Special Hiring Authorities

Office of Human Resources

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

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Competitive Service Appointment Methods

Merit Promotion – Process by which current and former Federal employees with competitive status may be considered for position vacancies (ranked for positions based on their experience, education, skills, and performance record). Note:  If you are a former Federal employee, it is VERY important that you submit an SF-50 notification with your application for employment that shows that (1) you held a career appointment in the competitive service and you are eligible for reinstatement; or (2) you held a career-conditional appointment in the competitive service within the past three years and are eligible for reinstatement.

Delegated Examining – Process by which OPM grants authority to agencies to fill competitive service positions with applicants from outside the Federal workforce who do not have competitive status; candidates with competitive status may also apply and be considered under delegated examining.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities – An action by which a person is placed in a competitive service position without competition either based on prior Federal service or through an appointing authority established by law or Executive Order. Individuals appointed noncompetitively must meet eligibility requirements and minimum OPM Qualification Standards.

Special Appointing Authorities – Other special hiring paths for which Federal agencies may use to bring in new employees to a Federal agency.

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

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Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment (VRA) – May be noncompetitively appointed in the excepted service up to the GS-11 grade level.  A veteran is eligible for a VRA appointment if he/she was honorably discharged and:

Is a disabled veteran; or

A veteran who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during a war, campaign, or expedition;  

A veteran who, while on active duty in the Armed Forces, participated in a military operation for which an Armed Forces Service Medal was awarded; or 

A recently separated veteran (within the last three years).

USAJOBS Help Center | Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA)

Note:  Candidates appointed under this authority are converted to a permanent career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service after two years of satisfactory performance and may be promoted above the GS-11 grade level, if other requirements are met.  Applicants need to provide a DD-214 showing proof of eligibility and meet minimum qualification requirements.

30% Or More Disabled Veterans – May be noncompetitively appointed on a provisional basis at the GS-15 grade level or below.  Candidates may be converted to a permanent competitive service appointment, provided that the initial time-limited provisional appointment was more than 60 days and appointee meets the eligibility and qualification requirements.  Applicants need to provide a DD214 and a letter documenting their disability rating. USAJOBS Help Center | Hiring authorities for disabled Veterans

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

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3.  Veterans’ Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) 

Veterans’ Preference Eligibles OR Veterans who have served 3 or more years of Active Duty military service, with an honorable or general discharge;

Are eligible to compete under merit promotion procedures at GS-15 grade level (or below) when an agency accepts applications from outside the agency;

VEOA applicants do not receive selection priority, or “preference;”

If selected, VEOA candidates are appointed to a competitive service position.

Note:  Applicants must submit a DD214 showing eligibility for this authority.  Candidates need to apply to Merit Staffing Announcements to receive consideration under this authority.  USAJOBS Help Center | Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998 (VEOA)

Disabled Veterans Who Complete an Approved Course of Training

10% or more Disabled Veterans who completed a VA-approved training program are eligible;

Candidates are noncompetitively appointed to a position for which they are trained and certified;

Candidates may be noncompetitively converted to a permanent appointment upon completion of the program.

USAJOBS Help Center | Hiring authorities for disabled Veterans

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

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5.  Military Spouses

Spouse of an Active Duty Service Member (NDAA FY2019);

Spouse of a retired or separated member of the Armed Forces with a service-connected disability rating of 100%; or 

Widow/Widower whose spouse died while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces and has not remarried. 

It is not necessary that the active duty member was killed in combat.  The death may have been a result of an enemy attack, accident, disease, or natural causes. 

Must apply to vacancy announcements but may be noncompetitively appointed to positions at the GS-15 grade level (or below) in the competitive service.

USAJOBS Help Center | Military Spouses

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

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Schedule A – Persons With Severe Disabilities - May be noncompetitively appointed in the  

     excepted service.

Removes barriers and increases employment opportunities for persons with disabilities; 

Documentation required to verify intellectual, physical or psychological disability;

Noncompetitively appointed to a position at the GS-15 grade level or below;

After two-years of satisfactory performance, may be eligible for conversion to a competitive service position; 

Candidate must meet minimum OPM Qualification Standards for the position for which he/she is being considered. 

USAJOBS Help Center | Individuals with disabilities

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

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   7.  Former Peace Corps and VISTA Volunteers

Certified Volunteer who completed service within the past year;

May be noncompetitively appointed to a position for which qualified;

One-year service requirement can be extended up to two years under certain conditions.

USAJOBS Help Center | Peace Corps & AmeriCorps VISTA

  8.  Former Peace Corps Personnel

Completed 36 months of continuous service with the Peace Corps within the past three years; and 

Certification that service with the Peace Corps was satisfactory;

May be noncompetitively appointed to a position for which qualified.

eCFR :: 5 CFR 315.607 -- Noncompetitive appointment of present and former Peace Corps personnel.

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

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5/18/2022

Footer Information

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Pathways Program Announcements - The Pathways program consists of three programs; the Internship Program, the Recent Graduates Program and the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program. These programs help to recruit, hire, develop, and retain students and recent graduates.

Student Interns

Recent Graduates

Presidential Management Fellows

USAJOBS Help Center | Students & recent graduates

Pathways Program Announcements - The Pathways program consists of three programs; the Internship Program, the Recent Graduates Program and the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program. These programs help to recruit, hire, develop, and retain students and recent graduates.

Student Interns

Recent Graduates

Presidential Management Fellows

USAJOBS Help Center | Students & recent graduates

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

5/18/2022

Footer Information

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11.  Post-Secondary Student Hiring Authority

Similar to Pathways Student Interns – GS-11 or Below

Bachelor or Higher Degree

DOL – Announcements posted on USAJOBS.GOV

Some Federal Agencies May Post on Organizational Websites

Post Sec Student Authority Fact Sheet_.pdf (commerce.gov)

12.  College Graduate Hiring Authorities 

 Similar to a Direct Hire for Recent College Graduates – GS-11 or Below

 Bachelor or Higher Degree

 DOL –Announcements posted on USAJOBS.GOV

 Some Federal Agencies May Post on Organizational Website

College Graduate Hiring Authority Fact Sheet.pdf (commerce.gov)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Federal Job Opportunities are posted on: 

USAJOBS.GOV

6/24/22

Special Hiring Authorities

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

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