Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is there a minimum grade point average required to be selected as a finalist?
A: No, there is no minimum grade point average required to be selected as a finalist. However, colleges or universities must establish their own competitive nomination processes to ensure the best candidates from their programs are nominated. They may take grade point average into consideration during the competitive nomination process.
Q: Are only certain advanced degrees considered for the PMF Program (e.g., MPA, MSW)?
A: No. Graduate students from all academic disciplines who expect to complete an advanced degree from a qualifying college or university by August 31 of the academic year in which the competition is held are eligible to apply to the PMF Program.
At the time an applicant applies to the PMF Program, the majority of applicants have not fully completed their graduate degree requirements. However, an agency may not appoint a finalist as a Fellow until he/she has met all graduate degree requirements including all course work, final papers, exams, and any required thesis or dissertation. If a finalist does not complete all degree requirements by August 31 of the year in which the finalist was selected, the finalist’s status is terminated. Applicants may only apply once to the program, per graduate degree.
Q: Does the Program accept individuals with disabilities?
A: Yes. The Federal Government is an equal opportunity employer. Hiring and advancement are based on qualifications and performance, regardless of race, color, marital status, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. Reasonable accommodations are provided to applicants with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed for any part of the application and assessment process, please notify OPM. Applicants should be prepared to provide supporting documentation, if applicable. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Q: Should applicants submit a letter of recommendation and/or a transcript when applying?
A: No. Do not submit these documents to the PMF Program Office. The PMF Program does not consider letters of recommendation, endorsements, or transcripts as part of its application and assessment processes. However, if ultimately selected as a finalist, some participating Federal Agencies may request a transcript to ensure fulfillment of graduate degree requirements and education qualifications.
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Q: I lost my printed copy of the PMF Nomination Form. How do I obtain another copy?
A: A blank/customized version of the PMF Nomination Form (OPM Form 1300) can be obtained from the "How to Apply\PMF Application" webpage, as an Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) file. The form is customized by pre-populating the Vacancy Identification Number applicable for the current application season. Print the form and fill out the remaining data fields before submitting to the Nomination Official. The form is not available after the nomination deadline.
Q: How can applicants check the status of their application during the application and nomination process?
A: During the application process, applicants are asked to either create an “Application Manager” account or log into their existing “Application Manager” account. “Application Manager” allows applicants to view their linked resume, complete the qualifications questionnaire, submit supporting documents for veterans’ preference (if applicable), and view their submitted PMF Nomination Form. Please read additional information about “Application Manager” under the “How to Apply” section in the “Program and Application Overview”.
Q: How many applicants apply each year and out of that number, how many are selected as finalists?
A: Over the years, the PMF Program has seen an increase in the number of applicants. The number of applicants has ranged from approximately 1,000 to more than 3,000, and the number of Finalists has varied from 400 to 700. For the past three years, approximately 60% obtained appointments as Fellows.
Q: How do finalists learn about possible Federal agency PMF hiring opportunities?
A: PMF positions are posted to an online job bank, the PMF Projected Positions System (PPS), on the PMF website each year. In addition, a Job Fair conducted
exclusively for finalists is held in the Washington, DC, area in the spring of the year finalists are notified. Federal agency representatives attend the Job Fair and discuss
their PMF hiring opportunities with finalists who attend. Finalists do not have to attend the Job Fair to secure a PMF appointment, but the Job Fair is an excellent source of
Federal agency contacts for finalists. Many agencies will review resumes and contact finalists directly to arrange phone interviews,
meetings during the Job Fair, and/or to make appointment offers. Agencies are not required to post positions in the PPS.
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Q: How do finalists update their online resumes for agency hiring officials to obtain?
A: Instructions for finalists to submit updated resumes can be found under the “How to Apply\Program and Application Overview”
webpage. The PMF website does not communicate directly with USAJOBS to query updated online resumes, so finalists must submit updated resumes directly
to the PMF website, as well as USAJOBS. When an authorized agency user logs into the PMF website to conduct a search on the finalist pool and selects a specific resume,
the system will pull the latest version of the finalists’ online resume from the PMF website’s depository. The depository is first populated with the
initial resume finalists submitted during the application period. Once a finalist submits an updated resume, it takes up to two business days before it is
available to the agencies. Applicants should verify with an authorized agency user that their updated resume is available.
Q: Are applicants who are selected as finalists guaranteed a Federal job?
A: No. Being selected as a finalist grants eligibility for a PMF appointment by a Federal agency, but finalists are not
guaranteed a Federal job. Finalists have up to one year upon their selection as finalists to obtain a fellowship appointment.
After the one year deadline, finalists can use their USAJOBS online resume to competitively apply for Federal positions on
USAJOBS (www.USAJOBS.gov) outside of the PMF Program.
Q: Do Federal agencies reimburse PMFs for their relocation costs upon appointment?
A: Each Federal agency determines whether it will pay relocation costs.
Finalists should inquire with participating agencies before accepting an appointment offer.
Q: Do Federal agencies provide Student Loan Repayment for Fellows?
A: Federal agencies are authorized to repay student loans under the Federal Student Loan Repayment Program, as provided
for in part 537 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations. The amount paid by the agency is subject to the following maximum limits:
(1) $10,000 per employee per calendar year, and (2) a total of $60,000 per employee. Presidential Management Fellows are eligible to
receive student loan repayments; however, these programs are agency-specific. Finalists should ask the hiring agency if it participates
in this program when interviewing for appointments.
