U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Recruiting, Retaining and Honoring a World-Class Workforce to Serve the American People

Proposed Rule: Pathways for Students and Recent Graduates

Next Steps

Proposed Pathways Rule:

• Review the Proposed Regulations
• Read the Executive Order

OPM issued proposed regulations to implement the Pathways Programs on August 4, 2011. The period for submitting public comments on the proposed regulations closed on October 4, 2011. OPM is now reviewing the comments that were submitted. After this review is complete, we will then make whatever changes to the proposed regulations we think are appropriate, based on the comments, and then publish final implementing regulations. When we publish our final regulations, we will include a section explaining our responses to the comments.

Please check this web site for updates

When can agencies start hiring people under these new programs?
The proposed new programs may not be used until there are final regulations that implement them across the Federal Government. The regulatory process is deliberative, and the final regulations will probably not take effect for several months.

Can I be hired before the Pathways Programs regulations take effect?
Yes, agencies may continue to use existing authorities to hire students - the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) and the Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP). Agencies can also use the existing PMF Program to hire people with advanced degrees.