Current PMFs
Frequently Asked Questions
The following FAQs are directed towards Fellows. These
FAQs were last updated on: 08-05-2010.
- When will the Job Fair, Orientation, Graduation,
etc., be held?
- How do I develop an Individual Development Plan
(IDP)?
- How do I find a developmental
assignment?
- What do I need to do to graduate from the PMF
Program?
- Is the PMF Orientation and Graduation Ceremony a
requirement for completion of the PMF Program?
- I lost my certificate for the PMF Orientation
Session and I need to include this with my ERB package to complete
the Program. How can I get a duplicate certificate?
1. When will the Job Fair,
Orientation, Graduation, etc., be held?
The Job Fair is held in the spring, usually 3-4 weeks after
the selection of finalists. The PMF Orientation
sessions will be held periodically throughout the year for
current Fellows. The Graduation Ceremony is held in
conjunction with the current finalists' Job Fair for Fellows who
recently completed the PMF Program. However, these timelines
may change from year to year. When the PMF Program Office has
dates for any of these and other events, a notice will be posted on
the PMF website and an email will be sent to applicable
parties.
2. How do I develop an Individual
Development Plan (IDP)?
You and your supervisor should develop the required
IDP together. The OPM Form 1302, PMF IDP [357
KB], is an optional Adobe
Acrobat fillable PDF form that Fellows may use.
The Training
webpage offers many suggestions to get
you started. You will need to complete 80 hours of
classroom training per year during your fellowship as well as
a 4-6 consecutive month developmental assignment. You should
plan early to ensure they fulfill their
requirements.
3. How do I find a developmental
assignment?
You should work with your supervisor to identify
a developmental assignment and it should be included on your
IDP. Not all developmental assignments are located outside of
the employing agency. If a developmental assignment cannot be
identified, there is a list of rotational opportunities on
the Rotational
Opportunities webpage that may meet the
requirements of the developmental assignment. Another option
is to network with other Fellows who may know of assignments within
their agencies. However, the employing agency has the final
approval of whether you may perform the developmental
assignment outside of the employing agency. Visit the
Training and
Development webpage to learn
more.
4. What do I need to do to graduate
from the PMF Program?
All requirements of the PMF Program must be
satisfactorily completed before you can be certified and
converted. Each agency has an Executive Resources Board
(ERB), or equivalent, that must verify that all requirements of the
PMF Program have been successfully completed. The
agency's ERB notifies the PMF Program Office of the results of the
board's decision. Agencies may have specific requirements for
their ERB process and the Agency PMF Coordinator should be
aware of that process. Early on in the fellowship, you
should work with your supervisor and Agency PMF Coordinator to
determine the requirements, deadlines, etc., for successful ERB
certification. Successful completion of the PMF Program
requirements and ERB certification is what authorizes you to
non-competitively convert to a permanent position.
Once you are ERB certified and converted, you
are eligible to participate in the Graduation Ceremony and
considered graduated.
5. Is the PMF Orientation and
Graduation Ceremony a requirement for completion of the PMF
Program?
No, neither is a requirement. However, attendance is
encouraged so that Fellows may celebrate their successes
together. These events are great networking
opportunities. Your participation in a PMF
Orientation session may count towards your required training
hours and should be recorded on your IDP. Graduating
Fellows may choose to participate in the Graduation Ceremony or
have a certificate of completion mailed to their home address on
file; this is done during the Graduation Ceremony registration
process. Certificates may only be requested up to a year
after your class graduation ceremony.
6. I lost my certificate for the
PMF Orientation session and I need to include this with my ERB
package to complete the Program. How can I get a duplicate
certificate?
Duplicate certificates are not issued. Send an email to
pmf@opm.gov and the PMF Program Office
will verify that the event was attended and will send a
confirmation email. It is important that when you attend
training during your fellowship and throughout your
Federal career that you keep documentation of training
attended. This is often used to support future career
opportunities! You are encouraged to keep copies of all
training certificates, send copies to your Agency PMF
Coordinator, and maintain a PMF Program folder to keep track of all
program requirements.
UPDATED: 09-01-2011