GSA Hiring Authority for Post-Secondary Students and College Graduates

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
              Washington, DC 20405

HRM 9331.1 
November 29, 2022

GSA ORDER 

SUBJECT:  GSA Hiring Authority for Post-Secondary Students and College Graduates 

1. Purpose. This Order issues and transmits GSA policy governing the use of to the new hiring authorities that can be leveraged to recruit and appoint qualified post-secondary students and college graduates at specified grades into the competitive service, without regard to the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP), or veterans’ preference. 

2. Background. This Order implements the Post-Secondary Students and College Graduates Hiring Authorities as referenced within Public Law 115-232, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019. Section 1108 of the NDAA established the authority for appointing positions at GS-11 or below in the competitive service. These rules allow for GSA to appoint individuals who are pursuing a baccalaureate degree (or higher) or have received a baccalaureate or graduate degree within two years from an institution of higher education.

The authority for appointing Post-Secondary Students is codified at 5 U.S.C. 3116. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has issued the final rules under 5 CFR part 316, Subpart I (86 FR 46107, [Aug 18, 2021]). The authority for appointing College Graduates is codified at 5 U.S.C. 3115. OPM has issued the final rules for under 5 CFR 315.614 (86 FR 61046, [Nov 5, 2021]).