5 C.F.R. PART 315—CAREER AND CAREER-CONDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT
Title 5 - Administrative Personnel
Title 5: Administrative Personnel
PART 315—CAREER AND CAREER-CONDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT
Section Contents
§ 315.201 Service requirement for career tenure.
§ 315.202 Conversion from career-conditional to career tenure.
§ 315.301 Tenure on appointment from register.
§ 315.302 Acquisition of competitive status.
§ 315.401 Reinstatement.
§ 315.402 Tenure on reinstatement.
§ 315.403 Acquisition of competitive status.
§ 315.501 Transfer.
§ 315.502 Tenure on transfer.
§ 315.503 Acquisition of competitive status.
§ 315.601 Appointment of former employees of the Canal Zone Merit System or Panama Canal Employment System.
§ 315.602 Appointment based on service in the Office of the President or Vice-President or on the White House Staff.
§ 315.603 Appointment based on former incumbency of a position brought into the competitive service.
§ 315.604 Employment of disabled veterans who have completed a training course under Chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code.
§ 315.605 Appointment of former ACTION volunteers.
§ 315.606 Noncompetitive appointment of certain present and former Foreign Service officers and employees.
§ 315.607 Noncompetitive appointment of present and former Peace Corps personnel.
§ 315.608 Noncompetitive appointment of certain former overseas employees.
§ 315.609 Appointment based on service in United States positions of the Panama Canal Commission.
§ 315.610 Noncompetitive appointment of certain National Guard technicians.
§ 315.611 Appointment of certain veterans who have competed under agency merit promotion announcements.
§ 315.701 Incumbents of positions brought into the competitive service.
§ 315.702 Employees serving without competitive examination in rare cases.
§ 315.703 Employees formerly reached on a register.
§ 315.704 Conversion to career employment from indefinite or temporary employment.
§ 315.705 Employees serving under transitional or veterans recruitment appointments.
§ 315.706 Certain nonpermanent employees of the Department of Energy.
§ 315.707 Disabled veterans.
§ 315.708 Conversion based on service as a Fellow or Senior Fellow in the Presidential Management Fellows Program.
§ 315.709 Employees who are mentally retarded, severely physically handicapped, or have psychiatric disabilities serving under Schedule A appointments.
§ 315.710 Professional and administrative career employees serving under Schedule B appointments.
§ 315.711 Readers, interpreters, and personal assistants serving under Schedule A appointments.
§ 315.712 Conversion based on service as a Federal Career Intern.
§ 315.725 Disqualifications.
§ 315.801 Probationary period; when required.
§ 315.802 Length of probationary period; crediting service.
§ 315.803 Agency action during probationary period (general).
§ 315.804 Termination of probationers for unsatisfactory performance or conduct.
§ 315.805 Termination of probationers for conditions arising before appointment.
§ 315.806 Appeal rights to the Merit Systems Protection Board.
§ 315.901 Statutory requirement.
§ 315.902 Definitions.
§ 315.903 Coverage.
§ 315.904 Basic requirement.
§ 315.905 Length of the probationary period.
§ 315.906 Crediting service toward completion of the probationary period.
§ 315.907 Failure to complete the probationary period.
§ 315.908 Appeals.
§ 315.909 Relationship to other actions.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 1302, 3301, and 3302; E.O. 10577, 3 CFR, 1954–1958 Comp., p. 218, unless otherwise noted; and E.O. 13162; secs. 315.601 and 315.609 also issued under 22 U.S.C. 3651 and 3652; secs. 315.602 and 315.604 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 1104; sec. 315.603 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 8151; sec. 315.605 also issued under E.O. 12034, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp., p. 111; sec. 315.606 also issued under E.O. 1219, 3 CFR, 1964–1965 Comp., p. 303; sec. 315.607 also issued under 22 U.S.C. 2506; sec. 315.608 also issued under E.O. 12721, 3 CFR, 1990 Comp., p. 293; sec. 315.610 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 3304(d); sec. 315.611 also issued under Section 511, Pub. L. 106–117, 113 STAT. 1575–76; sec. 315.710 also issued under E.O. 12596, 3 CFR, 1987, Comp., p. 229; subpart I also issued under 5 U.S.C. 3321, E.O. 12107, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp., p. 264.
Link to an amendment published at 71 FR 42245, July 26, 2006.
Source: 33 FR 12418, Sept. 4, 1968, unless otherwise noted.
Editorial Note: Nomenclature changes to part 315 appear at 70 FR 72067, Dec. 1, 2005.
Subpart A [Reserved]
top
Subpart B—The Career-Conditional Employment System
top
§ 315.201 Service requirement for career tenure.
top
Link to an amendment published at 71 FR 42245, July 26, 2006.
(a) Service requirement. A person employed in the competitive service for other than temporary, term, or indefinite employment is appointed as a career or career-conditional employee subject to the probationary period required by subpart H of this part. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, an employee must serve 3 years of substantially continuous creditable service as defined in paragraph (b) of this section to become a career employee.
(b) Creditable service. Unless otherwise approved by OPM, the service required for career tenure must begin and end with nontemporary employment in the competitive service except as described in paragraph (1) of this subsection, must include service under an appointment based on or leading to competitive status, be substantially continuous, and total 3 years, as follows:
(1) Nontemporary employment. To be creditable, the 3-year period of service must begin with one of the following:
(i) Nontemporary appointment in the competitive service. For this purpose, nontemporary appointment includes a career-conditional appointment; career appointment; reinstatement under subpart D of this part; and transfer under subpart E of this part. The 3-year period may also begin, but not end, with status quo employment under subpart G of part 316 of this chapter, and overseas limited appointment of indefinite duration or overseas limited term appointment under part 301 of this chapter. The 3-year period also may have begun with permanent employment under now obsolete appointing authorities such as probational, war service indefinite, and emergency indefinite appointments. Determinations of whether an obsolete authority provides the basis for creditable service may be obtained from OPM;
(ii) The acquisition of competitive status on January 23, 1955, under provisions of Executive Order 10577, while serving in the excepted service;
(iii) Nontemporary appointment from a civil service register to a position in the excepted service before January 23, 1955;
(iv) Nontemporary appointment to a position in the District of Columbia Government before January 23, 1955, evidencing selection in regular order from a civil service register used to certify for probational appointment in the Federal service. Appointment from a register maintained only for District of Columbia Government would not meet this condition;
(v) Nontemporary appointment to an excepted position, provided the employee's excepted position was brought into the competitive service and, on that basis, the employee acquired competitive status or was converted to a career or career-conditional appointment;
(vi) Nontemporary appointment to a nonappropriated fund (NAF) position in or under the Department of Defense, provided the employee's NAF position was brought into the competitive service and, on that basis, the employee acquired competitive status or was converted to a career or career-conditional appointment;
(vii) Nontemporary excepted or nonappropriated fund appointment, Foreign Service appointment, or appointment in the Canal Zone Merit System, provided the employee is appointed or transferred to a competitive service position under the terms of an interchange agreement with another merit system under §6.7 of this chapter, under Executive Order 11219 as amended by Executive Order 12292, or under Executive Order 11171;
(viii) The date of appointment to a position on the White House Staff or in the immediate office of the President or Vice President, provided the service has been continuous and the individual was appointed to a competitive service position under §315.602 of this chapter;
(ix) The date of nontemporary excepted appointment under §213.3202(b) of this chapter, provided the student's appointment is converted to career or career-conditional appointment under Executive Order 12015, with or without an intervening term appointment, and without a break in service of one day.
(x) The date of veterans recruitment appointment (VRA), provided the appointment is converted to career or career-conditional appointment under §315.705 of this chapter, or the person is appointed from a civil service register without a break in service while serving under a VRA;
(xi) The date of nontemporary appointment to the Postal Career Service or the Postal Rate Commission after July 1, 1971, provided the individual is appointed to a career or career-conditional appointment under 39 U.S.C. 1006;
(xii) The date of nontemporary appointment under Schedule A, §§213.3102(t) or 213.3102(u) of this chapter, of a mentally retarded or severely physically handicapped person, provided the employee's appointment is converted to career or career-conditional appointment under §315.709 of this chapter;
(xiii) The date of appointment as a participant in the Presidential Management Fellows Program under the provisions of Executive Order 13318, provided the employee's appointment is converted without a break in service to career or career-conditional appointment under §315.708;
(xiv) The date of temporary appointment pending establishment of a register, provided the appointment was converted to career executive assignment;
(xv) The date of temporary appointment pending establishment of a register (TAPER), provided:
(A) The employee is serving on or after February 8, 1968, and his or her TAPER employment is changed by conversion or by an appointment without a break in service of a single workday to a career or career-conditional appointment from a civil service register; and
(B) His or her TAPER service has been continuous without a break in service of more than 30 calendar days or without interruption for more than 30 calendar days by other than status quo or indefinite employment in the competitive service, or military service provided he or she is reemployed as a TAPER employee within 120 days after separation under honorable conditions from the military service;
(xvi) The starting date of National Guard technician service performed before January 1, 1969, provided the person was employed as a National Guard technician on December 31, 1968, and his or her position was brought into the competitive service on January 1, 1969;
(xvii) The starting date of active service as an administrative enrollee in the United States Merchant Marine Academy; and
(xviii) The date on which an employee became eligible for benefits under Public Law 83–121, unless an earlier date can be chosen because of prior nontemporary service.
(xix) Appointment as a career intern under Schedule B, §213.3202(o) of this chapter, provided the employee's appointment is converted to career or career-conditional appointment under §315.712.
(2) Competitive status. Career tenure is acquired only under a permanent appointment in the competitive service that provides or leads to competitive status.
(3) Substantially continuous service. A single break in creditable service of more than 30 calendar days will require the beginning of a new 3-year period, except for:
(i) Breaks incident to entry into or return from military service and return from defense transfer, provided the person is reemployed in Federal service during his or her period of statutory or regulatory restoration or reemployment rights;
(ii) Breaks incident to transfer to and from an international organization, provided the person is reemployed in Federal service under subpart C of part 352 of this chapter;
(iii) Breaks during which an employee was eligible to receive injury compensation under the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, provided the person is reemployed under part 353 of this chapter;
(iv) Breaks incident to a restoration to correct an unjustified or unwarranted separation;
(v) Breaks following separation by reduction in force of employees who are eligible for entry on the reemployment priority list under subpart B of part 330 of this chapter, provided the person is reemployed in Federal service during the period of his or her reemployment priority;
(vi) Breaks following involuntary separation without personal cause of employees who are eligible for a noncompetitive appointment based on an interchange agreement with another merit system under §6.7 of this chapter, provided the person is employed in the competitive service under the agreement during the period of his or her eligibility;
(vii) Breaks incident to volunteer service or training required after enrollment in volunteer service provided the person is reemployed in Federal service within 90 days of the termination of volunteer service or training. This provision applies to Peace Corps, VISTA, or other ACTION full-time programs that are potentially creditable in subsequent Federal employment for length of service for leave, reduction in force, and retirement purposes;
(viii) Breaks incident to employment in a nonfederal organization that occurred because a Federal function was transferred to the organization by law, provided the employee moved as a result of the transfer of function without a break in service of more than 3 days to the nonfederal organization and is reemployed by nontemporary appointment in the competitive service without a break in service of more than 30 calendar days after separation from the nonfederal organization;
(ix) Employment with the District of Columbia Government after January 1, 1980 (the date the District implemented an independent merit personnel system not tied to the Federal system), provided the person was a District employee on December 31, 1979, was converted to the District system on January 1, 1980, and is reemployed by nontemporary appointment in the competitive service without a break in service of more than 30 calendar days after separation from District employment; and
(x) Breaks that occur when a career-conditional employee leaves Federal employment to accompany a spouse or parent (if the employee is their unmarried child under 21 years of age) who is a member of the Armed Forces or a Federal civilian employee on official assignment to an overseas post of duty, provided the employee's separation from employment occurs no more than 90 calendar days prior to going overseas and reinstatement occurs while overseas or within 180 calendar days of return to the United States. Overseas posts of duty are duty locations outside the 50 States of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
(4) Crediting service. An employee's creditable service must total 3 years, under the following conditions.
(i) Work schedule. (A) Full-time service, and part-time service on or after July 1, 1962, are counted as calendar time from the date of appointment to date of separation.
(B) Intermittent service on or after July 1, 1962 is counted as 1 day for each day an employee is in pay status, regardless of the number of hours for which the employee is actually paid on a given day. For this purpose, 780 days in pay status are equivalent to 3 years' service, but the service requirement may not be satisfied in less than 3 years of calendar time.
(C) Part-time and intermittent service before July 1, 1962, is counted based on the number of hours actually employed, including any paid leave. For this purpose, 6,240 hours of paid time are equivalent to 3 years' service, but the service requirement may not be satisfied in less than 3 years of calendar tine.
(ii) Nonpay status on the rolls and time off the rolls. No credit is given for periods of nonpay status and time off the rolls, except under the following conditions:
(A) Credit is given for the first 30 calendar days of each period of nonpay status on the rolls during full-time employment, or during part-time employment on or after July 1, 1962. On this same basis, a seasonal employee receives credit for the first 30 calendar days of each period of nonduty/nonpay status. Nonpay status in excess of 30 days extends the 3-year waiting period by the amount of the excess;
(B) Full credit is given for periods of nonpay status and time off the rolls incident to entry into and return from military service and return from defense transfer, provided the person is reemployed in Federal service during the period of his or her statutory or regulatory restoration or reemployment rights;
(C) Full credit is given for periods of nonpay status and time off the rolls incident to transfer to and return from an international organization, provided the person is reemployed in Federal service under subpart C of part 352 of this chapter;
(D) Full credit is given for periods of nonpay status during which an employee was eligible to receive continuation of pay or injury compensation under the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs. Full credit also is given for periods of time off the rolls during which an employee was eligible to receive injury compensation under the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, provided the person is reemployed under part 353 of this chapter.
(E) Credit is given for up to 30 calendar days for time off the rolls that follows separation by reduction in force of employees who are eligible for entry on the reemployment priority list under subpart B of part 330 of this chapter, provided the person is reemployed in Federal service during the period of his or her reemployment priority; and
(F) Credit is given for up to 30 calendar days for time off the rolls that follow involuntary separation without personal cause of employees who are eligible for a noncompetitive appointment based on an interchange agreement with another merit system under §6.7 of this chapter, provided the person is employed in the competitive service under the agreement during the period of his or her eligibility.
(iii) Restoration based on unwarranted or improper actions. (A) Based on a finding made before March 30, 1966, that a furlough, suspension, or separation was unwarranted or improper, an employee restored to duty receives full calendar time credit for the period of furlough, suspension, or separation if he or she was eligible to receive retroactive pay under 5 U.S.C. 5591–93 (formerly Pub. L. 80–623) or 5 U.S.C. 5594 (formerly Pub. L. 81–733).
(B) Based on a finding made on or after March 30, 1966, that a furlough, suspension, or separation was unwarranted or improper, an employee restored to duty receives full calendar time credit for the period of furlough, suspension, or separation for which he or she is eligible to receive back pay. If the employee is restored to duty at a date later than the original adverse action, credit for intervening periods of nonpay status or breaks in service is given in accordance with other provisions of this subsection. If the employee had been properly separated from the rolls of the agency before a finding was made that the adverse action was unwarranted or improper, the correction and additional service credit given the employee may not extend beyond the date of the proper separation.
(iv) Intervening service. Certain types of service that ordinarily are not creditable are counted when they intervene between two periods of creditable service without a single break in service in excess of 30 calendar days, excepted as provided in subparagraph (H) of his paragraph. Under these conditions, credit is given for periods of service:
(A) In the excepted service of the Federal executive branch, including employment in nonappropriated fund positions in or under any Federal agency;
(B) Under temporary, term, or other nonpermanent employment in the Federal competitive service;
(C) In the Senior Executive Service;
(D) In the Federal legislative branch;
(E) In the Federal judicial branch;
(F) In the armed forces;
(G) In the District of Columbia Government through December 31, 1979. For an employee on the District rolls on December 31, 1979, who converted on January 1, 1980, to the District independent personnel system, credit also is given for service between January 1, 1980, and September 25, 1980. Otherwise, service in the District of Columbia Government on or after January 1, 1980, is not creditable as intervening service; and
(H) Performed overseas by family members, as defined by §315.608 of this chapter. Such service is creditable toward career tenure if it intervenes between two periods of creditable service without a single break in excess of 180 days.
(c) Exceptions from service requirement. The service requirement for career tenure does not apply to:
(1) An appointment to a position required by law to be filled on a permanent basis, or a conversion under this part while the employee is serving in such a position;
(2) An appointment from a register of a person who once completed the service requirement for career tenure;
(3) An appointment under §315.601 of a former Canal Zone Merit System employee who completed the service requirement for career tenure under that system; or
(4) The reinstatement of a person who once completed the service requirement for career tenure.
[33 FR 12418, Sept. 4, 1968, as amended at 43 FR 34428, Aug. 4, 1978; 59 FR 68104, Dec. 30, 1994; 60 FR 53504, Oct. 16, 1995; 62 FR 63630, Dec. 2, 1997; 63 FR 57046, Oct. 26, 1998; 65 FR 78078, Dec. 14, 2000; 70 FR 28779, May 19, 2005; 70 FR 44221, Aug. 2, 2005]
§ 315.202 Conversion from career-conditional to career tenure.
topA career-conditional employee becomes a career employee automatically on completion of the service requirement for career tenure.
Subpart C—Career or Career-Conditional Employment From Registers
top§ 315.301 Tenure on appointment from register.
top(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, an eligible appointed from a register for other than temporary or term employment becomes a career-conditional employee.
(b) An eligible appointed from a register for other than temporary or term employment becomes a career employee when he is excepted from the service requirement for career tenure by §315.201(c).
§ 315.302 Acquisition of competitive status.
topAn employee appointed as provided in §315.301 acquires a competitive status automatically on completion of probation.
Subpart D—Career or Career-Conditional Employment by Reinstatement
top§ 315.401 Reinstatement.
top(a) Agency authority. Subject to part 335 of this chapter and paragraph (b) of this section, an agency may appoint by reinstatement to a competitive service position a person who previously was employed under career or career-conditional appointment (or equivalent).
(b) Time limit. There is no time limit on the reinstatement eligibility of a preference eligible or a person who completed the service requirement for career tenure. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, an agency may reinstate a nonpreference eligible who has not completed the service requirement for career tenure only within 3 years following the date of separation. This time limit begins to run from the date of separation from the last position in which the person served under a career appointment, career-conditioned appointment, indefinite appointment in lieu of reinstatement, or an appointment under which he or she acquired competitive status.
(c) Extension of time limit. Intervening service of the following types extends the 3-year limit on reinstatement of eligibility of a nonpreference eligible who has not completed the service requirement for career tenure:
(1) Employment in Federal competitive service positions under temporary, term, indefinite, or other nonpermanent appointment.
(2) Employment in Federal excepted, nonappropriated fund, or Senior Executive Service positions in the executive branch;
(3) Employment in the Federal judicial branch or in the executive or judicial branches of the insular possessions of the United States;
(4) Employment in Federal legislative branch;
(5) Employment in an international governmental organization or a territorial, State, county, municipal, or foreign government in a position in which the agency determines that the proposed appointee acquired valuable training and experience for the position to be filled;
(6) A substantially full-time training course in any educational institution of recognized standing when the agency finds that the proposed appointee acquired valuable training or experience for the position to be filled;
(7) Compulsory service on work of national importance under civilian direction as required by the Military Selective Service Act;
(8) Active military duty terminated under honorable conditions;
(9) Service with the District of Columbia Government prior to January 1, 1980. In addition, for an employee on the District Government rolls on December 31, 1979, who was converted on January 1, 1980, to the District of Columbia merit personnel system, continuous District Government service after that date also extends the 3-year period;
(10) Periods of nonemployement during which a person is eligible for injury compensation under the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs;
(11) Periods of nonemployment during which a person receives disability retirement under the Civil Service or Federal Employees Retirement System;
(12) Employment by a nonfederal organization when the person's function was transferred to the nonfederal organization on a contract basis or by law or executive order;
(13) Volunteer service and training required prior to actual enrollment as a volunteer with Peace Corps, VISTA, and other programs of the Corporation for National and Community Service if it begins within the period the person is eligible for reinstatement; and
(14) Periods of overseas residence during which a spouse or unmarried child, under 21 years of age, of a member of the Armed Forces or of a Federal civilian employee is accompanying that individual on official assignment to an overseas post of duty. Overseas posts of duty are duty locations outside the 50 States of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[33 FR 12418, Sept. 4, 1968, as amended at 59 FR 68107, Dec. 30, 1994; 60 FR 53504, Oct. 16, 1995]
§ 315.402 Tenure on reinstatement.
top(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a person who is reinstated becomes a career-conditional employee.
(b) A person who is reinstated becomes a career employee when he has completed the service requirement for career tenure or is excepted from it by §315.201(c).
§ 315.403 Acquisition of competitive status.
topA person who was serving probation when he was separated and who is reinstated under §315.401 acquires a competitive status automatically on completion of probation.
Subpart E—Career or Career-Conditional Employment by Transfer
top§ 315.501 Transfer.
topSubject to part 335 of this chapter, an agency may appoint by transfer to a competitive service position, without a break in service of a single workday, a current career or career-conditional employee of another agency.
[60 FR 53504, Oct. 16, 1995]
§ 315.502 Tenure on transfer.
top(a) General rule. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a career employee who transfers remains a career employee and a career-conditional employee who transfers remains a career-conditional employee.
(b) Exceptions. (1) A career-conditional employee who transfers to a position required by law to be filled on a permanent basis becomes a career employee.
(2) A career employee who transfers from a position required by law to be filled on a permanent basis becomes a career-conditional employee unless he or she has completed the service requirement for career tenure.
[60 FR 53504, Oct. 16, 1995]
§ 315.503 Acquisition of competitive status.
topAn employee who was serving probation when he was appointed under §315.501 acquires a competitive status automatically on completion of probation.
Subpart F—Career or Career-Conditional Appointment Under Special Authorities
top§ 315.601 Appointment of former employees of the Canal Zone Merit System or Panama Canal Employment System.
top(a) Agency authority. This section may be used by an agency to appoint noncompetitively, for other than temporary or term employment, a United States citizen separated from a career or career-conditional appointment under the Canal Zone Merit System, which was in effect before March 31, 1982, or under the Panama Canal Employment System, which became effective on March 31, 1982. (Appointments of such persons for temporary or term employment are to be made under applicable provisions of part 316 of this chapter.)
(b) Service requirement. An agency may appoint such a former employee under this section only when, immediately prior to separation from a qualifying appointment, the employee served continuously for at least one year under a nontemporary appointment in the Canal Zone Merit System, the Panama Canal Employment System, or a combination of the two systems.
(c) Time limits. (1) There is no time limit on the appointment under this section of an employee who:
(i) Is a preference eligible; or
(ii) Has completed at least 3 years of service, which did not include any break in service longer than 30 days, under one or more career-conditional or career appointments in the Canal Zone Merit System and/or the Panama Canal Employment System.
(2) An agency may appoint under this section an employee who does not meet the conditions in (c)(1) of this section provided no more than 3 years have elapsed since:
(i) separation from a qualifying Canal Zone Merit System or Panama Canal Employment System appointment; or
(ii) separation from service in Panama in a position excluded from the Canal Zone Merit System or Panama Canal Employment System, when such service immediately followed service under a qualifying appointment in one of those systems.
(d) Tenure on appointment. On appointment under paragraph (a) of this section: (1) A former career employee of the Canal Zone Merit System or Panama Canal Employment System becomes a career employee.
(2) A former Canal Zone Merit System and/or Panama Canal Employment System employee whose service from the date of career-conditional appointment in the Canal Zone Merit System or Panama Canal Employment System through the date of noncompetitive appointment under this section, inclusive, does not include any break in service of more than 30 days and totals at least 3 years becomes a career employee.
(3) All other former Canal Zone Merit System and Panama Canal Employment System employees become career-conditional employees.
(e) Acquisition of competitive status. A person appointed under paragraph (a) of this section automatically acquires a competitive status:
(1) On appointment, if he or she has satisfactorily completed a 1-year probationary period under the Canal Zone Merit System and/or the Panama Canal Employment System.
(2) On satisfactory completion of probation in accordance with §315.80 (a)(3) if he or she had not completed a 1-year probationary period under the Canal Zone Merit System or Panama Canal Employment System.
[48 FR 13951, Apr. 1, 1983]
§ 315.602 Appointment based on service in the Office of the President or Vice-President or on the White House Staff.
top(a) Agency authority. An agency may appoint noncompetitively a person who has served at least 2 years in the immediate Office of the President or Vice-President or on the White House Staff, provided that the appointment is effected without a break in service of 1 full workday.
(b) Tenure on appointment. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, a person appointed under paragraph (a) of this section becomes a career-conditional employee.
(2) A person appointed under paragraph (a) of this section becomes a career employee when he or she has completed the service requirement for career tenure or is excepted from it by §315.201(c).
(c) Acquisition of competitive status. A person appointed under paragraph (a) of this section acquires a competitive status automatically on appointment.
[44 FR 54692, Sept. 21, 1979]
§ 315.603 Appointment based on former incumbency of a position brought into the competitive service.
top(a) Agency authority—(1) Employee in military service. An agency may appoint a former incumbent of a permanent excepted position who was serving under an appointment not limited to 1 year or less, or of a position in public or private enterprise when the position was brought into the competitive service on a continuing basis and who left his position after June 30, 1950, to perform active military service when:
(i) The position was brought into the competitive service before or during his military service or during the period in which he had restoration rights thereto, and he left the position to enter military service before the end of the time limits set forth in §315.701(c);
(ii) He has been released from military service under honorable conditions;
(iii) The agency submits a recommendation for his appointment to OPM within 6 months after release from military service under honorable conditions or after hospitalization continuing after release for not more than 1 year; and
(iv) He performed 6 months of satisfactory service immediately before the date his position was brought into the competitive service in a position or positions brought into the competitive service, or in the civilian executive branch of the Government, unless OPM has excepted his particular type of case from this requirement.
(2) Employee separated. An agency may appoint a former incumbent of a permanent excepted position under an appointment not limited to 1 year or less or of a position in public or private enterprise when the position was brought into the competitive service on a continuing basis, and who was separated thereafter, when:
(i) He is recommended for appointment within the time limits set forth in §315.701(c); and
(ii) He performed 6 months of satisfactory service immediately before the date his position, was brought into the competitive service, in a position or positions brought into the competitive service or in the civilian executive branch of the Government, unless OPM has excepted his particular type of case from this requirement.
(3) Employee recovered from compensable injury. An agency may appoint a former incumbent of a permanent excepted position who was serving under an appointment not limited to 1 year or less, when the position has been brought into the competitive service and when:
(i) The employee is entitled to restoration based on recovery from compensable injury in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 8151 and part 353;
(ii) The employee's position was brought into the competitive service either before the employee's separation for compensable injury or during his or her period of statutory restoration rights following such injury, and the employee's separation for compensable injury occurred before the end of the time limits set forth in §315.701(c);
(iii) The agency initiates the appointment within 6 months after cessation of compensation; and
(iv) The employee performed 6 months of statisfactory service immediately before the date his or her position was brought into the competitive service in the civilian executive branch of the Government, unless OPM has excepted his or her particular type of case from this requirement.
(b) Review of disapproved recommendations. Agencies shall establish procedures for reviewing disapprovals of recommendations for appointment under this section when such review is requested within 6 months after the date of disapproval.
(c) Tenure on appointment. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, a person appointed under paragraph (a) of this section becomes a career-conditional employee.
(2) A person appointed under paragraph (a) of this section becomes a career employee when he has completed the service requirement for career tenure or is excepted from it by §315.201(c).
(d) Acquisition of competitive status. (1) A person appointed under paragraph (a)(1) of this section acquires a competitive status automatically on appointment.
(2) A person appointed under paragraph (a)(2) or (a)(3) of this section acquires a competitive status automatically on completion of probation.
[33 FR 12418, Sept. 4 1968, as amended at 43 FR 34428, Aug. 4, 1978; 54 FR 37092, Sept. 7, 1989; 66 FR 66710, Dec. 27, 2001]
§ 315.604 Employment of disabled veterans who have completed a training course under Chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code.
top(a) When a disabled veteran satisfactorily completes an approved course of training prescribed by the Veterans Administration under chapter 31, title 38, United States Code, any agency may appoint the veteran noncompetitively to the position of class of positions for which trained.
(b) Conversion. An agency may convert to career or career-conditional employment a person appointed under paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) Disqualifications. Any law, Executive order, or civil service rule or regulation which would disqualify an applicant for appointment also disqualifies him or her for conversion of his or her employment to career or career-conditional employment under this section.
(d) Tenure on approval of recommendation. When an agency converts the employee under paragraph (b) of this section, the employee becomes:
(1) A career-conditional employee, except as provided in paragraph (d)(2) of this section; and
(2) A career employee when he or she has completed the service requirement for career tenure or is excepted from it by §315.201(c).
(e) Acquisition of competitive status. A person whose employment is converted to career or career-conditional employment under this section acquires a competitive status automatically on conversion.
[44 FR 54692, Sept. 21, 1979, as amended at 44 FR 55132, Sept. 25, 1979]
§ 315.605 Appointment of former ACTION volunteers.
top(a) Agency authority. An agency in the executive branch may appoint noncompetitively, for other than temporary employment, a person whom the Director of ACTION certifies as having served satisfactorily as a volunteer or volunteer leader under the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2051 et seq.), or as a VISTA volunteer under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2991 et seq.) or the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (Pub. L. 93–113), or as a full-time community volunteer (including criminal justice volunteer, volunteer in justice, and VET REACH volunteer) under part C of title I of Pub. L. 93–113. To be qualifying under this section VISTA and community volunteer service must total at least 1 year. In addition, a community volunteer must have served prior to October 1, 1976.
(b) Time limit. An agency in the executive branch may make an appointment under this section only within 1 year after the person completes the qualifying service. (For Community volunteers who have completed their service before March 10, 1978, the 1-year period begins on March 10, 1978.) However, an agency may extend the period for 2 more years to a total of 3 years if the person, after the qualifying service, is:
(1) In the military service;
(2) Studying at a recognized institution of higher learning; or
(3) In another activity which, in the agency's view, warrants extension.
(c) Conditions. Any law, Executive order, or regulation that disqualifies an applicant for appointment also disqualifies an applicant for appointment under this section.
(d) Tenure on appointment. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (d)(2) of this section, a person appointed under paragraph (a) of this section becomes a career-conditional employee.
(2) A person appointed under paragraph (a) or this section becomes a career employee if excepted from the service requirement for career tenure by §315.201(c).
(e) Acquisition of competitive status. A person appointed under paragraph (a) of this section acquires a competitive status automatically on completion of probation.
[39 FR 961, Jan. 4, 1974, as amended at 43 FR 20954, May 16, 1978; 43 FR 34428, Aug. 4, 1978]
§ 315.606 Noncompetitive appointment of certain present and former Foreign Service officers and employees.
topSubject to the conditions prescribed by OPM, an agency may appoint noncompetitively a present or former career officer or employee of the Foreign Service who was appointed under authority of the Foreign Service Act of 1946, as amended (22 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), or legislation that supplements or replaces that Act, if:
(a) He qualifies under the requirements set forth in Executive Order 11219, and
(b) OPM has concurred in his present or former agency's plan, and substantive changes thereto, for noncompetitive entry of civil service employees into the Foreign Service positions of that agency.
[33 FR 12418, Sept. 4 1968, as amended at 66 FR 66710, Dec. 27, 2001]
§ 315.607 Noncompetitive appointment of present and former Peace Corps personnel.
top(a) An agency in the executive branch may appoint noncompetitively, for other than temporary appointment, an individual:
(1) Who has completed no less than 36 months of continuous service without a break in service of 3 days or more under section 7(a) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2506) which pertains to the appointment of Peace Corps staff (not volunteers);
(2) Whom the Director of the Peace Corps certifies as having satisfactorily served under such an appointment; and
(3) Who meets OPM qualification standards—including any written test requirements—for the position in question.
(4) Who is not a Peace Corps volunteer as this paragraph does not apply to Peace Corps volunteers.
(b) Time limitations. (1) An individual's eligibility under this section extends through September 30, 1982, or until 3 years after separation from qualifying service with the Peace Corps, whichever is later.
(2) An agency may not extend this period.
(c) Conditions. Any law, Executive order, or regulation which disqualifies an applicant for appointment in the competitive service also disqualifies an applicant for appointment under this section.
(d) Acquisition of competitive status. A person appointed under paragraph (a) of this section acquires competitive status automatically upon completion of probation.
(e) Tenure on appointment. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (e)(2) of this section, a person appointed under paragraph (a) of this section becomes a career-conditional employee.
(2) A person appointed under paragraph (a) of this section becomes a career employee if excepted from the service requirement for career tenure by §315.201(c).
[45 FR 43365, June 27, 1980, as amended at 46 FR 35079, July 7, 1981; 54 FR 37092, Sept. 7, 1989]
§ 315.608 Noncompetitive appointment of certain former overseas employees.
top(a) Authority. An executive branch agency may noncompetitively appoint, to a competitive service position within the United States (including Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands), an individual who has completed 52 weeks of creditable overseas service as defined in paragraph (b) of this section and is appointed within the time limits in paragraph (d) of this section. Any law, Executive order, or regulation that disqualifies an applicant for appointment in the competitive service, such as the citizenship requirement, also disqualifies the applicant for appointment under this section. An individual may be appointed to any occupation and grade level for which qualified. An agency may waive any requirement for a written test after determining that the duties and responsibilities of the applicant's overseas position were similar enough to make the written test unnecessary.
(1) Tenure. A person appointed under this section becomes a career-conditional employee unless he or she has already satisfied the requirements for career tenure or is exempt from the service requirement in 5 CFR 315.201.
(2) Competitive status. A person appointed under this section acquires competitive status automatically upon completion of probation.
(b) Creditable overseas service. For purposes of this section only, creditable service is service in an appropriated fund position(s) performed by a family member under a local hire appointment(s) overseas during the time the family member was accompanying a sponsor officially assigned to an overseas area and for which the family member received a fully successful or better (or equivalent) performance rating. Creditable overseas service is computed in accordance with the procedures in the OPM Guide to Processing Personnel Actions. Creditable service may have been under more than one appointment and need not be continuous. Leave without pay taken during the time an individual is in the overseas area is credited on the same basis as time worked.
(c) Service waiver. Up to 26 weeks of the 52-week service requirement is waived when the head of an agency (or designee) that employed the family member overseas certifies that the family member's expected 52 weeks of employment were cut short because of a nonpersonal situation that necessitated the relocation of the family member from the overseas area. The certification must include the number of weeks waived. For this purpose, a nonpersonal situation includes disaster, conflict, terrorism or the threat of terrorism, and those situations when a family member is forced to return to the United States because of military deployment, drawdowns, or other management-initiated actions. A nonpersonal situation does not include circumstances that specifically relate to a particular individual, for example, ill health or personal interest in relocating.
(d) Time limit on eligibility. An individual is eligible for appointment(s) under this authority for a period of 3 years following the date of returning from overseas to the United States to resume residence or until March 31, 1998, whichever date is later. An agency may extend an individual's appointment eligibility beyond 3 years for periods equivalent to—
(1) The time the individual was accompanying a sponsor on official assignment to an area of the United States with no significant opportunities for Federal employment; or
(2) The time an individual was incapacitated for employment.
(e) Definitions. In this section terms have the following meaning:
(1) Family member. An unmarried child under age 23 or a spouse. An individual must have been a family member at the time he or she met the overseas service requirement and other conditions but does not need to be a family member at the time of noncompetitive appointment in the United States.
(2) Sponsor. A Federal civilian employee, a Federal nonappropriated fund employee, or a member of a uniformed service who is officially assigned to an overseas area.
(i) Officially assigned. Under active orders issued by the United States Government.
(ii) Federal civilian employee. An employee of the executive, judicial, or legislative branch of the United States Government who serves in an appropriated fund position.
(iii) Nonappropriated fund employee. An employee paid from nonappropriated funds of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Navy Ship's Stores Ashore, Navy Exchanges, Marine Corps Exchanges, Coast Guard Exchanges, or other instrumentalities of the United States.
(iv) Member of a uniformed service. Personnel of the U.S. Armed Forces (including the Coast Guard), the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, and the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(3) Accompanying. The family member resided in the overseas area while the sponsor was officially assigned to an overseas post of duty. The family member need not have physically resided with the sponsor at all times or have traveled with the sponsor to or from the overseas area.
(4) Local hire appointment. An appointment that is not actually or potentially permanent and that is made from among individuals residing in the overseas area. In this section only, a local hire appointment includes nonpermanent employment under:
(i) Overseas limited appointment under 5 CFR 301.203(b) or (c);
(ii) Expected appointment under Schedule A 213.3106(b)(1), 213.3106(b)(6), or 213.3106(d)(1)) when the duration of the appointment is tied to the sponsor's rotation date or when the appointment is made on a not-to-exceed (NTE) basis;
(iii) An “American family member” or “part-time intermittent temporary (PIT)” appointment in U.S. diplomatic establishments;
(iv) 50 U.S.C. 403j; Public Law 86–36 (50 U.S.C. 402, note); the Berlin Tariff Agreement; or as a local national employee paid from appropriated funds; or
(v) Any other nonpermanent appointment in the competitive or excepted service approved by OPM.
(5) Overseas. A location outside the 50 States of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[61 FR 9322, Mar. 8, 1996]
§ 315.609 Appointment based on service in United States positions of the Panama Canal Commission.
top(a) Agency authority. An agency may appoint noncompetitively, for other than temporary or term employment, a United States citizen who has served under nontemporary appointment in a continuing career position of the Panama Canal Commission located in the United States.
(b) Service requirement. An agency may appoint such an individual under this section only when, immediately prior to separation from a qualifying appointment with the Panama Canal Commission in the United States, the individual served continuously for at least 1 year under such qualifying appointment or under a combination of such appointment and nontemporary appointment in the Canal Zone Merit System or the Panama Canal Employment System.
(c) Time limits. (1) There is no time limit on the appointment under this section of an employee who:
(i) Is a preference eligible; or
(ii) Has completed at least 3 years of service, which did not include any break in service longer than 30 days, under one or more nontemporary appointments in Panama Canal Commission positions located in the United States or in positions under the Canal Zone Merit System and/or the Panama Canal Employment System.
(2) An agency may appoint under this section an employee who does not meet the conditions in (c)(1) of this section only if no more than 3 years have elapsed since the individual's separation from a qualifying appointment.
(d) Tenure on appointment. (1) On appointment under paragraph (a) of this section, an individual whose qualifying service does not include any break in service of more than 30 days and totals at least 3 years becomes a career employee.
(2) All other individuals appointed under this section become career-conditional employees.
(e) Acquisition of competitive status. A person appointed under paragraph (a) of this section automatically acquires a competitive status:
(1) On appointment, if he or she has satisfactorily completed a 1-year trial period, which did not include more than 22 workdays in nonpay status, during qualifying employment with the Panama Canal Commission.
(2) On satisfactory completion of probation in accordance with §315.801(a)(3) if he or she had not completed such a 1-year trial period.
[48 FR 29667, June 28, 1983]
§ 315.610 Noncompetitive appointment of certain National Guard technicians.
top(a) An agency may appoint noncompetitively a National Guard technician who—
(1) Was involuntarily separated (other than by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency);
(2) Has served at least 3 years as a technician;
(3) Meets the qualifications requirements of the job: and
(4) Is appointed within 1 year after separating from service as a Guard Technician.
(b) The noncompetitive appointing authority also applies to National Guard technicians separated before October 29, 1986, provided they are appointed within a year of the date of separation.
[52 FR 5431, Feb. 23, 1987]
§ 315.611 Appointment of certain veterans who have competed under agency merit promotion announcements.
top(a) Agency authority. An agency may appoint a preference eligible or a veteran who has substantially completed at least 3 years of continuous active military service provided
(1) The veteran was selected from among the best qualified following competition under a merit promotion announcement open to candidates outside the agency's workforce; and
(2) The veteran's most recent separation from the military was under honorable conditions.
(b) Definitions. “Agency” in this context means an executive agency as defined in 5 U.S.C. 105. The agency determines in individual cases whether a candidate was released “shortly before” completing the required 3 years and should therefore be eligible for appointment.
[65 FR 14432, Mar. 17, 2000]
Subpart G—Conversion to Career or Career-Conditional Employment From Other Types of Employment
top§ 315.701 Incumbents of positions brought into the competitive service.
top(a) Employee coverage. This section applies to an employee retained under §§316.701 and 316.702 of this chapter who:
(1) Was serving in a permanent excepted position under an appointment not limited to 1 year or less, or in a public or private enterprise in a position which the agency determines to be a continuing one, at the time his position was brought into the competitive service; and
(2) Performed 6 months of satisfactory service immediately before the date his position was brought into the competitive service, in a position or positions brought into the competitive service, or in the civilian executive branch of the Government, unless OPM has excepted his particular type of case from this requirement.
(b) Eligibility for conversion. Within the time limits set forth in paragraph (c) of this section, the employment of an employee covered by paragraph (a) of this section may be converted to career or career-conditional employment.
(c) Time limits. Conversion may be initiated under paragraph (b) of this section only within 6 months after the position is brought into the competitive service, except that:
(1) When it is necessary for OPM to determine that §316.701 or §316.702 applies to a group of positions, the recommendation shall be submitted within 6 months after OPM advises the agency of its determination; and
(2) When an employee is absent on an assignment to an organization or agency from which reemployment rights are provided under part 352 of this chapter or by statute, the conversion shall be initiated within 6 months after the employee's return from such assignment, when reemployment occurs within the time limits prescribed in the applicable statute or regulation;
(3) When an employee is absent on approved leave without pay, the conversion shall be initiated within 6 months of the employee's return to duty, when such return occurs within time limits authorized by the agency; and
(4) When an employee who is serving on military duty or who is separated and rehired during the 6-month period after the position is brought into the competitive service is eligible for conversion under the provisions of §315.603, the conversion shall be initiated within the time limits prescribed by that section.
(d) Tenure on approval of conversion. Upon conversion under paragraph (b) of this section, the employee becomes:
(1) A career-conditional employee, except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section;
(2) A career employee when he has completed the service requirement for career tenure or is excepted from it by §315.201(c).
(e) Acquisition of competitive status. A person whose employment is converted to career or career-conditional employment under this section acquires a competitive status automatically on completion of probation.
(f) Review of disapproved conversions. Agencies shall establish procedures for reviewing disapprovals of conversions under this section when such review is requested within 6 months after the date of the disapproval.
[33 FR 12418, Sept. 4, 1968, as amended at 43 FR 34428, Aug. 4, 1978; 66 FR 66710, Dec. 27, 2001]
§ 315.702 Employees serving without competitive examination in rare cases.
top(a) Recommendation by agency. An agency may recommend to OPM that the employment of an employee who has completed at least 1 year of satisfactory service under §316.601 be converted to career or career-conditional employment.
(b) Tenure on approval of recommendation. When OPM approves the agency's recommendation submitted under paragraph (a) of this section, the employee becomes:
(1) A career-conditional employee, except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section;
(2) A career employee when he has completed the service requirement for career tenure or is excepted from it by §315.201(c).
(c) Acquisition of competitive status. A person whose employment is converted to career or career-conditional employment under this section acquires a competitive status automatically on conversion.
§ 315.703 Employees formerly reached on a register.
top(a) Employee coverage. An employee who was serving in a position when his or her name was within reach for career or career-conditional appointment on a register appropriate for that position may be converted to career or career-conditional employment when:
(1) The employee's name was included on an appropriate certificate issued while the employee was serving in the position, or reconstruction of the appropriate register verifies that the employee would have been within reach;
(2) The register was being used for career and career-conditional appointments when he or she was reached;
(3) He or she has been continuously employed since being reached;
(4) Conversion is initiated either before the expiration of the register or during a period of continuous service since the employee was reached; and
(5) When the employee is a nonpreference eligible who was first reached after February 1, 1955, the Office, or the agency, in accordance with an agreement with the Office, determines that satisfactory reasons existed for passing over any preference eligible who preceded the employee on the register when he or she was reached and who is still within reach and available for appointment.
(b) Tenure on conversion. An employee whose appointment is converted under paragraph (a) of this section becomes:
(1) A career-conditional employee except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section;
(2) A career employee when he or she has completed the service requirement for career tenure or is excepted from it by §315.201(c).
(c) Acquisition of competitive status. An employee whose employment is converted to career or career-conditional employment under this section acquires a competitive status automatically on completion of probation.
[44 FR 55132, Sept. 25, 1979]
§ 315.704 Conversion to career employment from indefinite or temporary employment.
top(a) General. Employees serving after February 7, 1968, in competitive positions under indefinite appointments or temporary appointments pending establishment of a register or as status quo employees acquire competitive status and are entitled to have their employment converted to career employment when such employees:
(1) Complete a total of at least 3 years of service in such a position under one or more such appointments without a break in service of more than 30 calendar days or without an interruption by nonqualifying service of more than 30 calendar days;
(2) Have rendered satisfactory service for the 12 months immediately preceding the conversion; and
(3) Meet applicable qualification requirements for the positions and are otherwise eligible for career employment. This paragraph does not apply to employees serving under an overseas limited appointment or in positions above GS–15 or equivalent.
(b) Creditable service. (1) In computing creditable service under paragraph (a) of this section for an employee who left a competitive position in which he or she was serving under a qualifying appointment covered in paragraph (a) of this section to enter the armed forces and who is reemployed in such a position within 120 calendar days after separation under honorable conditions, the period from the date he or she left the position to the date of reemployment is creditable.
(2) The Office shall publish in its operating manuals the conditions under which full-time, part-time, and intermittent employment is creditable in meeting the service requirement under paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) Termination after failure to meet conversion requirements. An employing agency shall terminate employees covered by paragraph (a) of this section not later than 90 days after they complete the 3-year service requirement referred to in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, if they have not met the requirements and conditions of paragraphs (a) (2) and (3) of this section before the end of the 90-day period. For an employee who is reemployed after intervening service in the armed forces, the 90-day period begins on the date of reemployment if the employee's combined civilian and military service satisfies the 3-year service requirement on that date.
(d) Administrative error. When an employee has met the service requirement under paragraph (a)(1) of this section but, because of administrative error or oversight, has not been converted to career employment within the time limits prescribed in this section, the employing agency may effect the employee's conversion as of the date on which he or she met the service requirement, even though the time limit for such conversion has expired.
[44 FR 54692, Sept. 21, 1979. Redesignated at 44 FR 63080, Nov. 2, 1979, as amended at 66 FR 66710, Dec. 27, 2001]
§ 315.705 Employees serving under transitional or veterans recruitment appointments.
top(a) Agency action. (1) An agency shall convert the employment of an employee who has served continuously under a transitional appointment for at least 1 year to career or career-conditional employment within 90 calendar days after he completes the program of education or training approved for him.
(2) Within 30 calendar days after an employee completes (i) 2 years of substantially continuous service under a veterans recruitment appointment or under a combination of transitional and veterans recruitment appointments and (ii) his training or educational programs, the employing agency shall convert his appointment to career or career-conditional employment.
(b) Tenure. Upon conversion of his employment, the employee becomes:
(1) A career-conditional employee, except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section;
(2) A career employee if he has completed the service requirement for career tenure or is excepted from it by §315.201(c).
(c) Acquisition of competitive status. An employee whose employment is converted to career or career-conditional employment under this section, acquires a competitive status automatically on conversion.
[35 FR 5661, Apr. 8, 1970. Redesignated at 44 FR 63080, Nov. 2, 1979]
§ 315.706 Certain nonpermanent employees of the Department of Energy.
top(a) General. Employees transferred to the Department of Energy under Public Law 95–91, who are serving in nonpermanent appointments made under competitive procedures of the former Atomic Energy Commission or Energy Research and Development Administration and are determined by the Department to be performing continuing functions, may be converted to career or career-conditional by OPM upon recommendation by the Department.
(b) Tenure upon conversion. Employees converted under this section become career-conditional employees unless they have completed the service requirement for career tenure.
(c) Acquisition of competitive status. A person whose employment is converted to career or career-conditional employment under this section acquires competitive status automatically.
[43 FR 14002, Apr. 4, 1978. Redesignated at 44 FR 63080, Nov. 2, 1979]
§ 315.707 Disabled veterans.
top(a) Eligibility. (1) Subject to requirements concerning qualifications and probationary period published by the Office, an agency may convert the employment of a disabled veteran who meets the conditions below to career or career-conditional employment from a time-limited appointment of more than 60 days.
(2) To be eligible for conversion under this paragraph, the veteran must:
(i) Have been retired from active military service with a disability rating of 30 percent or more;
(ii) Have been rated by the Veterans Administration within the preceding year as having a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more; or
(iii) Have had such a rating by the Veterans Administration at the time of a qualifying temporary appointment effected within the year immediately preceding the conversion.
(b) Tenure on conversion. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, a person converted under paragraph (a) of this section becomes a career-conditional employee.
(2) A person appointed under paragraph (a) of this section becomes a career employee if excepted from the service requirement for career tenure by §315.201(c).
(c) Acquisition of competitive status. A person converted under paragraph (a) of this section acquires a competitive status automatically on completion of probation.
[44 FR 44813, July 31, 1979. Redesignated at 44 FR 63080, Nov. 2, 1979; 66 FR 66710, Dec. 27, 2001]
§ 315.708 Conversion based on service as a Fellow or Senior Fellow in the Presidential Management Fellows Program.
top(a) Agency authority. (1) An agency, not excepted from the competitive service, must appoint a Fellow or Senior Fellow to a full-time, permanent position in the competitive service without further competition when the Fellow or Senior Fellow:
(i) Has satisfactorily completed the Program as outlined in part 362 of this chapter; and
(ii) Meets the citizenship requirement set forth in part 338 of this chapter.
(2) A Fellow or Senior Fellow who was initially appointed to a permanent position in an agency excepted from the competitive service upon completion of the Program may be appointed subsequently to a full-time permanent position in the competitive service without further competition subject to paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section.
(b) Tenure upon conversion. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, a Fellow or Senior Fellow appointed under paragraph (a) of this section becomes a career-conditional employee.
(2) A Fellow or Senior Fellow appointed under paragraph (a) of this section becomes a career employee when he/she has completed the service requirement for career tenure or is excepted from it under §315.201(c).
(c) Acquisition of Competitive Status. A Fellow or Senior Fellow appointed to a full-time, permanent position in the competitive service under this section does not serve a probationary period and acquires competitive status immediately upon appointment.
[70 FR 28779, May 19, 2005]
§ 315.709 Employees who are mentally retarded, severely physically handicapped, or have psychiatric disabilities serving under Schedule A appointments.
topLink to an amendment published at 71 FR 42245, July 26, 2006.
(a) Coverage. Employees appointed under §§213.3102(t), (u), and (gg) of this chapter may have their appointments converted to career or career-conditional appointments when they:
(1) Complete 2 or more years of satisfactory service, without a break of more than 30 days, under nontemporary Schedule A appointments.
(2) Are recommended for conversion by their supervisors;
(3) Meet all requirements and conditions governing career and career-conditional appointment except those requirements concerning competitive selection from a register and medical qualifications; and
(4) Are converted without a break in service of one workday.
(b) Tenure on conversion. An employee converted under paragraph (a) of this section becomes:
(1) A career-conditional employee, except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section;
(2) A career employee if he or she has completed 3 years of substantially continuous service in nontemporary appointments under §§213.3102(t), (u), or (gg) of this chapter, or has otherwise completed the service requirement for career tenure, or is excepted from it by §315.201(c).
(c) Acquisition of competitive status. A person whose employment is converted to career or career-conditional employment under this section acquires a competitive status automatically on conversion.
[44 FR 66574, Nov. 20, 1979; 44 FR 72569, Dec. 14, 1979, as amended at 65 FR 41868, July 7, 2000]
§ 315.710 Professional and administrative career employees serving under Schedule B appointments.
top(a) Coverage. This section covers employees serving in occupations that were covered by the Professional and Administrative Career Examination on August 30, 1982, and that were listed in the consent decree entered on November 19, 1981, by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in the civil action known as Luevano v. Devine and numbered as No. 79–271. Those occupations are designated in these regulations as professional and administrative career (PAC) occupations or positions. OPM will publish a listing of PAC occupations.
(b) Eligibility. An agency may, but is not required to, convert appointments of employees occupying PAC positions under nontemporary appointments effected under §213.3202(1) of this chapter to career or career-conditional appointments at the GS–9 level in any position in a PAC occupation when such employees—
(1) Complete at least 1 year of Schedule B service at the GS–7 level that meets the quality of experience requirement for the GS–9 position in which converted (less than full-time service is credited according to the relation it bears to the full-time workweek);
(2) Demonstrate performance that warrants conversion at GS–9 (a current performance rating of fully successful or better for the year immediately preceding conversion is necessary for this purpose);
(3) Meet all requirements and conditions governing career and career-conditional appointment except those requirements concerning competitive selection from a register;
(4) Are converted without a break in service of one workday or more; and
(5) Are converted as a result of a deliberate decision by management.
(c) Tenure on conversion. An employee converted under paragraph (a) of this section becomes—
(1) A career-conditional employee, except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section;
(2) A career employee if he or she has completed 3 years of substantially continuous service in nontemporary appointments under §213.3202(l) of this chapter, or has otherwise completed the service requirement for career tenure, or is excepted from it by §315.201(c).
(d) Acquisition of competitive status. A person whose employment is converted to career or career-conditional employment under this section acquires a competitive status automatically on conversion.
[52 FR 25194, July 6, 1987, as amended at 52 FR 43722, Nov. 15, 1987; 66 FR 66710, Dec. 27, 2001]
§ 315.711 Readers, interpreters, and personal assistants serving under Schedule A appointments.
top(a) Agency authority. An agency may convert noncompetitively to career or career-conditional employment, a reader, interpreter, or personal assistant:
(1) Who completed at least 1 year of satisfactory service in such a position under a non-temporary appointment under 5 CFR 213.3102(11); and
(2) Whose employment in such a position is no longer necessary for reasons beyond management control, e.g. resignation or reassignment of the employee being assisted.
(b) Tenure on appointment. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, a person appointed under paragraph (a) of this section becomes a career-conditional employee.
(2) A person appointed under paragraph (a) of this section becomes a career employee when he or she has completed the service requirement for career tenure or is excepted from it by §315.201(c).
(c) Acquisition of competitive status. A person appointed under paragraph (a) of this section acquires a competitive status automatically on appointment.
[55 FR 12327, Apr. 3, 1990]
§ 315.712 Conversion based on service as a Federal Career Intern.
top(a) Agency authority. An agency may convert noncompetitively to career or career-conditional employment, a career intern who:
(1) Has successfully completed a Federal Career Intern Program, under §213.3202(o) of this chapter, at the time of conversion; and
(2) Meets all citizenship, suitability, and qualification requirements.
(b) Tenure on conversion. An employee whose appointment is converted to career or career-conditional employment under paragraph (a) of this section becomes:
(1) A career-conditional employee except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section;
(2) A career employee when he or she has completed the service requirement for career tenure or is excepted from it by §315.201(c).
(c) Acquisition of competitive status. An employee whose employment is converted to career or career-conditional employment under this section acquires competitive status on conversion.
[70 FR 44221, Aug. 2, 2005]
§ 315.725 Disqualifications.
topAny law, executive order, or civil service rule or regulation which would disqualify an applicant for appointment shall also disqualify an employee for conversion of his employment to career or career-conditional employment under this subpart.
[33 FR 12418, Sept. 4, 1968. Redesignated at 44 FR 63080, Nov. 2, 1979]
Subpart H—Probation on Initial Appoinment to a Competitive Position
top§ 315.801 Probationary period; when required.
top(a) The first year of service of an employee who is given a career or career-conditional appointment under this part is a probationary period when the employee:
(1) Was appointed from a competitive list of eligibles established under subpart C of this part;
(2) Was reinstated under subpart D of this part unless during any period of service which affords a current basis for reinstatement, the employee completed a probationary period or served with competitive status under an appointment which did not require a probationary period.
(b) A person who is:
(1) Transferred under §315.501; or
(2) Promoted, demoted, or reassigned; before he completed probation is required to complete the probationary period in the new position.
(c) A person who is reinstated from the Reemployment Priority List to a position in the same agency and the same commuting area does not have to serve a new probationary period, but, if separated during probation, is required to complete the probationary period in the new position.
(d) Upon noncompetitive appointment to the competitive service under the Postal Reorganization Act (39 U.S.C. 101 et seq.), an employee of the Postal Career Service (including substitute and part-time flexible) who has not completed 1 year of Postal service, must serve the remainder of a 1-year probationary period in the new agency.
(e) A person who is appointed to the competitive service either by special appointing authority or by conversion under subparts F or G of this part serves a 1-year probationary period unless specifically exempt from probation by the authority itself.
[33 FR 12418, Sept. 4, 1968, as amended at 39 FR 962, Jan. 4, 1974; 45 FR 43365, June 27, 1980; 60 FR 54504, Oct. 16, 1995; 65 FR 14432, Mar. 17, 2000]
§ 315.802 Length of probationary period; crediting service.
top(a) The probationary period required by §315.801 is 1 year and may not be extended.
(b) Prior Federal civilian service (including nonappropriated fund service) counts toward completion of probation when the prior service:
(1) Is in the same agency, e.g., Department of the Army;
(2) Is in the same line of work (determined by the employee's actual duties and responsibilities); and
(3) Contains or is followed by no more than a single break in service that does not exceed 30 calendar days.
(c) Periods of absence while in a pay status count toward completion of probation. Absence in nonpay status while on the rolls (other than for compensable injury or military duty) is creditable up to a total of 22 workdays. Absence (whether on or off the rolls) due to compensable injury or military duty is creditable in full upon restoration to Federal service. Nonpay time in excess of 22 workdays extends the probationary period by an equal amount. An employee serving probation who leaves Federal service to become a volunteer with the Peace Corps or the Corporation for National and Community Service serves the remainder of the probationary period upon reinstatement provided the employee is reinstated within 90 days of termination of service as a volunteer or training for such service.
(d) The probationary period for part-time employees is computed on the basis of calendar time, in the same manner as for full-time employees. For intermittent employees, i.e., those who do not have regularly scheduled tours of duty, each day or part of a day in pay status counts as 1 day of credit toward the 260 days in a pay status required for completion of probation. (However, the probationary period cannot be completed in less than 1 year of calendar time.)
[60 FR 53504, Oct. 16, 1995]
§ 315.803 Agency action during probationary period (general).
topThe agency shall utilize the probationary period as fully as possible to determine the fitness of the employee and shall terminate his services during this period if he fails to demonstrate fully his qualifications for continued employment.
§ 315.804 Termination of probationers for unsatisfactory performance or conduct.
top(a) When an agency decides to terminate an employee serving a probationary or trial period because his work performance or conduct during this period fails to demonstrate his fitness or his qualifications for continued employment, it shall terminate his services by notifying him in writing as to why he is being separated and the effective date of the action. The information in the notice as to why the employee is being terminated shall, as a minimum, consist of the agency's conclusions as to the inadequacies of his performance or conduct.
(b) Probation ends when the employee completes his or her scheduled tour of duty on the day before the anniversary date of the employee's appointment. For example, when the last workday is a Friday and the anniversary date is the following Monday, the probationer must be separated before the end of the tour of duty on Friday since Friday would be the last day the employee actually has to demonstrate fitness for further employment.
[33 FR 12418, Sept. 4, 1988, as amended at 60 FR 53505, Oct. 16, 1995]
§ 315.805 Termination of probationers for conditions arising before appointment.
topWhen an agency proposes to terminate an employee serving a probationary or trial period for reasons based in whole or in part on conditions arising before his appointment, the employee is entitled to the following:
(a) Notice of proposed adverse action. The employee is entitled to an advance written notice stating the reasons, specifically and in detail, for the proposed action.
(b) Employee's answer. The employee is entitled to a reasonable time for filing a written answer to the notice of proposed adverse action and for furnishing affidavits in support of his answer. If the employee answers, the agency shall consider the answer in reaching its decision.
(c) Notice of adverse decision. The employee is entitled to be notified of the agency's decision at the earliest practicable date. The agency shall deliver the decision to the employee at or before the time the action will be made effective. The notice shall be in writing, inform the employee of the reasons for the action, inform the employee of his right of appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), and inform him of the time limit within which the appeal must be submitted as provided in §315.806(d).
§ 315.806 Appeal rights to the Merit Systems Protection Board.
top(a) Right of appeal. An employee may appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board in writing an agency's decision to terminate him under §315.804 or §315.805 only as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section. The Merit Systems Protection Board review is confined to the issues stated in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.
(b) On discrimination. An employee may appeal under this paragraph a termination not required by statute which he or she alleges was based on partisan political reasons or marital status.
(c) On improper procedure. A probationer whose termination is subject to §315.805 may appeal on the ground that his termination was not effected in accordance with the procedural requirements of that section.
(d) An employee may apeal to the Board under this section a termination which the employee alleges was based on discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; or age (provided that at the time of the alleged discriminatory action the employee was at least 40 years of age); or handicapping condition if the individual meets the definition of “handicapped person” as set forth in regulations of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission at 29 CFR 1613.702(a). An appeal alleging a discriminatory termination may be filed under this subsection only if such discrimination is raised in addition to one of the issues stated in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section.
[33 FR 12418, Sept. 4, 1968, as amended at 40 FR 15380, Apr. 7, 1975; 44 FR 48951, Aug. 21, 1979; 55 FR 29339, July 19, 1990]
Subpart I—Probation on Initial Appointment to a Supervisory or Managerial Position
topSource: 44 FR 44811, July 31, 1979, unless otherwise noted.
§ 315.901 Statutory requirement.
top
5 U.S.C. 3321 provides for “a period of probation . . . before initial appointment as a supervisor or manager becomes final.” It also says that a supervisor or manager “who does not satisfactorily complete the probationary period . . . shall be returned to a position of no lower grade and pay than the position from which the individual was transferred, assigned or promoted.” This subpart contains OPM regulations implementing those requirements of law.
§ 315.902 Definitions.
topIn this subpart supervisory position and managerial position have the meaning given them by the General Schedule Supervisory Guide.
[60 FR 53505, Oct. 16, 1995]
§ 315.903 Coverage.
topThis subpart applies to appointments and positions without time limitation in the competitive civil service. Agencies may, at their option, apply these provisions to time-limited appointments and positions. This subpart does not apply to appointments or positions in the Senior Executive Service.
§ 315.904 Basic requirement.
top(a) An employee is required to serve a probationary period prescribed by the agency upon initial appointment to a supervisory and/or managerial position.
(b) An employee is required to complete a single probationary period in a supervisory position and a single probationary period in a managerial position, regardless of the number of agencies, occupations, or positions in which the employee serves. However, an agency may by regulation provide for exceptions to the probationary period for managers who have satisfactorily completed a probationary period for supervisors when justified on the basis of performance and experience.
(c) Employees who, as of the date this requirement is effective, are serving or have served in Federal civilian supervisory or managerial positions without time limitation, or in time-limited supervisory or managerial positions under an official assignment exceeding 120 days, are exempt from its provisions, except that supervisors who are assigned to managerial positions may, according to agency regulations, be required to serve a probationary period for managers.
§ 315.905 Length of the probationary period.
topThe authority to determine the length of the probationary period is delegated to the head of each agency, provided that it be of reasonable fixed duration, appropriate to the position, and uniformly applied. An agency may establish different probationary periods for different occupations or a single one for all agency employees.
§ 315.906 Crediting service toward completion of the probationary period.
top(a) An employee who is reassigned, transferred, or promoted to another supervisory or managerial position while serving a probationary period under this subpart is subject to the probationary period prescribed for the new position. Service in the former position counts toward completion of the probationary period in the new position. If the former position was supervisory and the new position managerial, service counts in the manner prescribed by agency regulation.
(b) Service on detail, temporary promotion, or reassignment to another supervisory or managerial position while serving probation is creditable toward completion of probation. Service in a nonsupervisory or nonmanagerial position is not creditable.
(c) Absence in nonpay status while on the rolls (other than for compensable injury or military duty) is creditable up to a total of 22 workdays. Absence (whether on or off the rolls) due to compensable injury or military duty is creditable in full upon restoration to Federal service. Nonpay time in excess of 22 workdays extends the probationary period by an equal amount.
(d) Service during a probationary period from which an employee was separated or demoted for performance or conduct reasons does not count toward completion of probation required under a subsequent appointment. In other situations in which an employee does not complete probation, service is creditable as determined by agency policy.
(e) Temporary service in a supervisory or managerial position under temporary appointment, promotion, or reassignment prior to probation is creditable as determined by agency policy. Prior service under a detail may be credited only when a detail to a supervisory or managerial position is made permanent without a break in service.
[44 FR 44811, July 31, 1979, as amended at 60 FR 53505, Oct. 16, 1995]
§ 315.907 Failure to complete the probationary period.
top(a) Satisfactory completion of the prescribed probationary period is a prerequisite to continued service in the position. An employee who, for reasons of supervisory or managerial performance, does not satisfactorily complete the probationary period is entitled to be assigned, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, to a position in the agency of no lower grade and pay than the one the employee left to accept the supervisory or managerial position.
(b) A nonsupervisory or nonmanagerial employee who is demoted into a position in which probation under §315.904 is required and who, for reasons of supervisory or managerial performance, does not satisfactorily complete the probationary period is entitled to be assigned to a position at the same grade and pay as the position in which he or she was serving probation. The employee is eligible for repromotion in accordance with agency promotion policy.
(c) The agency must notify the employee in writing that he or she is being assigned in accordance with this section.
[49 FR 39287, Oct. 5, 1984, as amended at 60 FR 53505, Oct. 16, 1995]
§ 315.908 Appeals.
top(a) An employee who, in accordance with the provisions of this subpart, is assigned to a nonmanagerial or nonsupervisory position, has no appeal right.
(b) An employee who alleges that an agency action under this subpart was based on partisan political affiliation or marital status, may appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board.
§ 315.909 Relationship to other actions.
top(a) If an employee is required to concurrently serve both a probationary period under this subpart and a probationary period under subpart H of this part, the latter takes precedence and completion of the probationary period for competitive appointment and fulfills the requirements of this subpart.
(b) An action which demotes an employee to a lower grade than the one the employee left to accept the supervisory or managerial position, and an action against an employee for reasons other than supervisory or managerial performance, is governed by part 432 or part 752 procedures, whichever is applicable. If the employee believes an action under this subpart was based on improper discrimination or other prohibited practices under 5 U.S.C. 2302, he or she may appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, as appropriate.
Browse Previous | Browse Next
