Section VI

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

This section of the Manual provides a summary of the occupational series that have medical requirements. Title 5 CFR 339, "Medical Qualification Determinations," contains the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's basic guidance on the establishment of medical standards and physical requirements for Federal civilian positions. Section II of this Manual, "General Policies and Instructions," includes information about the general medical requirements for most positions.

Applicants and employees cannot be disqualified arbitrarily on the basis of medical standards, physical requirements, fitness tests, or other criteria that do not relate specifically to job performance. In addition, agencies are required to provide reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities who demonstrate that they can perform the work of the position to be filled.

In accordance with 5 CFR 339, agencies have the authority to establish medical standards for positions for which they are the predominant employer, i.e., have 50 percent or more of the employees in the occupational series. In establishing such standards, they must comply with the provisions in 5 CFR 339 pertaining to job-relatedness, reasonable accommodation, etc.

Generally, when medical requirements have been established by OPM or an agency for all positions within an occupational series or for positions that are separately identifiable in Section IV-B of this Manual, those requirements are included in the individual qualification standard or individual occupational requirements.

The following list is considered current as of the date of the transmittal sheet (TS) at the bottom of this page. It will be updated periodically as changes occur or additional information is reported.

In addition, some medical requirements apply to positions that have unique duties, require motor vehicle operation, or involve work performed in a particular environment. Information about such requirements is provided to applicants by the employing agency.

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