Students are not eligible for conversion to a permanent position under this authority. There is no mandatory requirement for students to document financial need to be eligible for this program. Agencies may set their own criteria if they wish. Qualification determinations may be performed by using the U. S. Office of Personnel Management Qualification standards. Students are eligible for annual and sick leave, but are ineligible for retirement coverage and life insurance.
Health insurance is available after one year of current continuous employment.
This program provides experience that is directly related to the student's educational program and career goals. This component is almost synonymous with the former Cooperative Education program which provided for a schedule of school attendance combined with periods of career-related work. The work experience with the agency MUST be related to the academic or career goals of the student. Students who have met all of the requirements of the program may be converted to a permanent position. This may occur at any time within 120 days after satisfactory completion of certificate or degree requirements and when at least 640 hours of career-related work has been completed.