OPM QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

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Group Coverage Qualifications Standards for 

Technical and Medical Support Positions

The text below is extracted verbatim from Section IV-A (pp.7-12) of the Operating 

Manual for Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions [MANUAL], but 

contains minor edits to conform to web-page requirements.

This qualification standard covers positions in the General Schedule that involve the 

performance of one-grade interval technical or medical support work. It contains 

common patterns of creditable experience and education to be used in making 

qualifications determinations. 

Related individual occupational requirements are contained in Section IV-B of the 

[MANUAL]. Section V of the same manual identifies the occupations that have test 

requirements. 

This same information is available through the index of this Web page. 

A list of the occupational series covered by this standard is provided below. 

This standard may also be used for one-grade interval positions other than those listed if 

the education and experience pattern is determined to be appropriate. 

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OPM QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

The following table shows the amounts of education and/or experience required to 

qualify for positions covered by this standard. 

EXPERIENCE 

GRADE 

GENERAL SPECIALIZED 

EDUCATION 

GS-1 None None None 

GS-2 3 months None High school graduation or 

equivalent 

GS-3 6 months None 

1 year above high school with 

course(s) related to the 

occupation, if required 

GS-4 6 months 6 months 

2 years above high school with 

courses related to the occupation, 

if required 

GS-5 None 1 year equivalent to at 

least GS-4 

4-year course of study above high 

school leading to a bachelor's 

degree with courses related to the 

occupation, if required 

GS-6 and 

above None 

1 year equivalent to at 

least next lower grade 

level 

See the NOTE under the 

Education section 

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels 

and positions for which both education and experience are acceptable. 

While the levels of experience shown for most positions covered by this standard follow 

the grade level progression pattern outlined in the table, users of the standard should refer 

to E.3.(o) in the "General Policies and Instructions" (Section II of the [MANUAL]) for 

guidance on crediting experience for positions with different lines of progression. 

General Experience: (l) Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to 

perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the 

subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. 

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OPM QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular 

knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, 

and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, 

specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. 

Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience, as indicated in the 

table, are not required by this standard to have general experience, education above the 

high school level, or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum 

qualification requirements. 

Education: High school graduation or the equivalent is qualifying for GS-2. 

Successfully completed post-high school education is qualifying for grades GS-3 through 

GS-5. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical 

school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the 

equivalent is the normal prerequisite. One year of full-time undergraduate study is 

defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or 

university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 

weeks in a business or technical school. 

For some occupations covered by this standard, 6 semester hours of specific courses are 

included in the l year of education that meets the GS-3 requirements. The 6 semester 

hours allow for subjects that are common to a broad range of degree programs, e.g., 

subjects in the mathematical, physical, or biological sciences. This inclusion corresponds 

to the second part of the description of general experience, i.e., the subjects provide 

evidence of a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of 

the occupation. At grades GS-4 and above, a portion of the education is usually directly 

related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of related courses are provided 

in the individual occupational requirements where applicable. However, agencies may 

require other courses if they are considered to be more related to the position to be filled. 

NOTE:Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required 

above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. 

One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. Two full years of 

graduate education or a master's degree meets the requirements for GS-9. One year of 

full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school 

attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot 

be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 

year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in 

accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. 

Training: Completion of appropriate training such as inservice training programs, 

training acquired while serving in the Armed Forces, and government-sponsored 

developmental training programs will be allowed credit on a month-for-month basis, 

generally through the GS-5 level. Such training meets general or specialized experience 

requirements depending upon its applicability. 

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OPM QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

Completion of an intensive, specialized course of study of less than l year may meet in 

full the experience requirements for GS-3. Courses of this type normally require 

completion of up to 40 hours per week of instruction rather than the usual 20 hours per 

week, and are usually of at least 3 months duration. Such courses may have been 

obtained through a variety of programs such as those offered by technical schools and 

military training programs. To be creditable, such a course must have been designed 

specifically as career preparation for the work of the position being filled, and must have 

provided the applicant with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work. 

Combining Experience and Education: Equivalent combinations of successfully 

completed post-high school education and experience are also qualifying. The 

combinations described below are those most typical for these positions, i.e., for grades 

GS-3 through GS-5. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, 

then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. 

(When crediting education, prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a 

proportion of the total education to be used.) 

• For GS-3 level positions, determine the applicant's total qualifying experience as 

a percentage of the 6 months' experience required for GS-3; then deter-mine the 

applicant's education as a percentage of the l year of education that meets the 

requirements for GS-3. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal 

at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for GS-3. 

• For GS-4 level positions, determine the applicant's total qualifying experience as 

a percentage of the 1 year of experience required for GS-4; then determine the 

applicant's education as a percentage of the 2 years of education that meets the 

requirements for GS-4. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal 

at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for GS-4. 

• For GS-5 level positions, only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours 

of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting 

the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 

semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to l year of specialized 

experience. Determine the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage 

of the year of specialized experience required at the GS-5 level. Then determine 

the applicant's education as a percentage of the education that meets the 

requirements for GS-5. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal 

at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for GS-5. 

The following are examples of how education and experience may be combined. They 

are examples only, and are not all-inclusive. 

• The position to be filled is a Pharmacy Aid, GS-3. An applicant has 2 months of 

experience and 20 semester hours of college. The applicant meets 33 percent of 

the required experience and 67 percent of the required education. The applicant 

meets 100 percent of the total requirements and is qualified for the position. 

• The position to be filled is an Industrial Engineering Technician, GS-4. An 

applicant has 5 months of general experience and 36 semester hours of college. 

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OPM QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

The applicant meets 42 percent of the required experience and 60 percent of the 

required education. The applicant exceeds 100 percent of the total requirements 

and is qualified for the position. (This example assumes that education is being 

used to meet the specialized experience requirements, and that at least 7 of the 36 

semester hours are in courses directly related to the work of the position.) 

Examples of such courses are provided in the individual occupational 

requirements for the Industrial Engineering Technician Series, GS-895, in Section 

IV-B of the [MANUAL]. 

• The position to be filled is a Recreation Assistant, GS-5. An applicant has 8 

months of GS-4 level specialized experience and 80 semester hours of college. 

The applicant meets 67 percent of the required experience and 33 percent of the 

required education (i.e., 20 semester hours in excess of the first 60 semester 

hours). The applicant meets 100 percent of the total requirements and is qualified 

for the position. At least 8 of the 20 semester hours must be directly related to the 

work of the position. Examples of such courses are provided in the individual 

occupational requirements for the Recreation Aid and Assistant Series, GS-189, in 

Section IV-B of the [MANUAL]. 

USING SELECTIVE FACTORS FOR POSITIONS COVERED BY THIS 

STANDARD

Selective factors must represent knowledge, skills, or abilities that are essential for 

successful job performance and cannot reasonably be acquired on the job during the 

period of orientation/training customary for the position being filled. For example, a 

requirement for knowledge of microbiological laboratory techniques may be needed 

immediately to perform the duties of a Biological Technician position in a disease 

research laboratory. If that is the case, such knowledge could be justified as a selective 

factor in filling the position. 

USING INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS WITH THIS 

STANDARD

General experience requirements at the GS-2 and GS-3 levels are described in the group 

coverage standard so that the applicant pool at those "trainee" levels will be as generally 

inclusive as possible. Thus, examples of qualifying general experience are not included in 

the "Individual Occupational Requirements" for positions covered by this qualification 

standard. 

Positions at GS-4 and above require specialized experience, education, or training related 

to the occupation. Examples of qualifying specialized experience are provided for those 

occupations where such information is currently available. Examples of qualifying posthigh school education or training are also provided. 

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OPM QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

OCCUPATIONAL COVERAGE

A list of the occupational series covered by this qualification standard is provided below. 

The occupational series marked with an asterisk have individual occupational 

requirements in Section IV-B of the Operating Manual for Qualification Standards 

for General Schedule Positions. Refer to the Index for links.

GS-019 Safety Technician* 

GS-021 Community Planning Technician 

GS-090 Guide* 

GS-102 Social Science Aid and Technician 

GS-119 Economics Assistant* 

GS-181 Psychology Aid and Technician* 

GS-186 Social Services Aid and Assistant* 

GS-189 Recreation Aid and Assistant* 

GS-404 Biological Science Technician* 

GS-421 Plant Protection Technician* 

GS-455 Range Technician* 

GS-458 Soil Conservation Technician* 

GS-459 Irrigation System Operation* 

GS-462 Forestry Technician* 

GS-621 Nursing Assistant* 

GS-622 Medical Supply Aide and Technician* 

GS-625 Autopsy Assistant* 

GS-636 Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant* 

GS-640 Health Aid and Technician* 

GS-642 Nuclear Medicine Technician* 

GS-645 Medical Technician* 

GS-646 Pathology Technician* 

GS-647 Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist* 

GS-648 Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist* 

GS-649 Medical Instrument Technician* 

GS-651 Respiratory Therapist* 

GS-661 Pharmacy Technician* 

GS-681 Dental Assistant* 

GS-683 Dental Laboratory Aid and Technician* 

GS-698 Environmental Health Technician* 

GS-704 Animal Health Technician* 

GS-802 Engineering Technician* 

GS-809 Construction Control* 

GS-817 Surveying Technician* 

GS-856 Electronics Technician* 

GS-895 Industrial Engineering Technician* 

GS-1021 Office Drafting* 

GS-1202 Patent Technician 

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OPM QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

4-7 September, 2008 

GS-1311 Physical Science Technician* 

GS-1316 Hydrologic Technician* 

GS-1341 Meteorological Technician* 

GS-1371 Cartographic Technician* 

GS-1374 Geodetic Technician* 

GS-1521 Mathematics Technician* 

GS-1541 Cryptanalysis* 

GS-1862 Consumer Safety Inspection* 

GS-1981 Agricultural Commodity Aid* 

GS-2144 Cargo Scheduling* 

 

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