Transfers

A career or career-conditional employee of one agency may transfer, without a break in service of a single workday, to a competitive service position in another agency without competing in a civil service examination open to the public. A transfer eligible may apply under vacancy announcements open to status candidates. An employee may transfer to a position at the same, higher, or lower grade level.

Who is Eligible To Transfer?

Present Federal employees who are serving in the competitive service under a career or career-conditional appointment have eligibility for transfer to a position in the competitive service.

To transfer, you must meet the qualification requirements for the position. Written tests are not common but if one is required, arrangements will be made for you to take it.

Employees must be found suitable for employment in competitive service positions. If your current appointment is subject to a suitability investigation, that condition continues after you transfer.

Generally on transfer, a career employee remains a career employee, and a career-conditional employee remains a career-conditional employee.

How Do I Apply for Transfer?

You must conduct your own job search. Transfer eligibility does not guarantee you a job offer. Hiring agencies have the discretion to determine the sources of applicants they will consider.

Individuals usually apply to agencies in response to vacancies announced under the merit promotion program. Some agencies accept applications only when they have an appropriate open merit promotion announcement, while others accept applications at any time. If you are seeking a higher grade or a position with more promotion potential than you have previously held, generally you must apply under a merit promotion announcement and rank among the best-qualified applicants to be selected. Status applicants include individuals who are eligible for transfer.

How Can I Find Out About Agency Merit Promotion Announcements?

Merit Promotion announcements are posted on USAJOBS when jobs are announced outside of an agency's own workforce.

USAJOBS, the Federal Government's Employment Information System, is easily accessible Federal employment information. USAJOBS provides worldwide job vacancy information, employment information fact sheets, job applications and forms, and has on-line resume development and electronic transmission capabilities. In many instances, job seekers can apply for positions on-line.

USAJOBS is updated every business day from a database of more than 7,500 worldwide job opportunities. USAJOBS is available to job seekers in a variety of formats, ensuring access for customers with differing physical and technological capabilities. It is convenient, user friendly, accessible through the computer or telephone and available 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.

USAJOBS consists of:

Internet - The official world wide web site for jobs and employment information, may be accessed at http://www.USAJOBS.opm.gov.

On the web site, job seekers can access worldwide current job vacancies, employment information fact sheets, applications and forms, and in some instances, apply for jobs online. Complete job announcements can be retrieved from the web site. The USAJOBS web site also has an Online Resume Builder feature. Using the resume builder, job seekers can create online resumes specifically designed for applying for Federal jobs. Resumes created on the USAJOBS resume builder can be printed from the system for faxing or mailing to employers; and saved and edited for future use. For many of the vacancies listed on the site, job seekers can submit resumes created through USAJOBS directly to hiring agencies through an electronic submission process.

Touch Screen Computer Kiosk - A kiosk network of self-service information providers located in OPM offices and many Federal buildings nationwide.

At the touch of a finger, job seekers can access worldwide current job vacancies, employment information fact sheets, and applications and forms. Complete job announcements can be retrieved from the kiosk.

Electronic Bulletin Board - An electronic bulletin board which can be reached via modem at (912) 757-3100 or Telnet fjob.opm.gov.

Through the board, job seekers can access worldwide current job vacancies, employment information fact sheets, applications and forms, and in some instances, apply for jobs online. Complete job announcements can be retrieved from the board.

Automated Telephone System - An interactive voice response telephone system which can be reached at (912) 757-3000 or TDD (912) 744-2299 or at 17 OPM Service Centers located throughout the country (local numbers listed in the blue pages).

By telephone, job seekers can access worldwide current job vacancies, employment information fact sheets, and applications and forms, and in some instances, apply for jobs by phone.

Probationary Period

An employee is not required by the civil service rules and regulations to serve a new probationary period after transfer. However, the employee continues to serve the remainder of any probationary period which he/she was serving at the time of transfer. In most cases, an employee must wait at least three months after his/her latest non-temporary competitive appointment before he/she may be considered for transfer to a position in a different line of work, at a higher grade, or to a different geographical area. OPM may waive the restriction against movement to a different geographical area when it is satisfied that the waiver is consistent with the principles of open competition.

Positions Restricted to Veterans

Some positions in the competitive service such as guard, messenger, elevator operator, and custodian have been restricted by law to persons entitled to preference under the veteran preference laws. Generally, a nonveteran employee cannot be transferred to such positions if there are veterans available for appointment to them. This restriction does not apply to the filling of such positions by the transfer of a nonveteran already serving in a federal agency in a position covered by the same generic title. For example, a nonveteran who is serving in the position of guard may be considered for transfer to the position of patrolman, guard, fireman, guard-laborer, etc.

AS OF: 01-05-1999