Agencies
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many students apply each year and out of that
number, how many are selected as finalists?
- How do finalists learn about possible Federal
agency PMF hiring opportunities?
- Who can hire a PMF?
- When can an Agency hire a PMF?
- Do Federal Agencies reimburse PMFs for their
relocation costs upon appointment?
- I heard the assessment process is changing for
the PMF Class of 2011. Can you elaborate?
- What are the responsibilities of the PMF Program
Office, Hiring Agency, Agency PMF Coordinator, Human Resources
Office, Hiring Official/Supervisor, and the Fellow?
- What are the requirements for a
PMF/Fellow?
- What is the timeline for the Fellows'
developmental journey in the Program?
- What qualifies as training for the 80 hours of
training our agency is required to provide the Fellow each year of
their two-year fellowship?
- Is there a sample Individual Development Plan
(IDP) Fellows and agencies can refer to?
- Could a sample MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)
be posted to the PMF website for Fellows and agencies to use for
developmental assignments?
- Is there guidance on the ERB Certification
process?
- Is there guidance on the PMF conversion or
appointment to permanent position?
- Do Federal agencies provide Student Loan
Repayment or Loan Forgiveness for Fellows?
1.
How many students apply each year and out of that number, how many
are selected as finalists?
Over the years, the PMF Program has seen an increase in
the number of students. The number of students has ranged from
approximately 3,000 to more than 8,500, and the number of finalists
has varied from more than 500 to over 800. For the past three
years, students have averaged a 1 in 10 chance to become a
PMF.
2. How do
finalists learn about possible Federal agency PMF hiring
opportunities?
PMF positions are posted to an online job bank, the PMF Projected Positions
System (PPS), on the PMF website throughout the year. In
addition, a Job
Fair is conducted in the spring of the year in the
Washington, DC, area exclusively for finalists. Federal
agency representatives attend the Job Fair, discuss their PMF
hiring opportunities with finalists who attend, and make job
offers. Finalists do not have to attend the Job Fair to secure a
PMF appointment, but the Job Fair is an excellent source of Federal
agency contacts for finalists. Many agencies will review resumes
and contact finalists directly to arrange phone interviews,
meetings during the Job Fair, and/or to make appointment offers.
Agencies are not required to post positions in the PPS; however, it
is highly recommended.
3. Who can
hire a PMF?
Participation in the PMF Program is open to all Federal
Agencies in the Executive Branch. Agencies excepted from the
competitive service may participate using their own appointing
authorities. In addition Legislative and Judicial Branch agencies
may participate by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with
OPM; please contact the PMF Program Office for additional
guidance.
4. When
can an Agency hire a PMF?
Agencies have 12 months to hire Fellows from a large,
prestigious pool of finalists with diverse backgrounds and skills.
Consult with the Agency PMF Coordinator and/or the PMF Guide
for Agencies, found in the Resources section, on certain circumstances
when a finalist may be granted an appointment extension.
5. Do
Federal Agencies reimburse PMFs for their relocation costs upon
appointment?
Each Federal Agency determines whether it will pay
relocation costs. Finalists should inquire with participating
agencies before accepting an appointment offer.
6. I heard the
assessment process is changing for the PMF Class of 2011. Can you
elaborate?
There are two phases to the new assessment process. In the first
phase, students are found eligible, will be invited by email to
take an on-line timed assessment. The invitation will include
specific instructions on how to complete this assessment. The
on-line assessment will determine which eligible
applicants are selected as semi-finalists. The second phase is
an in-person assessment to determine which semi-finalists will be
selected as finalists. If the eligible applicant scores
sufficiently high on the on-line assessment, he or
she will be invited to one of four locations for the in-person
assessment, consisting of an individual presentation, a group
exercise, and a writing sample.
7. What
are the responsibilities of the PMF Program Office, Hiring Agency,
Agency PMF Coordinator, Human Resources Office, Hiring
Official/Supervisor, and the Fellow?
Please see the Agency Responsibilities webpage
for the responsibilities for all those involved from the agencies.
Responsibilities of the PMF Program Office can be found on the Program Office
webpage.
8. What
are the requirements for a PMF?
Requirements of the PMF include: an IDP (prepared with the
input and approval of the supervisor, that identifies specific
developmental activities designed to impart the competencies of the
occupation or functional discipline in which the Fellow is most
likely to be placed), complete at least 80 hours of formal
classroom training each year of the fellowship (total of 160
hours), complete a four to six consecutive month developmental
assignment with full-time responsibilities consistent with the IDP,
and successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of the
position to which assigned. Attending the PMF Program's Orientation
is optional; however, the hours may count towards the
annual training requirement.
9. What is
the timeline for the Fellows' developmental journey in the
Program?
Agencies assist Fellows along their 2-year developmental
journey in the program. It is the responsibility of the PMFs and
their agency supervisors to negotiate the developmental activities
and work responsibilities that will prepare the PMF for the
targeted position at the conclusion of the Program. The typical
fellowship cycle consists of the following:
- Within 90 days of appointment Agencies approve Individual
Development Plans (IDPs) designed to impart the competencies
required of the target position and place the PMF on a performance
plan
- Fall / Winter OPM hosts the PMF Orientation and Training
Program
- Agency provides opportunities for training, developmental
assignments, rotations, and other activities in support of the
IDP
- >90 days prior to 2-year anniversary date, the agency's
Executive Resources Board (ERB), or equivalent, may submit a
request to OPM for any extension of a PMF's appointment of greater
than 120 days (up to one year) no later than 90 days before the end
of the initial appointment, when applicable
- >30 days prior to 2-year anniversary date, the agency's ERB
(or equivalent) evaluates the PMF to determine successful
completion of the program (which is required for conversion)
- In the spring, OPM hosts the PMF Graduation Ceremony
10. What
qualifies as training for the 80 hours of training our agency is
required to provide the Fellow each year of their two-year
fellowship?
Specifically, 5 CFR 362.204(b)(2)(i) states that for each
PMF, the appointing agency will provide a minimum of 80 hours per
year of formal classroom training that addresses the core
competencies required of the occupation or functional discipline in
which the PMF will most likely be placed upon completion of the
program and conversion to a full-time, permanent position. The ERB
ultimately decides whether the training requirements have been met
when certifying the PMF. The PMF Program Office does not dictate
what constitutes as formal classroom training; this interpretation
is up to the appointing agency.
11. Is
there a sample Individual Development Plan (IDP) Fellows and
agencies can refer to?
Yes. The PMF Program Office has created an OPM Form 1302,
PMF IDP, which PMFs and agencies can use at their discretion. This
form can be found under the "Current PMFs/Training and
Development/Individual Development Plan" webpage.
12.
Could a sample MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) be posted to the
PMF website for Fellows and agencies to use for developmental
assignments?
Yes. A sample MOU is available under the Resources
page.
13. Is
there guidance on the ERB Certification process?
The ERB can establish its own procedures for conducting
the review and certification, but must consider whether:
(1) The PMF has met all of the requirements of the Program, as
outlined in the Program regulations found at 5 CFR 362.204(e),
which is also provided in the PMF Guide for Agencies
(found in the Resources section)
(2) Has demonstrated successful performance according to the
individual's performance plan
(3) Has achieved the developmental expectations set forth in the
Individual Development Plan (IDP). This may be conducted through a
document review or other methods agreed upon by the ERB
(4) The results of the ERB certification are recorded by the
Agency PMF Coordinator in our online Agency System for Automated
Processing (ASAP)
14. Is
there guidance on the PMF conversion or appointment to permanent
position?
5 CFR 362.209(a) specifies a PMF must complete the program
within the time limits prescribed in ยง362.203, including any
extensions approved by the agency or OPM. (Pursuant to 5 CFR
362.203(a)(3)(iv), an agency may approve an extension of up to an
initial 120 days.) As provided in 5 CFR 315 and/or Executive
Order 13318, an agency must appoint without further competition an
ERB certified Fellow to a full-time, permanent position, in the
competitive or excepted service, as applicable. If initially
appointed to an excepted agency, the PMF may, upon completion, be
appointed subsequently to the competitive service on a one time
basis. Appointments must be effective on or before the expiration
of the individual's PMF appointment, including extensions. No
permanent appointments are allowed prior to full completion of the
2 year fellowship. A PMF must meet the citizenship requirement to
be converted to a permanent position. Permanent appointments will
be effective on the date the 2 year service requirement is met,
unless the fellowship is extended by the agency or OPM. The agency
is not required to convert or appoint a PMF who is not certified by
the ERB as having successfully completed the Program. Additional
information can be found in the PMF Guide for Agencies,
found in the Resources section.
15. Do
Federal agencies provide Student Loan Repayment or Loan Forgiveness
for PMFs?
Federal agencies are authorized to repay student loans
under the Federal Student Loan Repayment Program, as provided for
in part 537 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations. The amount
paid by the agency is subject to the following maximum limits: (1)
$10,000 per employee per calendar year, and (2) a total of $60,000
per employee. PMFs are eligible to receive student loan repayments;
however, these programs are agency-specific. Finalists
should ask the hiring agency if it participates in this program
when interviewing for appointments. Additional information about
the Federal Student Loan Repayment Program can be found at
www.opm.gov/oca/pay/StudentLoan/ 
. Information
about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness can be found at
studentaid.ed.gov