Title 5Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73

§3305 Competitive service; examinations; when held

Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart B— - Employment and Retention › Chapter CHAPTER 33— - EXAMINATION, SELECTION, AND PLACEMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - EXAMINATION, CERTIFICATION, AND APPOINTMENT › § 3305

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

OPM must hold competitive-service exams at least twice a year in every State, territory, or possession where people need testing. If someone who qualifies under section 2108(3)(C)–(G) applies, OPM must give an exam for a position filled within the past 3 years, and the exam must be held in the quarter after the application.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §3305

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Office of Personnel Management shall hold examinations for the competitive service at least twice a year in each State and territory or possession of the United States where there are individuals to be examined.
(b)The Office shall hold an examination for a position to which an appointment has been made within the preceding 3 years, on the application of an individual who qualifies as a preference eligible under section 2108(3)(C)–(G) of this title. The examination shall be held during the quarter following the application.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

1966 Act DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes andStatutes at Large (a)5 U.S.C. 635 (last 24 words of 6th sentence).Jan. 16, 1883, ch. 27, § 3 (last 24 words of 6th sentence), 22 Stat. 404. (b)5 U.S.C. 859.June 27, 1944, ch. 287, § 10, 58 Stat. 390.Jan. 19, 1948, ch. 1, § 3, 62 Stat. 3.Dec. 27, 1950, ch. 1151, § 2(b), 64 Stat. 1117. Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report. 1967 ActThis section amends various sections [§§ 3305, 3309, 3318] of title 5, United States Code, to reflect the redesignation of paragraphs (3)(B) through (F) of section 2108 of title 5 as paragraphs (3)(C) through (G) by section 1(6) of this bill.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1979—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–54, § 2(a)(14), substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–54, § 2(a)(15), substituted “Office” for “Commission”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1979 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–54 effective July 12, 1979, see section 2(b) of Pub. L. 96–54, set out as a note under section 305 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 3305

Title 5Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73