**United State Department of the Interior**

Number range CHAPTER**[Bureau of Land Management]{.smallcaps}**

# Qualification Standards for the 

**Student Career Experience Program**

Qualification Standards for Student Trainee positions in the Student
Career Experience Program are regulated by the 5 CFR 213.3202.
Eligibility and selection requirements are described in the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) and the Department of the Interior Student
Career Experience Program Handbook. These Qualification Standards should
be applied to all GS-XX99 occupational series in the ***excepted
service***. Student Trainee positions in the competitive service are
covered by the Student Trainee Qualification Standard for Competitive
Service Positions. This standard [does not]{.underline} apply to
students hired into the [Student Temporary Employment
Program]{.underline}.

**Initial Appointment** **Requirements**

*Student Trainees* with no previously related education and/or
experience qualify for an initial appointment as described in the
following chart.

  ----------------------- -----------------------------------------------
  Number range            **Level of Education**
  CHAPTER**General        
  Schedule (GS) - Grade** 

  GS - 01                 Enrollment in a high school diploma or
                          equivalent program (GED)

  GS - 02                 High school diploma or equivalent

  GS - 03                 Completion of 1 academic year of post high
                          school study

  GS - 04                 Completion of 2 academic years of post high
                          school study or an associate's degree

  GS - 05                 Completion of 4 academic years of post high
                          school study leading to a bachelor's degree or
                          completion of 4 academic years of
                          pre-professional study

  GS - 07                 Completion of 1 academic year of graduate level
                          education or bachelor's degree with Superior
                          Academic Achievement (3.5 GPA), or 5 academic
                          years of pre-professional study

  GS - 09                 Completion of 2 academic years of graduate
                          level education or master's or equivalent
                          graduate degree

  GS -11                  For research positions, completion of all
                          requirements for a master's or equivalent
                          degree
  ----------------------- -----------------------------------------------

The required education must be:

-   Related to the job field in which the Student Trainee will receive
    training with the agency, or

-   Be applicable under the Qualification Standards for the target
    occupational series being pursued with the agency.

**Special Provisions for Student Trainees with Previously Related
Education and/or Experience**

For both an initial appointment to and concurrent with conversion into
the Student Trainee program, the applicant's previous education and/or
experience (including non-student trainee experience) should be
evaluated using the qualification for the target position to determine
whether it is creditable. Non-student trainee experience does not count
towards the 640 hours of career-related work experience.

If any portion of the education and/or experience meets the requirements
in the qualification standard for the target position, then both the
initial appointment and conversion may be made at the highest-grade
level for which the applicant is qualified and eligible.

**Promotion Requirements**

During the SCEP appointment, a Student Trainee may be promoted to higher
graded trainee positions based on their Federal Government Student
Trainee work experience, upon recommendation of the supervisor, and
academic success and progress. The BLM Nevada Student Educational
Employment Program (SEEP) Coordinator determines academic success and
progress. The SEEP Coordinator evaluates and assesses the student's
transcript for cumulative academic credit hours earned (See Explanation
of Terms), actual coursework completed, and a cumulative academic grade
point average (GPA) of a 2.5 or better.

Note: If qualified and using these Qualification Standards, the Human
Resources Office and/or the SEEP Coordinator may promote immediately
prior to conversion a Student Trainee one last time and do so
non-competitively.

The 5 CFR 213.3202 (d) (8), authorizes agencies to develop Qualification
Standards for evaluating and promoting SCEP participants. Promotions are
based on the following charted criteria.

  ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------
  **General Schedule     **Level of Education and/or Experience**
  (GS) - Grade**         

  GS - 02                Continued study in a high school education
                         program and completion of 2 months of Student
                         Trainee work experience at the GS-01

  GS - 03                Completion of one full semester or the
                         equivalent of post-high school study and 2
                         months of Student Trainee work experience at the
                         GS-02

  GS - 04                Completion of 1 academic year of study and 4
                         months of Student Trainee work experience at the
                         GS-03; or completion of 1½ academic years of
                         study and 2 months of Student Trainee work
                         experience at the GS-03

  GS - 05                Completion of 3 academic years of study leading
                         to a bachelor's or higher degree and 2 months of
                         GS-04 Student Trainee work experience; or
                         completion of 2½ academic years of study leading
                         to a bachelor's or higher degree and 6 months of
                         GS-04 Student Trainee work experience
  ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------

Student Trainee positions where the target occupation follows a
one-grade interval pattern.

  ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------
  **General Schedule     **Level of Education and/or Experience**
  (GS) - Grade**         

  GS - 06                Completion of 4 academic years of study or all
                         of the requirements for a bachelor's degree and
                         completion of 2 months of GS-05 Student Trainee
                         work experience
  ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------

Student Trainee positions where the target occupation follows a
two-grade interval pattern.

  ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------
  **General Schedule     **Level of Education and/or Experience**
  (GS) - Grade**         

  GS - 07                Completion of 4 academic years of study or all
                         of the requirements for a bachelor's degree and
                         completion of 2 months of GS-05 qualifying
                         Student Trainee work experience; or completion
                         of 4 academic years of pre-professional study
                         and completion of 2 months of GS-05 Student
                         Trainee work experience

  GS - 09                Completion of 1 full year of graduate level
                         study and completion of 2 months of GS-07
                         Student Trainee experience; or completion of 5
                         academic years of pre-professional study and
                         completion of 2 months of GS-07 Student Trainee
                         work experience; or completion of ½ year of
                         graduate level study and 6 months of GS-07
                         Student Trainee work experience

  GS - 11                Completion of 2 full years of graduate level
                         study and completion of 2 months of GS-09
                         Student Trainee experience; or completion of 1
                         full year of academic experience and 6 months of
                         GS-09 Student Trainee work experience
  ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------

**Explanation of Terms**

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) defines an academic year of
undergraduate education as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the
equivalent in an accredited college or university; or approximately 36
weeks for at least 20 classroom hours per week in an accredited
business, technical, or secretarial school.

Pre-professional study is in fields that require a post-baccalaureate
degree at the entry level (i.e. veterinary medicine, social worker,
etc.)

An academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of
credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1
academic year of full-time study. This determination is made based on
normal course loads for a full year of study in the graduate program. If
that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours
or 27-quarter hours should be considered as satisfying the 1-year of
full-time study requirement at the graduate level. Part-time graduate
education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of
full-time study at the school attended.

Work months are calculated on a full-time basis. One work month is equal
to approximately 160 base hours worked.

**Conversion Requirements**

The Student Trainee is eligible for non-competitive conversion to a
term, career-conditional, or career appointment to the target position
within 120 days following completion of all educational and work
experience requirements.

*Note: Successful completion of the SCEP Program does not guarantee
conversion to a permanent appointment. Conversion will be dependent upon
supervisor recommendation, academic success, position availability, and
workforce needs and funding.*

Student must fulfill the following requirements of the student agreement
and SCEP Program:

-   Completion of at least 640 hours of work experience prior to
    graduation

-   Completion of academic program with a cumulative academic 2.5 GPA or
    better

-   Acquisition of certificate or degree

-   Meet Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards
    for the target position, including any minimum educational,
    licensing or certification requirements

**Test Requirements**

A written test is not required for Schedule B Student Trainee positions
at the time of initial appointment or upon conversion.

## Probation and Termination

A Student Trainee failing to meet the SCEP Program requirements will be
initially placed on probation for a limited period of time, as agreed to
and approved by the supervisor, the student, and the Student Educational
Employment Program Coordinator. If the Student Trainee continues to fail
to meet the SCEP Program requirements, even after the agreed and
approved time has passed, the Student Trainee will be terminated and
removed from the SCEP Program immediately.

*Note: If the termination occurs during the 1-year probationary period,
the student has no appeal rights. However, if the student is terminated
beyond the 1-year probationary period, the student is entitled to appeal
rights.*