It says that in 2022, agencies used the program for some 5,100 interns, 3,100 recent graduates and 400 management fellows. Image: Mark Van Scyoc/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffOPM has finalized rules “aimed at enhancing the robust usage of the Pathways Programs as a key source of early career talent in the federal government,” in the words of an April 12 Federal Register notice.
The action finalizes rules proposed last summer to revamp that program, the government’s main internship and early career hiring and development program. “Overall, the purpose of the changes is to streamline the Pathways regulations, making it easier for agencies to recruit and hire participants in the Pathways Programs and to optimize the Pathways Programs as a tool to recruit and retain diverse and highly qualified early career talent,” it says.
Pathways consists of three parts: the Presidential Management Fellows program, which primarily places those with advanced degrees into fellowship type positions with the opportunity to convert to competitive service status after one year of satisfactory performance; the Recent Graduates program for graduates of colleges, community colleges and vocational schools, with the potential for conversion to competitive status after one year from the end of a training period; and the Internship Program for high school and college students to familiarize them with government work with a potential route into federal employment.
According to a memo on chcoc.gov, key changes include:
* Eligibility for the internship and recent graduates programs is expanding to include those with or without formal degrees who have completed “qualifying career or technical education programs” (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, Climate Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps).
* Interns who have completed Registered Apprenticeship Programs and Job Corps can now count time served in those programs toward the total hours required to be eligible to convert to a permanent federal position.
* Agencies may now convert interns to a permanent federal position once they complete a minimum of 480 internship hours (down from 640 hours). Agencies also now have more options for granting waivers to outstanding interns, which may allow them to be converted after just 320 hours.
* Agencies may hire recent graduates at a GS-11 starting salary vs. the former GS-09.
* Agencies now have 180 days to convert interns into permanent positions (up from 120 days. \
The program was created in 2012 to replace a prior one called the Career Intern Program that federal employee unions had criticized as end-running standard competitive hiring processes. The notice says Pathways has “appropriate safeguards to promote their use as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the competitive hiring process are essential to boosting the federal government’s ability to recruit and retain early career talent.”
It says that in 2022, agencies used the program for some 5,100 interns, 3,100 recent graduates and 400 management fellows.
Key Bills Advancing, but No Path to Avoid Shutdown Apparent
TSP Adds Detail to Upcoming Roth Conversion Feature
White House to Issue Rules on RIF, Disciplinary Policy Changes
DoD Announces Civilian Volunteer Detail in Support of Immigration Enforcement
See also,
How Do Age and Years of Service Impact My Federal Retirement
The Best Ages for Federal Employees to Retire
How to Challenge a Federal Reduction in Force (RIF) in 2025
Should I be Shooting for a $1M TSP Balance? Depends…
