United States Department of Agriculture 

Marketing and Regulatory Programs 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration 

 

Directive MRP 4413.1 10/15/98 

CAREER ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM 

 

1. PURPOSE 

This Directive establishes the Career Enhancement Program (CEP) in Marketing and 

Regulatory Programs (MRP) and states the policy and responsibility for its use. 

2. REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS 

This Directive replaces the following Agency-specific directives: 

a. AMS Directive 302.2, Career Development Program, dated 7/16/85; 

b. APHIS Directive 445.1, Career Opportunities Program, expired 6/30/93; and 

c. FGIS Directive 4306.1 (formerly 383.1), Career Opportunities Program, dated 

6/27/90. 

3. AUTHORITIES 

Authority for establishment of a CEP is found in: 

a. Public Law 85-507, dated July 7, 1958; (5 U.S.C. 41); 

b. Public Law 92-261, dated March 24, 1972; 

c. Public Law 95-454, dated October 13, 1978; 

d. Title 5 U.S. Code, Chapter 41; 

e. USDA Multi-Year Program Plan; and 

f. Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations: 

(1) Part 335 - Promotion and Internal Placement; 

(2) Part 410 - Training; and 

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(3) Part 536 - Grade and Pay Retention. 

4. POLICY 

It is MRP policy to achieve greater utilization of all employees in conjunction 

with furthering workforce diversity goals and to provide career opportunities for 

high potential employees with restricted skills and limited education to receive 

training that will allow them to advance to their highest work potential and 

achieve maximum career success. 

5. OPERATING GUIDELINES 

All CEP opportunities are advertised for competition in accordance with established 

merit promotion procedures (e.g., areas of consideration, priority consideration, 

etc.). Operating procedures and responsibilities for identifying and filling CEP 

positions are contained in Human Resources Desk Guide (HRDG) Subchapter 4413, 

Career Enhancement Program. The HRDG is intended to be a user-friendly reference 

tool to be shared by supervisors and their employees. 

This Directive and HRDG Subchapter 4413 are available on the MRP Human Resources 

(MRPHR) Internet home page at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mb/mrphr. They also can be 

retrieved by accessing the Information Technology home page at 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/its/library. 

 

6. INQUIRIES 

a. Inquiries on CEP policy determinations may be referred through appropriate 

administrative channels to MRPHR, Employment and Classification Policy Branch. 

b. Inquiries on operational aspects of the CEP should be directed through the 

appropriate administrative channels to the servicing personnel office. 

c. Inquiries or concerns on the training methodology and/or development should be 

directed to the supervisor, or through proper administrative channels, to the 

appropriate training contact in Organizational and Professional Development. 

 /s/ 

Deputy Administrator 

for APHIS Business Services 

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