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Form 2847
May 1940

INFORMATION FOR ELIGIBLES

1. Change of address.-Eligibles should report PROMPTLY to the Commission any change of address. Failure to do so try these love of appointment.
2. Inquiries regarding examination.-Any necessary communication regarding this examination should be addressed to the Commission. Eligibles should in every instance state the kind of examination, date when taken, address at the time, and rating attained.
3. Availability.-It is the duty of the Commission, when departments request certification to fill vacancies, to certify only the names of those persons who are available for employment, Accordingly, the Commission must know the precise conditions under which the eligible is willing to accept appointment so that it may determine whether to certify his name. Employment may be either temporary or probational. If eligibles are not able and willing to accept temporary employment, they must definitely so inform the Commission, An eligible who has not already stated accurately the lowest salary he is willing to accept should do so immediately. If willing to accept appointment only in certain localities, he must indicate clearly the place or places where he would accept employment. When an eligible is no longer able to accept temporary employment, or employment under the conditions of salary or locality which he previously indicated were acceptable, he should report at once the conditions under which he will now accept.
4. IMPORTANT.-Loss of eligibility upon failure to accept appointment.-An eligible who has neglected to report the fact of his unavailability or the changes in the conditions under which he is willing to accept appointment, and who, after certification, fails to accept a probational or a permanent appointment when offered, will be dropped from the eligible register. His eligibility will not be restored unless he gives reasons for failure to accept which are satisfactory to the Commission, and assurance that he will accept the next appointment offered under the conditions he gives as acceptable.
5. Suspension of eligibility.-Upon request in writing, eligibility may be suspended for any period within the total period of eligibility. If at any time an eligible becomes unable to accept appointment under any conditions, he should immediately request that his eligibility be suspended. If he later becomes available during the period of eligibility (see par. 14), his eligibility will then be restored upon request.
6. Relative standing.-The relative standing of eligibles is determined by the rating attained, except as modified by the State apportionment, by veteran preference (see par. 18), and by the certification procedure outlines in the examination announcement. Relative standing is subject to variation by the addition to the register of new eligibles with higher ratings, by the entry on the reemployment list of the names of persons separated because of reduction of force, by restoration of eligibles previously not available, by the appointment or declination of those with higher ratings by the granting of veteran preference after the register has been established, and by other changes/
7. Apportionment.-Appointments in the departmental service at Washington are required by law to be apportioned among the States, Territories, and the District of Columbia, upon the basis of population.
8. Field appointments.-Positions in the field service in Washington, D.C., and outside, are not subject to the apportionment but are in what is known as the "nonapportioned service." For the purpose of certification in filling most such positions the United States is divided into districts, and certification is confined to residents of the district in which the position is located.
6. Certification-selection.-Upon request of an appointing officer to fill a vacancy, the names of the highest three eligibles on the appropriate register are certified. The appointing officer may select any one of the three, notifying the eligible chosen, The Commission has no authority to interfere in the proper exercise of this discretionary power.
10. Separate list of eligible Government employees.-Upon earning a rating of 70 in an examination, employees in the Federal classified civil service have their names placed on a separate list of eligible Government employees, provided that, on the date of the close of receipt of applications for the examination, they have completed their period of probation. Their names are also placed on the general register if they meet the age requirement specified in the examination announcement, or if they have been granted veteran preference (whether or not they meet the age requirement). Veteran preference credit (addition of 5 or 10 points to the earned rating, as explained in par. 18) is not allowed in connection with the employee list. When requesting certification of eligibles the appointing officer has the right to specify whether certification of eligibles the appointing officer has the right to specify whether certification shall be made from the general register or from the employee list.
11. Prospects of certifications.-The Commission ordinarily has no definite information as to the occurrence of vacancies until requested to make certification, and is therefore unable to predict with certainty an eligible's prospects of certification.
12. Certification out of turn not permissible.- Examination papers are rated under a system which insures accuracy and fairness. Likewise, under the method of certification, nothing can advance or retard the certification of an eligible's name out of turn. The higher the rating received the more likely it is that it will be reached for certification. (In this connection, see par. 6, "Relative standing." and par. 18, "Veteran preference.")
13. Restriction on number of certifications.-When an eligible is considered for three vacancies by any one appointing officer, in connection with any one examination, and is not selected for appointment, the eligible's name will not be certified again to that appointing officer in connection with that examination.
14. Period of eligibility.-The period of eligibility is ordinarily 1 year from the date of establishment of the register. (This date is approximately the date appearing on the notice of rating.) The period of eligibility cannot be extended in individual cases. When the needs of the service require it, the period may be extended for the entire register for an additional year but not for a longer period without rerating the eligibles in accordance with the examination requirements. Eligibility resulting from examinations reopened to persons granted 10-oint preference continues only until the expiration of the register, even though they may receive less than 1 year of eligibility.
15. Removal of name from register.-Probationary appointment causes the removal of an eligible's name from the register from which appointed and from all other registers resulting from the same examination. Pro9bationaru appointment also causes the removal of an eligible's name from registers resulting from all other examinations of grades equal to or lower than the one from which appointed, but, upon request in writing, within the period of eligibility, a name may be restored to in writing, within the period of eligibility, a name may be restored to these registers for the remainder of the period. Where presence of an eligible's name on a register resulting from a competitive examination is the basis for authorizing the elegible's transfer, reinstatement, or change in status, his name is removed from the register, unless the register is for a position of a higher grade than that to which he is appointed (by transfer, reinstatement, or change in status); if other registers of a lower grade resulted from the same examination, the eligible's name is removed also from the same examination, the eligible's name is removed also from those registers. Temporary appointment does not affect eligibility for the permanent appointment, either favorably of unfavorably.
16. Subsequent examination.-A person who takes an examination, whether he passes of fails, may enter any subsequent examination for which he is qualified. If, while eligible, he is again examined for the new one, his new rating, if eligible, supersedes the old, whether higher or lower; if ineligible, the new rating will not affect the old and his eligibility will continue for the remainder of the usual period.
17. Period of probation.-The first year of service, except when temporary, constitutes a period of probation, unless a shorter period, not less than 6 months, is provided by regulation for any specific position. Upon written request, the name of a probationer separated from the service without delinquency or misconduct may be restored to the eligible register, at the discretion of the Commission, for the remainder of the period of eligibility.
18. Veteran preference.-For eligibility a rating of 70 is required. Veterans allowed preference on submission of the required documentary proof have 5 points added and need earn a rating of only 65, except that the following have 10 points added and need earn a rating of only 60: (1) Veterans who submit official statements from the proper departments showing the present existence of service-connected disability; (2) veterans over 55 years of age who, because of disability, whether service-connected or not, are entitled by law to pension or compensation; (3) widows of veterans; and (4) wives of veterans mentioned in (1) and 92) above when the veterans themselves are disqualified for appointment because of disability. Names of 10-point preference eligibles are placed at the head of register. Veterans are released from age limitations, up to the retirement age, except for a few positions; they are also released from many physical requirements. Any military or naval service subsequent to the filing of an application should be promptly reported. Preference as a veteran's widow is canceled upon remarriage of the widow. Women who claim widow preference should therefore notify the Commission of any change in their marital status.
19. Members of family.-Section 9 of the Civil Service Act provides that whenever there are already two or more members of a family in the classified service, no other member of such family is eligible for appointment in that service. Eligibles are warned that they should not accept appointment contrary to this provision of law, and that if they do so, any expense in reporting for duty will be incurred at their own risk. The eligible should report promptly to the Commission the appointment to service, or the separation from the service, of any member or members of his family, as his eligibility for appointment may be affected thereby.
20. Section 10. Civil Service Act, provide: "That no recommendations of any person who shall apply for office or place under the provisions of this act, which may be given by any Senator of Member of the House of Representatives, except as to the character or residence of the applicant, shall be received or  considered by any person concerned in making any examination or appointment under this act."
21. Physical ability.-TO receive appointment eligible must be physically capable of performing the duties of the position to be filled. Persons appointed will be given a physical examination by a Federal medical officer before entering on duty.
If an appointment should be offered you and you have any doubt as to your physical condition, it may save you unnecessary trouble and expense to have a thorough physical examination made by a doctor of medicine, in which event you should show him the statements of duties and of physical requirements in the announcement of the examination taken, to guide him in making observations.
You are cautioned not to resign any position you may hold, when offered appointment, until your physical condition is declared satisfactory by the Commission.
NOTE.-Remediable defect or curable disease.-A remediable defect or curable disease will not exclude a person from examination, but proof that such defect has been remedied, or disease cured, must be received during the life of the eligible register before a person who is otherwise qualified my be considered for appointment.
22. Fingerprints.-Fingerprints of all appointees, other than temporary, are taken before entrance on duty.

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