#aah? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,s4 #ei
  ,,an ,,act  ,to implem5t m]it-bas$    
re=ms to ! civil s]vice hir+ sy/em t    
replace degree-bas$ hir+ ) skills- &    
compet5cy-bas$ hir+4  #a4 ,%ort title   
,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,*ance to     
,compete ,act ( #bjbd4  #b4 ,def9itions 
7a7 ,am5datory def9itions  7#a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,section #ccjd ( title #e1 ,unit$      
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$-- 7,a7 by        
r$esignat+ subsections 7b7 ?r\gh 7g7 z  
subsections 7h7 ?r\gh 7m71 respectively2
  7,b7 by r$esignat+ subsection 7a7 z   
subsection 7b72 &  7,c7 by ins]t+ be=e  
subsection 7b71 z s r$esignat$1 !       
foll[+3  7a7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3
 7#a7 ,ag5cy ,! t]m ag5cy means an      
,executive ag5cy4  7#b7 ,director ,! t]m
 ,director means ! ,director ( ! ,(fice4
  7#c7 ,exam9ation ,! t]m exam9ation    
means ! process by :i* an applicant     
demon/rates k1 skills1 abilities1 &     
compet5cies4  7#d7 ,exam9+ ag5cy ,! t]m 
exam9+ ag5cy means-- 7,a7 ! ,(fice2 or  
7,b7 an ag5cy to :i* ! ,director has    

delegat$ exam9+ au?ority "u section     
#aajd7;a77#b74  7#e7 ,(fice ,! t]m      
,(fice means ! ,(fice ( ,p]sonnel       
,managem5t4  7#f7 ,pass+ score ,! t]m   
pass+ score means a m9imum acceptable   
score or rat+1 consi/5t ) applicable    
law1 t may include a quantitative or    
qualitative assessm5t t an applicant c  
pass or fail4  7#g7 ,relevant committees
 ,! t]m relevant committees means-- 7,a7
 ! ,committee on ,homel& ,security &    
,gov]nm5tal ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate2 &  7,b7
 ! ,committee on ,ov]sight &            
,acc\ntability ( ! ,h\se (              
,repres5tatives4  7#h7 ,subject matt]   
exp]t ,! t]m subject matt] exp]t means  
an employee or select+ (ficial-- 7,a7 :o
 possesses an und]/&+ ( ! duties (1 & k1
 skills1 & abilities requir$ =1 !       
position = :i* ! employee or select+    
(ficial is develop+ or adm9i/]+ an      
exam9ation2 &  7,b7 :om ! delegat$      
exam9+ unit ( ! exam9+ ag5cy t employs !
 employee or select+ (ficial designates 
to assi/ 9 ! developm5t & adm9i/ration (

 te*nical assessm5ts4  7#i7 ,te*nical   
assessm5t ,! t]m te*nical assessm5t     
means a position-specific tool t is     
relevant to ! position = :i* ! tool is  
develop$ t-- 7,a7 all[s = ! demon/ration
 ( job-relat$ skills1 abilities1 k1 &   
compet5cies2  7,b7 is bas$ ^u a job     
analysis2 &  7,c7 does n solely include 
or pr9cipally rely ^u a self-assessm5t f
 an automat$ exam9ation4  4  7#b7       
,te*nical & con=m+ am5dm5ts  7,a7 ,title
 #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code ,"p ,,iii (    
title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is       
am5d$-- 7i7 9 *apt] #cc-- 7,i7 9 section
 #ccjb7b71 by /rik+ #ccjd7;a7 & ins]t+  
#ccjd7;b72 &  7,,ii7 9 section          
#cccj;a7a77#a77;,b71 by /rik+           
#ccjd7;f77#a7 & ins]t+ #ccjd7l77#a72 &  
7ii7 9 section #ihaj7;b71 by /rik+      
#ccjd7;b7 & ins]t+ #ccjd7;h74  7,b7 ,act
 to e/abli% a ,commission on ,security &
 ,coop]ation 9 ,europe ,section         
#h7;d77#b7 ( ! ,act entitl$1 8,an ,act  
to e/abli% a ,commission on ,security & 
,coop]ation 9 ,europe01 approv$ ,june   

#c1 #aigf 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #cjjh7;d77#b77 
is am5d$ by /rik+ #ccjd7;c77#a7 & ins]t+
 #ccjd7;i77#a74  7,c7 ,u4,s4-,*9a       
,relations ,act ( #bjjj ,section        
#cjh7;e77#b7 ( ! ,u4,s4-,*9a ,relations 
,act ( #bjjj 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4             
#fiah7;e77#b77 is am5d$ by /rik+        
#ccjd7;c77#a7 & ins]t+ #ccjd7;i77#a74   
7,d7 ,en]gy ,indep5d5ce & ,security ,act
 ( #bjjg ,section #acf7;i77#a7 ( !      
,en]gy ,indep5d5ce & ,security ,act (   
#bjjg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agjac7;i77#a77 is 
am5d$ by /rik+ #ccjd7;a77#c7 & ins]t+   
#ccjd7;b77#c74  7,e7 ,subsection head+s 
,section #ccjd ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code1 z am5d$ by p>agraph 7#a7 ( ?is  
subsection1 is am5d$-- 7i7 9 subsection 
7b71 by /rik+ ,! ,presid5t & ins]t+     
,rules4--,! ,presid5t2  7ii7 9          
subsection 7h71 by /rik+ ,an individual 
& ins]t+ ,exam9ation or exception       
requir$4--,an individual2  7iii7 9      
subsection 7i71 by /rik+ 7#a7 ,= !      
purpose & ins]t+ ,te*nicians4--7#a7 ,= !
 purpose2  7iv7 9 subsection 7j71 by    

/rik+ ,! ,(fice & ins]t+ ,consid]ation (
 exp]i5ce4--,! (fice2  7v7 9 subsection 
7k71 by /rik+ ,employees & ins]t+ ,use (
 public build+s4--,employees2 &  7vi7 9 
subsection 7l71 by /rik+ 7#a7 ,pref]5ce 
eligibles or vet]ans & ins]t+ ,pref]5ce 
eligibles & vet]ans4--7#a7 ,pref]5ce    
eligibles or vet]ans4  7b7 ,free/&+     
def9itions ,9 ?is ,act-- 7#a7 ea* t]m t 
is def9$ 9 section #ccjd7;a7 ( title #e1
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z add$ by         
subsection 7a7 ( ?is section1 %all h !  
mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 su* section          
#ccjd7;a72 &  7#b7 ! t]m competitive    
s]vice has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section 
#bajb ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  
#c4 ,mod]niz+ ,f$]al hir+ ,section #ccjd
 ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is    
am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] subsection 7b71 z  
r$esignat$ by section #b1 ! foll[+3  7c7
 ,exam9ations  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,= !       
purpose ( te/+ applicants = appo9tm5t = 
a position1 or class ( positions1 9 !   
competitive s]vice1 an exam9+ ag5cy %all
 conduct an exam9ation pursuant to      

subsection 7b74  7#b7 ,int]im exam9ation
 p]iod  7,a7 ,pref]5ce = te*nical       
assessm5t ,dur+ ! #c-ye> p]iod beg9n+ on
 ! date ( enactm5t ( ! ,*ance to        
,compete ,act ( #bjbd1 an exam9+ ag5cy  
%all pref]5ce ! use ( a te*nical        
assessm5t1 to ! maximum ext5t           
practicable1 to assess ! job-relat$     
skills1 abilities1 k1 & compet5cies ( an
 applicant = a position 9 ! competitive 
s]vice4  7,b7 ,use ( alt]native         
assessm5t ,dur+ ! #c-ye> p]iod beg9n+ on
 ! date ( enactm5t ( ! ,*ance to        
,compete ,act ( #bjbd1 if an exam9+     
ag5cy det]m9es t ! use ( a te*nical     
assessm5t to assess ! job-relat$ skills1
 abilities1 k1 & compet5cies ( an       
applicant = a position 9 ! competitive  
s]vice is n practicable1 ! exam9+ ag5cy 
may use an alt]native assessm5t = t     
purpose if ! exam9+ ag5cy includes a    
brief description ( ! rationale = ! use 
( ! alt]native assessm5t 9 ! job po/+4  
7#c7 ,transition plann+  7,a7 ,9 g5]al  
,n lat] #ah mon?s aft] ! date ( enactm5t

 ( ! ,*ance to ,compete ,act ( #bjbd1 ! 
,director %all submit to ! relevant     
committees a plan to transition ,f$]al  
hir+ practices to adopt te*nical        
assessm5ts 9 accordance ) subsection    
7d71 :i* %all include-- 7i7 !           
prioritization (-- 7,i7 job             
classifications2 &  7,,ii7 res\rce      
requirem5ts2 &  7ii7 a timel9e = full   
implem5tation ( ! transition4  7,b7     
,additional consultation ,9 develop+ !  
plan "u subp>agraph 7,a71 ! ,director   
%all consult )1 at m9imum-- 7i7 !       
,director ( ! ,(fice ( ,managem5t &     
,budget2  7ii7 ! ,*air ( ! ,*ief ,human 
,capital ,(fic]s ,c\ncil2  7iii7        
employee repres5tatives2 &  7iv7        
relevant ext]nal /akehold]s4  7#d7      
,implem5tation ( te*nical assessm5ts    
7,a7 ,implem5tation ( plan ,n lat] ?an  
#c ye>s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( !      
,*ance to ,compete ,act ( #bjbd1 !      
,director %all implem5t ! plan submitt$ 
"u p>agraph 7#c74  7,b7 ,adoption (     
te*nical assessm5ts ,on & aft] ! date t 

is #c ye>s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( !   
,*ance to ,compete ,act ( #bjbd1 an     
exam9+ ag5cy %all use a te*nical        
assessm5t to exam9e applicants =        
positions 9 ! competitive s]vice 9      
accordance ) subsection 7d74  7,c7      
,waiv]  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,! requirem5t "u   
subp>agraph 7,b7 %all n apply to an     
exam9+ ag5cy ) respect to a p>ticul> job
 s]ies if-- 7,i7 ! exam9+ ag5cy det]m9es
 t use ( a te*nical assessm5t is        
impracticable = ! job s]ies2 &  7,,ii7 !
 head ( ! exam9+ ag5cy submits to !     
,director & ! relevant committees a     
c]tification t use ( ! te*nical         
assessm5t is impracticable1 :i*         
c]tification %all include-- 7aa7        
id5tification ( ! job s]ies2  7bb7      
id5tification ( ! numb] ( positions t   
are includ$ 9 ! job s]ies )9 ! ag5cy =  
:i* ! exam9+ ag5cy is conduct+          
exam9ations2 &  7cc7 a description ( !  
rationale = ! det]m9ation4  7ii7        
,effectiv5ess ( waiv] ,a waiv] "u ?is   
subp>agraph %all be effective = !       

p]iod-- 7,i7 beg9n+ on ! date t is #a   
day aft] ! date on :i* ! applicable     
c]tification is submitt$ "u clause      
7i77,,ii72 &  7,,ii7 end+ on ! date t is
 #c ye>s aft] ! date on :i* ! applicable
 c]tification is submitt$ "u clause     
7i77,,ii74  7iii7 ,no delegation (      
c]tification au?ority ,! head ( an      
exam9+ ag5cy may n delegate ! au?ority  
to submit a c]tification "u clause      
7i77,,ii74  7d7 ,te*nical assessm5t     
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,= ! purpose ( conduct+ an
 exam9ation = a position 9 ! competitive
 s]vice1 an individual :o is det]m9$ by 
an exam9+ ag5cy to be a subject matt]   
exp]t 9 ! subject & job field ( !       
position may-- 7,a7 develop1 9 p>tn]%ip 
) human res\rces employees ( ! exam9+   
ag5cy1 a position-specific assessm5t t  
is relevant to ! position1 bas$ on job  
analysis1 :i* may include-- 7i7 a       
/ructur$ int]view2  7ii7 a "w-relat$    
ex]cise2  7iii7 a cu/om or g5]ic        
proc$ure us$ to measure an applicant's  
employm5t or c>e]-relat$ qualifications 

& int]e/s2 or  7iv7 ano!r assessm5t t-- 
7,i7 all[s = ! demon/ration ( job-relat$
 te*nical skills1 abilities1 & k2 &     
7,,ii7 is relevant to ! position = :i* !
 assessm5t is develop$2 &  7,b7 adm9i/] 
! assessm5t develop$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7
 to-- 7i7 det]m9e :e!r an applicant = ! 
position has a pass+ score to be        
qualifi$ = ! position2 or  7ii7 rank    
applicants = ! position = category rat+ 
purposes "u section #ccai4  7#b7        
,feasibility /udy on %>+ & cu/omization 
( assessm5t ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] !   
date ( enactm5t ( ! ,*ance to ,compete  
,act ( #bjbd1 ! ,director %all-- 7,a7   
conduct a feasibility /udy t exam9es !  
practicability1 includ+ a co/ b5efit    
analysis1 (-- 7i7 ! %>+ ( te*nical      
assessm5ts by an exam9+ ag5cy ) ano!r   
exam9+ ag5cy2  7ii7 me*anisms = ea*     
exam9+ ag5cy to ma9ta9 appropriate      
control ov] exam9ation mat]ial t is %>$ 
by ! exam9+ ag5cy z describ$ 9 clause   
7i72  7iii7 limits on cu/omization ( a  
te*nical assessm5t t is %>$ z describ$ 9

 clause 7i7 & me*anisms to ensure t !   
result+ te*nical assessm5t satisfies !  
requirem5ts "u "p #cjj ( title #e1 ,code
 ( ,f$]al ,regulations 7or any successor
 regulation72 &  7iv7 ! developm5t ( an 
onl9e plat=m on :i* exam9+ ag5cies c %>e
 & cu/omize te*nical assessm5ts z       
describ$ 9 ?is subp>agraph2 &  7,b7     
submit to ! relevant committees a report
 on ! /udy conduct$ "u subp>agraph 7,a74
  7e7 ,f$]al ag5cy tal5t teams  7#a7 ,9 
g5]al ,an ag5cy may e/abli% #a or m     
ag5cy tal5t teams1 includ+ at ! compon5t
 level4  7#b7 ,duties ,an ag5cy tal5t   
team %all provide hir+ support to !     
ag5cy1 includ+ by-- 7,a7 improv+        
exam9ations2  7,b7 facilitat+ ! writ+ ( 
job ann\ncem5ts = ! competitive s]vice2 
7,c7 %>+ high-quality c]tificates (     
eligible applicants2 &  7,d7 facilitat+ 
hir+ = ! competitive s]vice us+         
exam9ations4  7f7 ,(fice ( ,p]sonnel    
,managem5t tal5t team ,! ,director may  
e/abli% a ,f$]al tal5t team to support  
ag5cy tal5t teams by-- 7#a7 facilitat+  

hir+ actions across ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t2 
7#b7 provid+ tra9+2  7#c7 creat+ tools &
 guides to facilitate hir+ = !          
competitive s]vice2 &  7#d7 develop+    
te*nical assessm5ts4  7g7 ,rulemak+ ,!  
,director %all promulgate su*           
regulations z are necess>y to implem5t &
 int]pret ?is section4  4  #d4          
,competitive s]vice c&idate hir+ & re=m 
7a7 ,review  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,director 
%all conduct a review ( exam9ations =   
hir+ = ea* position 9 ! competitive     
s]vice t an exam9+ ag5cy has det]m9$    
requires a m9imum educational requirem5t
 because ! position is ( a sci5tific1   
te*nical1 or pr(essional nature pursuant
 to section #ccjh ( title #e1 ,unit$    
,/ates ,code1 to det]m9e :e!r data1     
evid5ce1 or o!r in=mation ju/ifies ! ne$
 = educational requirem5ts = ! position4
  7#b7 ,consultation ,9 c>ry+ out       
p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,director %all consult 
)1 at m9imum-- 7,a7 ag5cies1 z deem$    
appropriate by ! ,director2  7,b7       
employee repres5tatives2  7,c7 ext]nal  

exp]ts2 &  7,d7 relevant /akehold]s4    
7b7 ,report on hir+ practices ,n lat]   
?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is 
,act1 ! ,director %all submit to !      
relevant committees recomm5dations to   
am5d ! hir+ practices ( exam9+ ag5cies 9
 accordance ) ! f9d+s ( ! review        
conduct$ "u subsection 7a77#a74  #e4    
,reports  7a7 ,implem5tation reports    
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! 
date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 & ea* ye>   
!reaft] end+ ) ! fif? publication &     
submission ( ! report1 ! ,director %all 
publi% on a public-fac+ website1 &      
submit to ! relevant committees1 a      
report t-- 7,a7 exam9es ! progress (    
exam9+ ag5cies 9 implem5t+ ! requirem5ts
 ( ?is ,act & ! am5dm5ts made by ?is    
,act2 &  7,b7 id5tifies any significant 
difficulties enc\nt]$ 9 ! implem5tation 
describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a74  7#b7      
,inclusion 9 annual report ,! ,director 
may include ! report requir$ "u p>agraph
 7#a7 z an add5dum to ! report requir$  
"u subsection 7b74  7#c7 ,delay$ report+

 ,if ! ,director is unable to publi% &  
submit ! report )9 ! timel9e requir$ "u 
p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,director %all publi%  
on a public-fac+ website1 & submit to ! 
relevant committees1 a notification ( ! 
delay t-- 7,a7 provides a reason = !    
delay2 &  7,b7 advises ! public & !     
relevant committees ( ! anticipat$ date 
( publication & submission ( ! report4  
7b7 ,annual report  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n    
lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( enactm5t (
 ?is ,act1 & ea* ye> !reaft]1 !         
,director %all publi% on a public-fac+  
website & submit to ! relevant          
committees a report t1 ) respect to     
categories ( positions 9 ! competitive  
s]vice = :i* an exam9+ ag5cy exam9$     
applicants dur+ ! applicable p]iod1     
includes-- 7,a7 ! type ( exam9ation us$2
 &  7,b7 summ>y data f exam9ations t are
 clos$1 audit$1 & anonym\s on ! use (   
exam9ations = ! competitive s]vice1     
includ+ te*nical assessm5ts4  7#b7      
,demographic indicators ,9 c>ry+ out    
p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,director %all break ! 

data d[n by applicant demographic       
indicators to facilitate direct         
comp>ability & tr5dl9e comp>isons to    
data available z ( ,octob] #a1 #bjbj1 z 
a basel9e4  7#c7 ,limitations ,9 c>ry+  
out ?is subsection1 ! ,director may only
 publi% & submit to ! relevant          
committees data relat+ to exam9ations = 
:i*-- 7,a7 ! relat$ ann\ncem5t is clos$2
  7,b7 c]tificates h be5 audit$2 &  7,c7
 all hir+ processes are complet$4  7#d7 
,delay$ report+ ,if ! ,director is      
unable to publi% & submit ! report )9 ! 
timel9e requir$ "u p>agraph 7#a71 !     
,director %all publi% on a public-fac+  
website1 & submit to ! relevant         
committees1 a notification ( ! delay t--
 7,a7 provides a reason = ! delay2 &    
7,b7 advises ! public & ! relevant      
committees ( ! anticipat$ date (        
publication & submission ( ! report4    
7c7 ,provision ( data by ag5cies  7#a7  
,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] !   
date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,director 
%all issue guidance to exam9+ ag5cies   

reg>d+ ! data t ! ,director ne$s f !    
exam9+ ag5cies 9 ord] to comply )       
subsections 7a7 & 7b74  7#b7 ,report+   
timel9es ,ea* exam9+ ag5cy %all provide 
! data outl9$ 9 ! guidance issu$ by !   
,director "u p>agraph 7#a7 on a qu>t]ly 
basis4  #f4 ,,gao report ,n lat] ?an #c 
ye>s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 
! ,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates  
%all submit to ,congress a report t--   
7#a7 assesses ! implem5tation ( ?is ,act
 & ! am5dm5ts made by ?is ,act2  7#b7   
assesses ! impact ( modifications made  
by ?is ,act to ! hir+ process = !       
competitive s]vice "u section #ccjd (   
title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code2 &  7#c7  
makes recomm5dations = ! improvem5t ( ! 
hir+ process = ! competitive s]vice4    
#g4 ,evaluation = pot5tial updates or   
revisions to gov]nm5t-wide sy/ems (     
records at ! ,(fice ( ,p]sonnel         
,managem5t  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #a 
ye> aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !
 ,director %all evaluate :e!r !         
,gov]nm5t-wide sy/em ( records notices1 

! ,,opm_/,,govt-#e ,recruit+1 ,exam9+1 &
 ,placem5t ,records1 & !                
,,opm_/,,govt-#f ,p]sonnel ,rese>* &    
,te/ ,validation ,records1 or any       
successor mat]ials !reto1 require updat+
 or revision 9 ord] to support !        
implem5tation ( ?is ,act & ! am5dm5ts   
made by ?is ,act4  7b7 ,issuance (      
updates or revisions2 notice to         
,congress ,if ! ,director det]m9es "u   
subsection 7a7 t any updates or         
revisions are necess>y1 ! ,director1 9  
accordance ) section #eeb;a ( title #e1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code 7commonly kn[n z !  
,privacy ,act71 %all promptly-- 7#a7    
issue ! updates or revisions2 &  7#b7   
notify ! relevant committees4  ,pass$ ! 
,s5ate ,decemb] #ab1 #bjbd4,secret>y