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

Appointing Authorities

Individuals may be hired under the following authorities:

• Fellowships, Scholarships, and Similar Programs
• Student Career Experience Program (SCEP)
• Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP)
• Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program

Fellowships, Scholarships, and Similar Programs

• What it provides: The fellowships, scholarships, and similar programs authority at 5 CFR 213.3102(r) provides an excepted service appointing authority for filling positions from limited applicant pools under hiring and operating procedures established between a Federal agency and a non-Federal organization. Although appointments are time-limited (cannot exceed 4 years) with no conversion privilege to the competitive service, this authority allows agencies to:
• Bring in individuals with specialized knowledge or expertise under agency-developed exchange programs with the private sector;
• Provide students insight and the opportunity to apply their particular field of study to real-world situations; or
• Provide a means for individuals to meet a service obligation under specific programs authorized in statute.
• When to use it: Agencies may use this authority to:
• Support internship or fellowship programs that provide developmental or professional experiences to individuals who have completed their formal education.
• Establish training and associate programs to increase the pool of qualified candidates in a particular occupational specialty.
• Design professional/industry exchange programs that provide cross-fertilization between the agency and the private sector to foster mutual understanding and exchange of ideas and/or to bring experienced practitioners to the agency.
• Arrange residency programs through which participants gain experience in the Federal environment.
• Participate in programs that require a period of Government service in exchange for educational, financial, or other assistance; for example, Federal Cyber Service: Scholarship for Service, funded by the National Science Foundation, and the National Security Education Program under the Department of Defense.
• Who is eligible: Each program has different requirements as established by the agency. Programs may require that the student actively pursues a degree, certificate, or diploma (high school to doctorate) or is a career professional (teaching faculty to lead scientist). Students need to be in good academic standing at their schools and able to meet security requirements.
• Benefits to the hiring manager: Using this authority is an excellent way for a manager to bring in fresh ideas, experience, and knowledge.

Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) (Formerly, Co-operative Education Program (Co-op))

• What it provides: SCEP allows appointment of students to positions that are related to their academic field of study. Employment as a student is in the excepted service and public notice is not required. Participants who meet all the requirements of the program may be noncompetitively converted to term, career, or career-conditional appointments.
• When to use it: SCEP can be a good tool to "grow your own" workforce by hiring students into developmental positions to address future agency needs.
• Who is eligible: Eligibility requirements for SCEP include:
• Enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a degree-seeking student in an accredited high school or technical or vocational school, 2-year or 4-year college or university, or graduate or professional school.
• At least 16 years old.
• Taking at least a half-time course load as determined by the academic institution.
• Benefits to the hiring manager: Hiring under SCEP is an effective way for a manager to:
• Bring students into the agency in targeted positions for workforce and succession planning.
• Evaluate the student's performance in real work situations.
• Permanently place successful students upon completion of coursework leading to a diploma, certificate, or degree and at least 640 hours of work experience.

Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP)

• What it provides: The Federal Career Intern Program is designed to help agencies recruit exceptional individuals into a variety of occupations at the GS-5, 7, and 9 grade levels. Created under Executive Order 13162, this program allows individuals to be appointed to a 2-year internship that provides formal training and developmental assignments as established by the agency. Upon successful completion of the program, the interns may be eligible for non-competitive permanent placement within the agency.
• When to use it: FCIP can be used for entry-level positions that would lend themselves to internal formal training/developmental programs, leading to filling journey-level positions in the agency.
• Who is eligible: Those who have diverse professional experiences, academic backgrounds, and/or relevant skills are eligible for the program. The program is not restricted to students. Career intern appointments may be made at any time during the year.
• Benefits to the hiring manager:
• FCIP can be used with a targeted recruitment program and the agency Human Capital Strategic Plan to bring in entry-level employees.
• FCIP provides agencies flexibility concerning what types of formal training and developmental opportunities to provide for specific positions.
• After 2 years, the employee can be noncompetitively converted to a permanent appointment.

Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program (Formerly, Presidential Management Intern Program)

The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program is being revised. Select this link to review the proposed regulations on the OPM Web site.

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