OBJECTIVES •To gain an understanding 

of the Schedule A hiring 

authority and the Agency’s 

commitment for a diverse 

and inclusive workforce 

and how this benefits you. 

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WHAT IS SCHEDULE A?

• Schedule A is a special hiring 

Authority under the Excepted 

Service Appointing Authority that 

gives Federal agencies an optional, 

and potentially quicker way to hire 

individuals with disabilities noncompetitively.

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SCHEDULE A - BACKGROUND

Optimize Inclusive Diversity Efforts Using Data-Driven Approaches

Create a diverse, high-performing workforce by educating hiring managers; designing fair and effective recruitment and examining

strategies for competitive examining and examining for the career Senior Executive Service that cast the broadest net possible and 

apply merit principles; utilizing applicable special hiring authorities (e.g., Schedule A authority for individuals with certain disabilities, 

veterans hiring authorities, etc.) as supplements to competitive hiring processes.

The initiative to increase the non-competitive Schedule A hiring is 

an agency priority

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U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Targets for Percentages of Persons With Disabilities and Persons with Targeted Disabilities

% (xxSchedule A hires out of xxx hires)

*Persons with Disabilities (PWD)- To qualify for Schedule A the applicant will need proof of an intellectual disability, severe physical disability or psychiatric disability.

*Persons with Targeted Disabilities (PWTD)- They are defined by OPM and include: deafness; blindness; missing extremities; partial paralysis; complete paralysis; 

convulsive disorders; intellectual disabilities; mental illness; and distortion of limb and/or spine.

OCR PWD Target: %

USDA PWD: 

%*

Government-wide PWD: %

OCR PWTD Target: %

USDA PWTD: 

%*

Government-wide PWTD: %

*Data tables display information from FY2019.

The EEOC 501 

Affirmative 

Action Rules 

require federal 

agencies to 

engage in 

affirmative 

action for 

individuals with 

disabilities.
The Federal Government consists of three types of services, the 

Competitive Service, the Excepted Service, and the Senior Executive 

Service. We will address the first two.

COMPETITIVE HIRING 

• The competitive service consists of all civil service positions in the 

executive branch of the Federal Government with some exceptions. 

The exceptions are defined in section 2102 of title 5, United States 

Code (5 U.S.C. 2102)

• In the competitive service, individual must go through a competitive 

process (i.e. competitive examining) which is open to all applicants. 

UNDERSTANDING 

COMPETITIVE HIRING VS. NON-COMPETITIVE HIRING

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NON - COMPETITIVE HIRING 

• Excepted service consist of positions within the Federal 

Government that have been excepted in one or more ways from 

the rules governing competitive appointments. 

• The Excepted appointing authority, the Schedule A Hiring 

Authority, 5 CFR 213.3102(u) is a critical tool for increasing 

employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the 

Federal Government without the need to compete for the job. 

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UNDERSTANDING 

COMPETITIVE HIRING VS. NON-COMPETITIVE HIRING
Common Benefits of 

NON-COMPETITIVE

hiring:

Streamlines and expedites the 

complex federal hiring process 

without compromising on the 

caliber of competitive candidates.

Allows hiring managers to hire 

qualified individuals with 

disabilities without posting a job 

announcement or going through 

the certificate process.

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WHO QUALIFIES AND HOW 

SCHEDULE A WORKS?

• Qualified applicants with a disability who meet the 

minimum qualification requirements for the position 

may be hired Non-competitively under a special hiring 

authority, Schedule A. 

• “persons with intellectual disabilities, severe physical 

disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities”

• Must provide proof of disability documentation.

• May be converted to the competitive service after two 

years of satisfactory service.

[5 C.F.R. 213.3102(u). For conversion, see 5 C.F.R. 315.709]

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SCHEDULE A AUTHORITY 

ELIGIBILITY

• The Schedule A documentation comes from:

• A licensed medical professional (including 

psychologists), 

• A vocational rehabilitation specialist, or 

• Any Federal or state agency that issues or provides 

disability benefits.

• Schedule A letters should not include specific details about 

a candidate’s disability.

Reference: Click here for sample OPM Schedule A letter

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•A qualified individual with a disability has the skills, experience, 

education, and other requirements of the job the individual holds or 

desires, and can perform the essential functions of the position with or 

without reasonable accommodation.

*Note: The home office pays for the requested accommodations. Most 

accommodations have low cost. RAs must be documented with the 

National Reasonable Accommodation (RA) program. There are 

programs that provide free assistance and equipment – Job 

Accommodations Network and Computer/Electronic Accommodations 

Program. Sign Language/CART Services are centrally funded.

SCHEDULE A AUTHORITY CANDIDATE

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• Statement of Job Readiness is NOT required..

• Expectations of work performance are the same.

•Interviewers must not factor an applicant’s disability into interviewing 

questions or hiring decisions. 

• Applicants for employment and employees may request a reasonable 

accommodation at any time. The agency is required to make a reasonable 

accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of a qualified 

individual with a disability unless the agency can show that the 

accommodation would cause an undue hardship.

SCHEDULE A AUTHORITY CANDIDATE

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SCHEDULE A HIRING AUTHORITY 

ADVANTAGES

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• Without the typical 

recruitment headaches

• Without posting and 

publicizing the position

• No public notice required

• Without going through the 

certificate process

• No ranking or interviewing 

required

• Unlimited number of 

appointments

• Temporary, time-limited, and 

permanent appointments

• Can accept paper resumes
HOW DO WE RECRUIT SCHEDULE A APPLICANTS?

• Strategies and Resources for Recruiting, Hiring, Retaining, and 

Advancing People with Disabilities/Targeted Disabilities

• State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies (SVRAs) and State 

Disability Service Agencies

• One-Stop Career Centers and Job Fairs

• Collaborative Relationships with Community and 

Governmental Groups

• Equal Opportunity Publications, Inc.

• Social Networking

• Work Force Recruitment Program (WRP)

• Selective Placement Program Coordinators

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QUESTIONS

Are you 

knowledgeable and 

ready to use 

Schedule A?

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