses much of its efforts on redesigning currency using new anti-counterfeit techniques. The Bureau of Printing itself offers some education and training materials for becoming familiar with these security measures, as does the U.S. Secret Service.

Begin your Treasury Department, Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) education and training with the following resources:

1. Get basic training in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing from government sites.
2. Learn about special training and hiring programs.
3. Earn a chemical technician degree to work with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get basic training in the Bureau of Printing from government educational programs

Several government agencies disseminate educational materials to the public to help train individuals in the issues surrounding the production of money. Bureau of Engraving and Printing tours are also available to share information about currency printing with visitors to the bureau's divisions in Washington, D.C. and Texas.

I recommend: The Department of the Treasury offers educational materials on the Bureau of Engraving. U.S. Secret Service covers printing and engraving in their educational materials about spotting counterfeit currency.

Work with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing as a chemical technician

At the Bureau of Engraving, printing new forms of currency requires a large number of chemical technicians who are devoted to making sure money is printed correctly and to coming up with new and better anti-counterfeit devices. The most common type of educational background required, then, is that of a chemical technician.

I recommend: Get an associate's degree to become a chemical technician from programs like the Milwaukee Area Technical College or the Hudson Valley Community College. Check your local area community and technical colleges for similar programs in chemical technology to prepare for the chemical work done by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Get trained to work with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing through alternative avenues

Because innovative strategies for currency security are needed, the Bureau of Printing and Engraving is often eager to hire highly talented and educated individuals who may not have a background specifically related to the printing and engraving of money. Another alternative avenue to working with the BEP is through underwriting and other anti-counterfeit related fields.

I recommend: Learn about the special merit hiring programs offered by The United States Treasury Bureau of Engraving and Printing to offset a lack of educational background related to printing and engraving. The American Institute for CPCU and Insurance Institute of America partner to offer online courses in underwriting that can prepare you to work in any anti-counterfeit area, including federal currency.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) was established in 1862 and is the largest producer of security documents in the U.S. Some of its responsiblites is to design and print paper money, presidential certificates, military identification cards, naturalization documents and Coast Guard licenses. It is located in Washington, D.C. and Fort Worth, Texas. The BEP uses technology for its processes but engravers continue to use the graver, the burnisher and the hand-held glass from 125 years ago.

The BEP is an important part of the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve Bank. The United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing designs and manufactures currency with anti-counterfeit controls. If you wish to know more about the services provided by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D.C., consider the following.

1. The images on the money are chosen carefully to represent U.S. history and ideals.

2. All materials are printed on site using the latest technology.

3. The Bureau of Printing and Engraving continues to apply counterfeit deterrents and upholds the standards of the law regarding mutilated money.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use the Treasury Department, Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) resources to learn more

Learn about the bureau's beginnings and the choices made by our countrymen and women. The iconic images and words on currency and seals needed to be chosen, but by whom and why?

I recommend: The Federal Bureau of Printing gives the history of BEP printing as it began in 1862. It also explains the selection of portraits that have been used. Through the BEP, you can register with FedBizOpps, which posts business opportunities for many industries.

Consider the work of the Bureau of Engraving, printing huge amounts of money

The printing processes used to make money involve using specially treated paper, different inks and special treatments to deter counterfeiting.

I recommend: The bureau gives a good rundown of how it makes money and the number of steps used. It explains the history of the color green in greenbacks. Collectors of large or small denomination notes can get useful information.

Understand the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's role in anti-counterfeiting

Counterfeiting is against the law and US law enforcement agencies combat it. But the BEP plays an important part.

I recommend: One of the ways the bureau combats counterfeiting is to use new money designs. The bureau uses difficult engraving and coloring techniques as part of its security features.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Join Bureau of Engraving and Printing tours for groups, conducted at the DC and Fort Worth locations. These are free but reservations are required. Watch millions of dollars being made.

The United States Treasury Bureau of Engraving and Printing is responsible for the printing of paper currency and security documents such as Homeland Security materials, military ID cards and Immigration and Naturalization Certificates. It is important to note that the Bureau of Engraving and Printing prints only paper currency and that United States Mint produces coins.

When producing paper currency, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing employs methods such as siderography, plate making and overprinting. Advances in technology, primarily with scanners and copiers required the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to employ anti-counterfeiting measures.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Siderography

Siderography, a method of printing paper currency and stamps, is a process transferring images from an engraved die to a printing plate.

I recommend: For more information on the process of siderography, refer to the Royal Philatelic Society webpage.

Plate making

Plate making is the process of creating impressions of master dies, fitting, and welding them onto a plate that is in turn used in the printing of paper currency and stamps after careful inspection by an engraver.

I recommend: Refer to the United States Treasury Bureau of Engraving and Printing for more information on the plate making process.

Overprinting

Overprinting is the process of printing paper currency where the note, placed on a letterpress, receives the Federal Reserve District seal and number designation printed in black ink followed by the Treasury seal and serial numbers printed on top in green ink. Overprinting is also the method used in producing stamps.

I recommend: For more information on the overprinting process in the production of currency and stamps, refer to Absolute Astronomy.

Anti-counterfeiting

Computer technologies such as scanners and printers have made it easier for individuals to produce counterfeit money. To counteract these activities, the Treasury Department implemented anti-counterfeiting controls, such as placing a watermark to the right of the portrait, using more detailed portraits and color-shifting ink.

I recommend: Refer to Everything2 for more information on anti-counterfeiting measures employed by the Treasury Department.

Security thread

Security thread is the thin thread that runs through all paper currency with the exception of the $1 and $2 banknotes. One can view the security thread by holding it under a long wave ultraviolet light - for example, the security thread in $5 currency will be blue, $10 orange, $20 green, $50 yellow and $100 red. Since security thread is not visible in reflected light, it makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit.

I recommend: Refer to the United States Secret Service website for more information on security thread.

Microprinting

Microprinting are the very fine lines that appear on paper currency but are actually fine print when viewed with a magnifier. The location of microprinting varies among currency. For example, on the $5 bill, one can find microprinting on the side borders and lower edge of the portraits frame while on the $10 bill, one can find microprinting on the lower left hand corner and lower edge of the portraits frame. Copiers are not able to copy such detailed print therefore making counterfeiting difficult.

I recommend: For more information on microprinting, refer to Printegra’s webpage.