USPS Postal Exam 474 vs 476 – What’s the Difference?

If you're planning to apply for a job with the United States Postal Service, you may come across two different exams—474 and 476. Although both are part of the Virtual Entry Assessment system, they serve different job roles and include different types of questions.

Overview of the Exams

Exam	Purpose	Associated Jobs
Exam 474	Customer-facing roles	City Carrier Assistant (CCA), Rural Carrier Associate (RCA), Mail Handler Assistant, etc.
Exam 476	Clerical/mail processing roles	Mail Processing Clerk, PSE Mail Processing Clerk, etc.

Key Differences Between Exam 474 and 476

• Job Focus: Exam 474 is for delivery-related jobs involving direct customer interaction, while Exam 476 focuses on sorting and processing mail in USPS facilities.
• Test Content: Both exams contain similar sections like Work Scenarios and personality assessments, but Exam 476 may emphasize speed and accuracy for mail handling tasks.
• Skills Tested:
  • Exam 474 – Decision making, customer service, accuracy
  • Exam 476 – Data entry, attention to detail, multitasking
• Scoring: Both exams are scored on a 100-point scale. A score of 70 or higher is considered passing for both.
• Registration Process: The steps to apply and receive the exam invite are identical. You'll only be assigned Exam 476 if you apply to a position that requires it.

Can You Take Both Exams?

Yes. If you apply for both types of jobs (e.g., a delivery job and a processing job), you may be asked to take both exams—474 for the carrier role and 476 for the clerk position.

Which Exam Is Easier?

That depends on your strengths. If you're better at customer service and decision-making, Exam 474 may be easier. If you're detail-oriented and quick with data, you might find Exam 476 more manageable.

Study Materials for Exam 474

If you’re preparing for Exam 474, we recommend using our USPS Postal Exam 474 Study Guide – 2025 Edition. It includes practice questions, answer explanations, and tips tailored to this exam format.

Conclusion: Know Which Exam You Need

The main difference between USPS Exam 474 and 476 comes down to the job type. Make sure you know which position you’re applying for, then prepare for the specific test accordingly. The better you understand the exam structure, the more confident you'll be on test day.