Operating Manual

Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions

GENERAL POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS

Part F. - References

F. UPDATING QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

OPM's goal is to keep the requirements in the qualification standards in this Manual as current as possible. Therefore, agencies are requested to inform the Strategic Human Resources Policy Division (SHRP) of substantive changes to occupational or agency requirements so that the appropriate qualification standard can be revised. Additionally, agencies that are having difficulty obtaining well qualified applicants on the basis of current qualification requirements, should contact SHRP to determine whether the standard is in need of revision.

G. ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL STANDARDS

The standards contained in this Manual, adapted by use of agency selective factors when necessary, should fit most jobs. Agency headquarters may request establishment of separate standards when the pattern of experience/education for their positions does not follow that of one of the published standards.
An agency request for a new standard should include the following information:

• Approximate number of jobs in the agency that would be covered by the proposed standard, with their grades and organizational and geographic locations;

• Representative position descriptions, including at least one at the full-performance level, evaluation statements, and related classification information;

• An explanation of why current standards and selective factors are unsatisfactory;

• A proposed qualification standard and a job analysis showing how the proposed requirements at entry, full-performance, and higher levels relate to the work to be performed at those levels;

• A list of any other agencies known to have similar positions; and

• Any additional information related to creation of a new standard.

Requests to establish additional or to update standards should be sent to:

U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Strategic Human Resources Policy Division
Center for Talent and Capacity Policy
1900 E Street, N.W., Room 6547
Washington, DC 20415

1. Title 5 U.S.C., Chapters 11, 21, 23, 31, 33, 35, and 51.
2. Title 5 CFR 300, Employment (General)
3. Title 5 CFR 307, Veterans Readjustment Appointments
4. Title 5 CFR 332, Recruitment and Selection through Competitive Examination
5. Title 5 CFR 335, Promotion and Internal Placement
6. Title 5 CFR 337, Examining System
7. Title 5 CFR 338, Qualification Requirements(General)
8. Title 5 CFR 339, Medical Qualification Determinations
9. Title 5 CFR 353, Restoration To Duty From Military Service or Compensable Injury
10. Title 5 CFR 930, Programs for Specific Positions and Examinations (Miscellaneous)
11. Introduction to the Position Classification Standards
12. Handbook of Occupational Groups and Families

1. Database of Postsecondary Educational Institutions and Programs Accredited by Accrediting
   Agencies Recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education,
   U.S. Department of Education
   Web site address: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation
   
   
2. Directory of Postsecondary Institutions
   U.S. Government Printing Office
   P. O. Box 371954
   Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15250-7954
   1-888-293-6498
   Web site address: http://bookstore.gpo.gov
3. Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education
   Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
   88 Post Road West
   Westport, Connecticut 06881
   1-800-225-5800
   Web site address: http://www.greenwood.com
   
   
4. The Higher Education Directory
   Higher Education Publications, Inc. (HEP)
   6400 Arlington Boulevard, Suite 648
   Falls Church, Virginia 22042
   (703) 532 - 2300
   Web site address: http//www.hepinc.com
5. Peterson's Guides to Four-Year Colleges
   Peterson's Guides, Inc.
   2000 Lenox Drive
   Lawrence, New Jersey 08648
   1-800-338-3282
   Web site address: http://www.petersons.com
   
   
6. Association of College Honor Societies - Booklet of Information
   4990 Northwind Drive, Suite 140
   East Lansing, Michigan 48823-5031
   (517) 351-8335
   Web site address: http://www.achsnatl.org

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