#### § 534.203 Maximum stipends.

(a) Except as authorized under [paragraph (b)](/on/2024-09-20/title-5/section-534.203#p-534.203(b)) or [(c)](/on/2024-09-20/title-5/section-534.203#p-534.203(c)) of this section, stipends are to be set by the agency, subject to the maximum stipends prescribed in the following table:

Maximum Stipends Prescribed

| Code symbol | Academic level of approved training program | Maximums by grade and step1 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| L-A | Below high school graduation | GS-1-1 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-1 | First year college undergraduate | GS-2-1 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-2 | Second year college undergraduate | GS-3-1 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-3 | Third year college undergraduate | GS-3-3 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-4 | Fourth year college undergraduate | GS-4-2 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-5 | First year postgraduate predoctoral | GS-5-1 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-6 | Second year postgraduate predoctoral | GS-7-1 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-6 | Third year medical school | GS-7-1 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-7 | Third year postgraduate predoctoral | GS-9-1 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-7 | Fourth year medical school | GS-9-1 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-8 | Fourth year postgraduate predoctoral | GS-10-1 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-8 | Medical or dental internship | GS-10-1 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-9 | Fifth year postgraduate w/o doctorate | GS-11-1 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-9 | First year postgraduate (Ph. D.) | GS-11-1 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-9 | First year medical or dental residency | GS-11-1 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-10 | Second year postdoctoral (Ph. D.) | GS-12-1 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-10 | Second year medical or dental residency | GS-12-1 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-11 | Third year medical or dental residency | GS-12-4 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-12 | Fourth year medical or dental residency | GS-13-1 (minus 3 steps). |
| L-13 | Fifth year medical residency | GS-14-1 (minus 3 steps). |
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 The maximum money amount in each case is derived by subtracting from the statutory salary for the appropriate grade a sum equivalent to three step increments of that grade. This amount includes overtime pay, maintenance allowances, and other payments in money or kind. | | |

(b) An agency may pay a student-employee a stipend in excess of the amount prescribed under [paragraph (a)](/on/2024-09-20/title-5/section-534.203#p-534.203(a)) of this section only if the Office of Personnel Management has determined that a higher maximum stipend is warranted for the student-employee.

(c) Maximum stipends for positions in the Public Health Service in which duty requires intimate contact with persons afflicted with leprosy are increased above the rates prescribed in [paragraph (a)](/on/2024-09-20/title-5/section-534.203#p-534.203(a)) of this section to the same extent that additional pay is provided by Public Health Service Regulations ([42 CFR 22.1](/on/2024-09-20/title-42/section-22.1)) for employees subject to the General Schedule ([part 531 of this chapter](/on/2024-09-20/title-5/part-531)).

(d) Overtime pay, maintenance allowances, and other payments in money or kind for a student-employee must be considered as part of the student-employee's stipend for the purposes of this section, and therefore, may not be used to cause the stipend to exceed the maximum stipend established under this section.

(e) A trainee at a non-Federal hospital, clinic, or medical or dental laboratory who is assigned to a Federal hospital, clinic, or medical or dental laboratory as an affiliate for a part of his or her training may not receive a stipend from the Federal agency other than any maintenance allowance that is provided.