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The classification appeal decisions posted on these pages provide useful occupational information, classification analysis, factor level accreditation patterns, and interpretations of the governing criteria. This highlighted link will take you to the beginning of our Classification Appeal Decisions, or you may use our search engine. As a classification or job grading standard or guide is updated, classification appeal decisions issued under the old standard or guide may be deleted.

Earlier Decisions. Earlier classification appeal decisions are not available electronically but paper copies may be obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. Submit the request to Classification Appeals and FLSA Programs, Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E Street, NW., Room 7677, Washington, DC 20415-6000. The request should state that it is a Freedom of Information Act request and describe the requested decisions by occupational series and grade(s), the time period, and if applicable, the agency. For example, all decisions for GS-0318 positions at grades 6 and 7 in the Department of Agriculture from 1998 to the present.

Further Reading:
Classifier's Handbook (PDF) (WP 5.1)
Introduction (PDF) (WP 5.1) to the Position Classification Standards (see especially Appendix 4--Position Classification Appeals)
General Schedule classification documents
General Schedule classification standards for specific occupational series
Federal Wage System classification documents
Federal Wage System job grading standards for specific occupational series

How NOT to Use Our Classification Appeals Decisions. The classification appeal decisions posted on these pages do not substitute for or add to position classification or job grading standards and guides and are not "case law." Further, these decisions should not be used as the basis for other classification determinations for two reasons. First, section 5107 of title 5, United States Code, prohibits the classification of positions on the basis of position-to-position comparisons. Second, these decisions do not provide enough information for direct application in the classification of other positions.

Cautions. These decisions are provided with the following cautionary notes.
You must keep in mind that the decisions are taken out of context. Neither the actual position description nor the appeal case file is provided to supplement the decision.
Each decision relates to a specific position and may not provide an appropriate basis for extrapolation to other positions.
Each decision provides an interpretation of classification standards and guides that we believe are appropriate for the circumstances of the position in question. This interpretation may not be appropriate for other positions given different ways similar work is accomplished, alternative interpretations of the flexibilities that may be allowed in the classification standards and guides, and the specific conditions associated with the work of the position being considered.

Deleted Information. Some information in these classification appeal decisions, such as the appellant's name and organizational information that might identify the appellant, has been deleted under exemption 6 of the Freedom of Information Act (section 552(b)(6) of title 5, United States Code). Exemption 6 allows information in personnel and medical files to be withheld if disclosing the information would be a "clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy." Text in brackets indicates where information has been withheld under this exemption, for example [appellant's name] or [appellant's supervisor].

OPM Decision Numbers. An OPM decision number identifies decisions. The 12-character decision number is made up of C (for classification appeal), 4 digits for the OPM-certified occupational series of the position, 2 digits for the OPM-certified grade of the position, and 2 digits for the number of the decision for that particular series and grade.

For example, the decision number C-0802-11-02 indicates that it is a classification appeal decision for a position in the 0802 Engineering Technician occupational series at the grade 11 level and is the second decision certifying that a position is a GS-802-11 Engineering Technician.

If the grade is 00 or the series is 0000, that indicates that we made a determination on only the series or the pay system, that is, whether the position should be in the Federal Wage System or the General Schedule.

The Order of Decisions. The decisions in the Classification Appeal Decisions Tables are listed in numerical order by occupational series and within series by grade.

Outcome entries. The following entries describe our classification appeal decision. If the OPM-certified pay system or occupational series or grade differs from the pay system or occupational series or grade assigned to the position by the agency, we note only what the difference is.

A word about grade changes. Although the OPM-certified grade may be higher or lower than the grade assigned by the agency, this does not necessarily mean that the grade of the employee in the position will automatically go up or down. An agency has a number of options available to it when complying with an Office of Personnel Management classification decision. Regardless of our decision, the employee's agency still keeps full control over the assignment of duties to a position and who performs those duties. Any personnel action affecting an employee because of our classification appeal decision will be taken by the employee's agency.

Questions. Because of the detailed information required and the fact finding and analysis work we must do in a classification appeal case, we cannot respond to specific questions about your individual situation. Specific questions about your own position should be addressed to your agency's human resources office. If you have general questions about a particular classification appeal decision, please contact the Office of Personnel Management office serving your area. This highlighted link will take you to the addresses, telephone numbers, and service areas of our offices that provide classification appeal information and accept classification appeals.

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