Attachment F

THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

DEVELOPMENT OF QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

RestrictionS

Any mandatory academic degrees, course work, or positive education
requirements must comply with section 3308 of title 5, United States
Code.  

      This law stipulates that:

No minimum educational requirement may be prescribed for an examination
for the competitive service except when the Office of Personnel
Management (OPM) determines that the duties of a scientific, technical,
or professional position cannot be performed by a person who does not
have a prescribed minimum education.  This restriction applies to formal
education at all levels.

OPM establishes minimum education requirements when the knowledge,
skills, competencies, and abilities requisite for the position can be
acquired only through successful completion of formal schooling.

     If a required knowledge, skill, competency, or ability can be
obtained through  

     work experience alone, the lack of college education cannot be used
to   

     disqualify applicants. 

Government-wide Job Analysis.  OPM will need to conduct an in-depth job
analysis prior to making a decision about whether minimum educational
requirements are justified for this occupational series.  The job
analysis is contingent upon the availability of funds.   

Public Notice in the Federal Register.   If minimum educational
requirements are justified for this occupation, public notice in the
Federal Register is required for the proposed change, comment period,
and issuance of the final standard.

Information Required

Submission of required information and documentation.  Agencies should
submit the following documents or information to the U.S. Office of
Personnel Management:

The approximate number of jobs in the agency that would be covered by
the proposed, new qualification standard.  Include grades,
organizations, and geographical locations. 

The required knowledge, skills, competencies, and abilities that are
lacking in current applicants.

The specific deficiencies in the performance of current employees who
were hired under the existing qualification requirements.

An explanation as to why the current qualification requirements do not
adequately meet the qualification needs of the agencies. 

A list of all agencies that have similar positions and would therefore,
need similar qualification requirements.

Identification of all pertinent professional organizations and societies
that have an interest in this occupation.

 Documentation from agencies that include position descriptions, agency
studies (if applicable), and other supporting information.

Process for Revising Qualification Standards

After receipt of all required information, OPM will make a determination
if a new or revised qualification standard is needed.  If so, the next
steps are:

Members of the Human Resources Community at affected agencies are
identified and contacted to work in collaboration with OPM.

OPM conducts a job analysis of this occupation.

OPM develops a draft standard which is sent to all Human Resources
Directors for review and comment.

After the comment period, OPM reviews the agencies’ comments/edits and
revises the draft standard as necessary.

If the job analysis justifies minimum educational requirements, a
proposal is developed for inclusion in the Federal Register for public
comment.  

After the comment period for the Federal Register ends, public comments
are reviewed and the draft is revised as necessary.

The revised standard is prepared in a final version for clearance and
approval.

TIMELINES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF QUALIFICATION STANDARDS





Job Analysis/Survey of Occupation

	12 Months



Approval Process for Draft Standard 

	4 Months



Approval Process for Publication in the Federal Registrar

	12 Months



Publication in the Federal Registrar

 	2 Months



Approval Process for Issuance of Final Standard

	3 Months



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