Become a PMF
Eligibility
NOTE: The information below explains the
eligibility criteria in general. Please click on the class year
application webpage to the left for more specific information.
If you will meet all advanced degree
requirements (even though you have not necessarily graduated),
including the completion or successful defense of any required
thesis or dissertation, you may be eligible to apply.
Eligibility is based on completion of advanced degree
requirements by August 31st of the following year of the
annual application.
- OR -
If you have completed an
advanced degree from a qualifying college or university during
the previous two years from the opening date of the PMF
Program's annual application announcement, you are eligible to
apply.
Advanced Degree means a professional or graduate
degree (e.g., master's, Ph.D., J.D.).
NOTE: Individuals who previously applied to the
program, but were not selected as a Finalist, may reapply if they
meet eligibility requirements. Current Finalists who have not
obtained a PMF appointment may apply for the next PMF application;
however, they will forfeit their status as a current Finalist upon
accessing the on-line assessment.
A qualifying college or university is an academic
institution that meets the requirements as stated in the "General
Policies and Instructions" section of OPM's "Qualification
Standards for General Schedule Positions", under the "Educational
and Training Provisions or Requirements" section. This section is
available on OPM's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 
. Generally, the institution
must be accredited or must have acquired "pre-accreditation" or
"candidate for accreditation status" by an accrediting body
recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of
Education.
You can search the U.S. Department of Education's Federal
Student Aid website at https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/schoolSearch?locale=en_En
to see if your college/university has a valid Federal Title V
School Code. If your college/university is listed, then most
likely it is accredited and recognized for eligibility in applying
to the PMF Program. For foreign schools, select "Foreign Country"
under the "State" drop-down menu, then enter your school name, and
then select "Search."
Applicants who are in the process of completing their advanced
degree are strongly encouraged to determine whether or not they
will complete all degree requirements by the August 31st deadline.
There is no regulatory provision to allow the PMF Program Office to
waive or defer a Finalists' appointment eligibility if he/she does
not complete degree requirements. Completing advanced degree
requirements includes the successful completion/defense of any
thesis/dissertation, which includes any deadlines or findings of
the school's review.
You may link to information on Citizenship, Education Outside U.S., Attorneys, Veterans' Preference, Selective
Service, Indian Preference, and Equal
Employment Opportunity to the left.
UPDATED: 11-04-2016