Title 5 › PART III — EMPLOYEES › Subpart B — Employment and Retention › CHAPTER 33 — EXAMINATION, SELECTION, AND PLACEMENT › SUBCHAPTER I — EXAMINATION, CERTIFICATION, AND APPOINTMENT › § 3304a
A person working in a competitive federal job on an indefinite or temporary appointment (except those with an overseas limited appointment or jobs above GS–15 under section 5108) can get permanent career status and have their job converted to a career appointment when four things happen: they finish at least 3 years of service with no break longer than 30 days, they pass a suitable noncompetitive exam, their agency recommends the conversion and says their last 12 months of work were satisfactory, and they meet the Office of Personnel Management’s qualification and eligibility rules. If they finish 3 years but haven’t met the other requirements within 90 days, the agency must end the appointment. Time spent in the armed forces counts toward the 3 years if the person is rehired within 120 days after leaving service under honorable conditions. The Office of Personnel Management may make rules to carry out these steps.
Full Legal Text
Government Organization and Employees, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
5 U.S.C. § 3304a
Title 5, Government Organization and Employees
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102