Handbook of Occupational Groups and Families, Introduction


Handbook of Occupational Groups and Families		Classification Programs Division
Release Date: August 2001		Section Two of Sixty-six

INTRODUCTION

The Handbook of Occupational Groups and Families is designed to aid agencies in classifying positions under chapter 51 and section 5346 of title 5, United States Code.

The 2001 edition of the Handbook of Occupational Groups and Families is divided into two parts:

PART I, Definitions of General Schedule Occupational Series: Defines the occupations and lists their series names and codes used in classifying white collar jobs in the Federal Government.
PART II, Definitions of Federal Wage System Occupations: Defines the occupations and lists their occupation names and codes used in grading trades and labor jobs.

DEFINITION OF TERMS USED IN THIS HANDBOOK

GS: The abbreviation and symbol for General Schedule. The General Schedule is the basic classification and compensation system for white collar occupations in the Federal Government as established by chapter 51 of title 5, United States Code.

Occupational Group: Related occupations in the General Schedule that are grouped together numerically within the same multiple of 100 (for example: GS-0100, Social Science, Psychology, and Welfare Group; GS-0200, Human Resources Management Group).

Job Family: A subset of an occupational group that includes a broad grouping of General Schedule occupational series that are related in one or more ways; e.g., similarity of functions performed, knowledge and skill requirements, and/or category of work (for example, assistance, technical, or administrative).

Series or Occupational Series: A subgroup of an occupational group and/or job family that includes all classes of positions at the various skill levels in a particular kind of work. Series are assigned specific numerical codes (for example: GS-0110, Economist Series; GS-0318, Secretary Series; GS-1410, Librarian Series) for purposes of identification and human resources management. Positions within a series are similar to each other with regard to subject matter and basic knowledge and skill requirements. Generally, a series corresponds to a recognized occupation in the Federal service and includes all positions at the various grade levels in that particular kind of work.

Specialty: A subset of work within a general occupational series that can be used to distinguish positions on the basis of specialized technical requirements, particular applications of the more general occupational requirements, or specific work settings where specialized competencies are applied. Only a few occupational series (e.g., GS-0201, Human Resources Management Series; GS-2210, Information Technology Management) currently have officially designated specialties that agencies must include in the official position title as a parenthetical specialty title.

FWS: The abbreviation and symbol for Federal Wage System. The Federal Wage System is the basic classification and compensation system for trades and labor occupations in the Federal Government as established by section 5346 of title 5, United States Code.

Job Family: Broad grouping of occupations in the Federal Wage System that are related in one or more ways such as: similarity of functions performed, transferability of knowledge and skills from one occupation to another, or similarity of materials or equipment worked on (for example: 4400, Printing Family; 5400, Industrial Equipment Operation Family, 9000, Film Processing Family).

Occupation: A subgroup of a job family that includes all jobs at the various skill levels in a particular kind of work. Series are assigned specific numerical codes (for example: 2892, Aircraft Electrician; 4604, Wood Working; 4717, Boat Building and Repairing) for purpose of identification and human resources management. Jobs within an occupation are similar to each other with regard to subject matter, and basic knowledge and skill requirements.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Position Classification Standards for white collar occupations and the Job Grading Standards for trades and labor occupations contain specific guidance for grading positions.

There is no grade level information in this handbook.

A single asterisk (*) in this handbook indicates that a published a position classification standard or job grading standard exists for that series. Two asterisks (**) indicate that a flysheet exists for that series. Flysheets provide some information about a series and may suggest standards and guides to use for determining grade levels, but include no grade level criteria.
All agencies may use any occupational series in Parts I and II of this Handbook. OPM has removed restrictions on the use of series and position classification standards originally developed for single agencies.
In contrast, however, the following series were established for the sole use of the agencies and uses specified below. They are used primarily in conjunction with demonstration projects authorized under 5 U.S.C. 4703 (or other legislation) or by agencies not covered by title 5, United States Code, for classification purposes.

Series Number	PATCO Category	Series Name	Agency/Use
0347	A	GAO Evaluator	General Accounting Office only. Not valid for submission to OPM's Central Personnel Data File.
0570	A	Financial Institution Examining	Federal Reserve System and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation only.
0580	A	Credit Union Examiner	National Credit Union Administration only.
0898	O	Engineering Trainee	National Institute of Standards and Technology (Department of Commerce) only.
0935	P	Administrative Law Judge	Use with Pay Plan code AL (Administrative Law Judges) only.
1398	O	Physical Science Trainee	National Institute of Standards and Technology (Department of Commerce) only.
1598	O	Mathematics or Computer Science Trainee	National Institute of Standards and Technology (Department of Commerce) only.
2186	A	Technical Systems Program Manager	Federal AviationAdministration (Departmentof Transportation) only.

CHANGES IN THE 2001 EDITION OF THE HANDBOOK
(Effective with the issuance of the Classification, Compensation, and Performance Reference Library CD ROM,
WCPS-1, August 2001)

CHANGES AS A RESULT OF OCCUPATIONAL STUDIES

GS-0200: Personnel Management and Industrial Relations Group

Renames this occupational group to the Human Resources Management Group, GS-0200 as a result of a recent occupational study.

GS-0201: Personnel Management Series

Renames this series to the Human Resources Management Series, GS-0201, and
Revises the series definition as a result of a recent occupational study.

GS-0203: Personnel Clerk and Assistance Series

Renames this series to the Human Resources Assistance Series, GS-0203, and
Revises the series definition as a result of a recent occupational study.

GS-0204: Military Personnel Clerical and Technician Series

Cancels this series as a result of a recent occupational study.
Classify work previously covered by this series to the Human Resources Series, GS-0201.

GS-0205: Military Personnel Management Series

Cancels this series as a result of a recent occupational study.
Classify work previously covered by this series to the Human Resources Management Series, GS-0201.

GS-0212: Personnel Staffing Series

Cancels this series as a result of a recent occupational study.
Classify work previously covered by this series to the Human Resources Management Series, GS-0201.

GS-0221: Position Classification Series

Cancels this series as a result of a recent occupational study.
Classify work previously covered by this series to the Human Resources Management Series, GS-0201.

GS-0223: Salary and Wage Administration Series

Cancels this series as a result of a recent occupational study.
Classify work previously covered by this series to the Human Resources Management Series, GS-0201.

GS-0230: Employee Relations Series

Cancels this series as a result of a recent occupational study.
Classify work previously covered by this series to the Human Resources Management Series, GS-0201.

GS-0233: Labor Relations Series

Cancels this series as a result of a recent occupational study.
Classify work previously covered by this series to the Human Resources Management Series, GS-0201.

GS-0235: Employee Development Series

Cancels this series as a result of a recent occupational study.
Classify work previously covered by this series relating to administering human resource development programs to the Human Resources Management Series, GS-0201.
Classify work previously covered by this series that emphasizes designing and delivering education and training programs to the Training Instruction Series, GS-1712.

GS-0246: Contractor Industrial Relations Series

Cancels this series as a result of a recent occupational study.
Classify work previously covered by this series to the General Business and Industry Series GS-1101.

GS-0270: Federal Retirement Benefits Series

Cancels this series as a result of a recent occupational study.
Classify work previously covered by this series relating to government wide benefits administration work to the Human Resources Management Series, GS-201.
Classify work previously covered by this series relating to claims adjudication to the General Legal and Kindred Administration Series, GS-0901.

GS-0299: Personnel Management Student Trainee Series

Renames this series to the Human Resources Management Student Trainee Series, GS-0299 as a result of a recent occupational study.

GS-0301: Miscellaneous Administration and Program Series

Revises this series definition to eliminate the reference to nonprofessional work.

GS-0334: Computer Specialist Series

Cancels this series as a result of a recent occupational study.
Classify work previously covered by this series to the Information Technology Management Series, GS-2210.

GS-0501: Financial Administration and Program Series

Revises this series definition as a result of a recent occupational study.

GS-0510: Accounting Series

Revises this series definition as a result of a recent occupational study.

GS-0511: Auditing Series

Revises this series definition as a result of a recent occupational study.

GS-0512: Internal Revenue Agent Series

Revises this series definition as a result of a recent occupational study.

GS-0526: Tax Specialist Series

Renames this series title from the Tax Technician Series, GS-0526, and
Revises this series definition as a result of a recent occupational study.

GS-0560: Budget Analysis Series

Revises this series definition as a result of a recent occupational study.

GS-0675: Medical Records Technician

Revises this series definition as a result of a recent occupational study.

GS-0679: Medical Clerk Series

Renames this series to the Medical Support Assistance Series, GS-0679, and
Revises this series definition as a result of a recent occupational study.

GS-0901: General Legal and Kindred Administration Series

Establishes this series as a result of a recent occupational study.

GS-0945: Clerk of Court Series

Revises this series definition to remove the reference to clerical work.
Classify one-grade interval administrative support work previously covered by this series to the Legal Assistance Series, GS-0986.

GS-0962: Contact Representative Series

Revises this series definition to remove two-grade interval administrative work from inclusion in this series as a result of a recent occupational study.
Classify the two-grade interval work previously covered by this series to the General Legal and Kindred Administration Series, GS-0901.

GS-0963: Legal Instruments Examining Series

Revises this series definition as a result of a recent occupational study.

GS-0986: Legal Clerical and Assistance Series

Renames this series to the Legal Assistance Series, GS-0986.

GS-0990: General Claims Examining Series

Cancels this series as a result of a recent occupational study.
Classify the one-grade interval work previously covered by this series to the Claims Assistance and Examining Series, GS-0998.
Classify the two-grade interval work previously covered by this series to the General Legal and Kindred Administration Series, GS-0901.

GS-0992: Loss and Damage Claims Examining Series

Cancels this series as a result of a recent occupational study.
Classify work previously covered by this series to the Claims Assistance and Examining Series, GS-0998.

GS-0995: Dependents and Estate Claims Examining Series

Cancels this series as result of a recent occupational study.
Classify work previously covered by this series to the Claims Assistance and Examining Series, GS-0998.

GS-0998: Claims Clerical Series

Renames this series to the Claims Assistance and Examining Series, GS-0998, as a result of a recent occupational study.

GS-2200: Information Technology Grou

Establishes this occupational group as a result of a recent occupational study.

GS-2210: Information Technology Management Series

Establishes this series as a result of a recent occupational study.

GS-2299: Information Technology Student Trainee

Establishes this series as a result of a recent occupational study.

CANCELLATIONS AS A RESULT OF LOW POPULATION PERFORMING THE WORK

OPM has canceled the following series/occupations because of their limited use throughout the Federal Government. As a result of changes in work practices and/or technology, few or no Federal employees perform the work previously classified to these series/occupations. If the work in any of these series/occupations is still being performed and no other series/occupation is appropriate, classify the position to the "01" series/code for the appropriate occupational group or job family. For example, a position now classified to Projection Equipment Repairing, 3364, would be assigned the 3301 code in the Instrument Work Family, 3300.

General Schedule Series:
GS-0359, Electric Accounting Machine Operation
GS-0362, Electric Accounting Machine Project Planning
GS-0475, Agricultural Management
GS-0994, Unemployment Compensation Claims Examining
GS-1895, Customs Warehouse Officer
GS-1898, Admeasurement

Federal Wage System Occupations:
3364, Projection Equipment Repairing
3422, Power Saw Operating
3508, Pipeline Working
3708, Metal Process Working
3720, Brazing and Soldering
3722, Cold Working
3815, Pneumatic Tool Operating
3818, Springmaking
3830, Blacksmithing
3832, Medal Making
3911, Sound Recording Equipment Operating
3919, Television Equipment Operating
3941, Public Address Equipment Operating
4157, Instrument Dial Painting
4371, Plaster Pattern Casting
4618, Woodworking Machine Operating
4839, Film Processing Equipment Repairing
4812, Saw Reconditioning
4843, Navigation Aids Repairing
4844, Bicycle Repairing
4851, Reclamation Working
5312, Sewing Machine Repairing
5414, Baling Machine Operating
5430, Drawbridge Operating
5444, Food/Feed Processing Equipment Operating
5450, Conveyor Operating
5454, Solvent Still Operating
5486, Swimming Pool Operating
5707, Tank Driving
6902, Lumber Handling
7307, Dry Cleaning
8863, Aircraft Tire Mounting