OPM sets rules for new intern program

The Office of Personnel Management is soliciting comments on interim rules issued Thursday that specify how the new Federal Career Intern Program will be governed. In July, President Clinton issued an executive order creating the program, which is designed to offer professional civil service experience to participants and to provide a pool of experienced job candidates to agencies. Employees brought in under the program will receive excepted-service appointments for up to two years at grades GS-5 through GS-9. Under the interim rules, which became effective on Thursday, appointments can be extended for one year with OPM's written approval. OPM also will decide what criteria agencies will use to recruit, screen and place the interns. The intern jobs can be professional, administrative or technical. When the program ends, the regulations specify that participants have the option of converting to permanent jobs in the civil service without going through the competitive process. Federal employees already working for the government can also apply for the intern program. If such employees decide not to finish the program, the interim rules allow them to return to their previous jobs at the same pay rate, provided the internship position is in the same agency where the employee served as a career worker. Program participants can take advantage of career development opportunities available to federal employees, including job rotations, conferences, seminars and training classes. An agency can adjust the program to meet its needs, including determining how to delegate authority for the program and creating agency-specific training programs for participants. Comments on the Federal Career Intern Program rules should be directed to:

Carol J. Okin, Associate Director for Employment, Office of Personnel Management, Room 6500, 1900 E Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20415-9000. The deadline for comments is Jan. 16.