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This section describes appointment authorities
specifically used to hire people with disabilities as well as other
authorities commonly used to hire people with disabilities.
People with Severe Physical Disabilities
There are two different Schedule A appointing
authorities available to hire people with severe physical disabilities
for employment.
- Option 1 - Leading to Continuing Positions:
This program is designed to help qualified people with physical
disabilities obtain employment in positions consistent with their
level of skills and abilities, at grades GS-1 to GS-15 or under
the Federal Wage System. [5 CFR 213.3102(u)]
Requirements: Persons may be appointed
if (1) they have already demonstrated their ability to perform
the position duties satisfactorily on a temporary trial appointment
or (2) they have been certified by counselors of State Vocational
Rehabilitation Agencies or the Department of Veterans Affairs
as likely to succeed in the performance of the position duties.
Type of Appointment: Excepted service.
Conversion to Permanent Position: After completing two
years of satisfactory performance, employees may be converted
to appointments in the competitive service. (5 CFR 315.709)
- Option 2 - Time-Limited Positions:
This authority is designed to help qualified people with physical
disabilities obtain time-limited employment in positions consistent
with their level of skills and abilities at grades GS-1 to GS-15
or under the Federal Wage System. [5 CFR 213.3102 (i)(3)]
Requirements: Persons may be appointed
when OPM has determined that examining is impractical.
Type of Appointment: Excepted service.
Conversion to Permanent Position: There is no provision
under this authority for conversion to a permanent appointment
when the time-limited appointment expires. However, conversion
to appointments which lead to continuing positions, as described
above, is possible.
People with Mental Retardation
There is one Schedule A appointment authority
available to hire people with mental retardation. [5 CFR 213.3102
(t)]
Requirements: Persons may be appointed
based on certification from the appropriate State Vocational
Rehabilitation Agency that they have the ability to perform
the position duties, are physically qualified to do the work
without risk to themselves or others, and are competent to maintain
themselves in a work environment.
Type of Appointment: Excepted service.
Conversion to Permanent Position: After completing two
years of successful service, employees may be converted to appointments
in the competitive service. (5 CFR 315.709)
People with Psychiatric Disabilities
There are both continuing and time limited Schedule
A hiring authorities available to hire people with psychiatric disabilities.
- Option 1 - Leading to Continuing Positions:
This program is designed to help qualified people with psychiatric
disabilities obtain employment in positions consistent with their
level of skills and abilities, at grades GS-1 to GS-15 or under
the Federal Wage System. [5 CFR 213.3102(gg)]
Requirements: Persons may be appointed
if (1) they have already demonstrated their ability to perform
the position duties satisfactorily on a temporary appointment
or (2) they have been certified by counselors of State Vocational
Rehabilitation Agencies or the Department of Veterans Affairs
as likely to succeed in the performance of the position duties.
Type of Appointment: Excepted service.
Conversion to Permanent Position: After completing two
years of satisfactory performance, employees may be converted
to appointments in the competitive service. (5 CFR 315.709)
- Option 2 - Time-Limited Positions:
This authority is designed to help qualified people with psychiatric
disabilities obtain time-limited employment in positions consistent
with their level of skills and abilities at grades GS-1 to GS-15
or under the Federal Wage System. [5 CFR 213.3102 (i)(3)]
Requirements: Persons may be appointed
when OPM has determined that examining is impractical.
Type of Appointment: Excepted service.
Disabled Veterans (30% or more)
Veterans with a compensable service-connected
disability of 30 percent or more may be appointed at any grade level
for which they are qualified. [5 CFR 316.402(b)(4) and 5 CFR 316.302(b)(4)]
Requirements: Veterans who are qualified
for the positions must have retired from active military service
with a disability rating of 30 percent or more, or be rated
by the Department of Veterans Affairs within the last year as
having a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent
or more. Under this option, persons may be given noncompetitive
temporary (up to 1 year) or term (more than 1 year but not more
than 4 years) appointments.
Type of Appointment: Competitive Service
Conversion to Permanent Position: Subject to meeting
qualifications requirements, employees hired under this provision
may be converted to permanent employment at any time provided
their appointment was for more than 60 days. (5 CFR 315.707)
Hiring Readers, Interpreters and other Personal
Assistants
Schedule A, 5 CFR 213.3102(ll) permits appointment
of readers, interpreters, and personal assistants for employees
with disabilities. The authority applies when filled on a full-time,
part-time, or intermittent basis.
Type of Appointment: Excepted Service
Conversion to Permanent Position:
Employees hired under this provision may be converted to competitive
service when both of the following conditions are met: (1) the
person has completed at least one year of satisfactory service
in such a position under a non-temporary appointment and (2)
employment as a reader, interpreter or personal assistant is
no longer necessary for reasons beyond management’s control,
e.g., resignation or reassignment of the person being assisted.
( 5 CFR 315.711)
The following are other frequently used appointment
authorities that can be used to hire people with disabilities:
Veterans Readjustment Appointment (VRA)
This law allows the hiring of eligible veterans
without competition at the GS-11 grade level and below.
Requirements: Generally, veterans
must have served on active duty for more than 180 days, any
part of which occurred after August 4, 1964 (or February 28,
1961, for those who served in the Republic of Vietnam), and
have received other than a dishonorable discharge. (5 CFR 307.103).
For alternate ways to become eligible under VRA, see 5CFR 307.101.
Time Limits: To be eligible for a VRA appointment, an
otherwise eligible veteran must be appointed within 10 years
of his or her last discharge from active duty. These time limits
do not apply to a veteran with a 30 percent or more service-connected
disability.
Type of Appointment: Excepted service.
Conversion to Permanent Position: Employees must be converted
to the competitive service after two years of satisfactory service.
(5 CFR 315.705 and 5 CFR 307.102)
Student Educational Employment Program
The Student Educational Employment Program allows
for hiring of students attending any accredited high school, college,
or vocational/technical school year round. Under this flexible hiring
program, students can be appointed to temporary positions or a work
study (cooperative education) program. The work study program provides
eligibility for conversion to permanent employment upon successful
completion of educational and program requirements. The program
has two components:
- Component 1 - Student Career Experience
Program (SCEP): The SCEP is a component of the Student Educational
Employment Program, and is available to all levels of degree-seeking
students (who are accepted for enrollment or enrolled, and taking
at least a half-time course load) in an accredited academic institution
from high school through graduate school. It provides for formal
periods of work and study while the student is enrolled in school.
SCEP can be used to develop traditional cooperative education
programs or other work-study formats. [5 CFR 213.3202 (b)]
Requirements: The work performed
in the SCEP must be related to the academic course of study.
The agency, the school, and the student complete a written agreement
which contains information on work assignments, schedule, etc.
The grade level at which the student is appointed depends on
the qualification requirements of the position, and the employee's
experience and academic level.
Type of Appointment: Excepted service.
Conversion to Permanent Position: Students are eligible
for conversion to the competitive service for up to 120 days
following satisfactory completion of the requirements for the
student’s diploma, certification or degree (education and
work requirements) of the program. [5 CFR 3202 (b) (10) (ii)].
- Component 2 - Student Temporary Program
(STEP): The STEP is a component of the Student Educational
Employment Program and is available to all levels of degree-seeking
students (who are accepted for enrollment or enrolled, and taking
at least half-time course load) in an accredited academic institution
from high school through graduate school. [5 CFR 213.3202 (a)]
Requirements: The job for which the
student is hired need not be related to the academic field of
study. The grade level at which the student is appointed depends
on the qualification requirements of the position, and the employee's
experience and academic levels.
Time Limits: Appointments are made for a period not-to-exceed
1 year, and may be extended if the student remains enrolled
in school on at least a half-time basis.
Type of Appointment: Excepted service.
Conversion to Permanent Position: There is no provision
for conversion to appointments in the competitive service under
this authority. However, employees may be converted to another
excepted appointment in the SCEP.
Temporary Limited Appointments
Temporary appointments are made when the need
for the position is short-term and not expected to last for more
than one year. Temporary jobs are filled through competitive procedures
with a requirement for public notice. Under limited circumstances,
agencies may use "outside-the-register" procedures (5 CFR 333.101).
Agencies may also give noncompetitive temporary appointments to
individuals who qualify for positions and have a specific noncompetitive
eligibility such as reinstatement or veterans readjustment appointment
(VRA) (5 CFR 316.402).
Time Limits: Appointments are not-to-exceed
1 year; a 1-year extension is allowed.
Conversion to Permanent Position: There is no provision
under this authority for conversion to a permanent appointment
when the temporary appointment expires.
Term Appointments
Term appointments are made when the need for
an employee's services will last for a period of more than one year,
but no more than four years. Reasons for term appointments may include,
but not be limited to, project work, extraordinary workload, and
uncertainty of future funding. Term positions are filled through
competitive procedures with the requirement for public notice. These
positions may also be filled by qualified individuals based on specific
noncompetitive eligibility such as reinstatement and veterans readjustment
appointment (VRA) (5 CFR 316.302).
Time Limits: Appointments are made
for more than one year but not more than four years.
Conversion: This authority does not contain a provision
for conversion to a permanent appointment when the term expires.
Student Volunteer Program
Agencies may provide educationally-related work
assignments for student volunteers on a non-pay basis. (5 CFR 308.103)
Requirements: The student is enrolled
at least half-time in a high school, trade school, vocational
institute, university, or other accredited educational institution,
and the school permits the participation of the student in a
program established to provide educational experience.
Time Limits: No time limits have been established for
these appointments, as long as the student continues to meet
program requirements.
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