U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

Features of the Career Intern Program

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• Appointed in the excepted service;
• Subject to OPM qualifications;
• There is no nominating process for the Career Intern Program - applicants apply directly to Federal agencies;
• There is no public notice requirement for Career Intern appointments;
• Appointments are not subject to Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program requirements;
• Agencies have several options in terms of how they apply veterans' preference when making Career Intern appointments;
• Initial appointments can be made at any grade level for which the agency has a formal training program in place; the intent of the program is an initial appointment at the GS 5, 7, 9 level;
• May be appointed year round;
• No limitation on promotion potential;
• Has a return right provision for career/career conditional employees within an agency or agency component;
• OPM does not serve as a clearinghouse of available training opportunities;
• Requires a 2 year formal training and development program;
• Does not require participants to go on rotational assignments;
• Administered by the agencies, not OPM

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