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GENERALLY, ONLY PERMANENT COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 1980, IN SPECIFIC DC GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS CONFERS FEDERAL COMPETITIVE STATUS AND ELIGIBILITY FOR REINSTATEMENT OR TRANSFER TO COMPETITIVE FEDERAL JOBS. EMPLOYMENT BEGINNING AFTER JANUARY 1, 1980, DOES NOT QUALIFY.

The entire DC Government became a separate municipal personnel system under terms of the Home Rule Act on January 1, 1980. Appointments made on or after that date do NOT confer Federal competitive status or eligibility for noncompetitive movement into the Federal competitive service. Additionally, beginning in mid-1979, DC Government agencies that qualified generally made excepted appointments that do NOT qualify.

MOST EMPLOYMENT PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 1980, DOES NOT QUALIFY
Most DC Government appointments made prior to January 1980, do NOT confer Federal competitive status and reinstatement or transfer eligibility. In reviewing DC Government employment, you cannot use evidence of a career-conditional appointment and veterans' preference, conversion to career tenure, or participation in Civil Service Retirement (CSRA) as guides to eligibility for Federal competitive status. This is because even prior to 1980, most DC Government agencies, administrations, etc., were units of municipal government outside the Federal competitive service. Employment in these organizations does NOT qualify.

ONLY CERTAIN TYPES OF EMPLOYMENT IN A FEW DC GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (SEE LIST) QUALIFIES
Only permanent competitive appointments in DC Government agencies established by law as part of the Federal competitive service (see list below) confer Federal competitive status. Even though appointments in other DC Government agencies used civil service examinations and procedures (for example; the Police and Fire Departments), only appointments in the organizations listed below confer Federal competitive status.

• Department of Correction, except the Office of the Director;
• Department of Manpower;
• Department of Housing and Community Development, except for the Building and Zoning Regulation Administration;
• Office of Emergency Preparedness in the Executive Office of the Major;
• Office of the Recorder of Deeds, except the Recorder;
• Unemployment Compensation Board; and
• Positions in the Department of Human Resources in the following administrations:
  • Health Services;
  • Vocational Rehabilitation;
  • Veterans Affairs;
  • Hospitals and Medical Care; and
  • Narcotics Treatment.

REVIEW OF THE DC GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENT DOCUMENT NEEDED
Federal agencies should not, and most will not, transfer or reinstate a current or former DC Government employee without reviewing a copy of the appointment SF 50, Notification of Personnel Action, or equivalent official DC Government document. Applicants claiming competitive status for transfer or reinstatement should enclose a copy of their appointment document with their application or resume. Check directly with the agency personnel office for further information.

AS OF: 08/01/2009

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