Among the highest priorities of the IRS workforce recruitment strategy is building a workforce that is highly skilled. In order to achieve this, we use the Schedule A Excepted Service Appointing Authority. This authority allows for appointments for positions that are specifically excepted from the competitive service by law, the President, or the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

People with disabilities, veterans, and students are eligible to participate in the Schedule A Excepted Service Appointment Authority. This appointing authority enables our teams to expedite the hiring process. In turn, we are better able to maintain a workforce that is highly skilled. Our strength allows for unique approaches to problem-solving, perspectives and experiences. If you have a desire to works as a civil servant in an exciting career with competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and opportunities for career advancement. We would like to hear from you!

Please review this page to find information to any questions you may have related to the Excepted Service Appointing Authority.

What is Schedule A?

Schedule A (5 C.F.R. 213.3102(u)) is an Excepted Service Appointing Authority for Federal agencies to tap into an exceptional talent pool of people with disabilities without going through the (often-lengthy) traditional hiring process. Eligible applicants must be a person with severe physical, psychiatric, or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, or intellectual disability, psychiatric disorders, muscular or neurological disorders. Other less obvious disabilities are also subject to eligibility such as lupus, AIDS, diabetes, or heart disease. Other groups that may apply using the Schedule A appointment authority are veterans. After 2 years of satisfactory service, the agency may convert the employee, without competition, to the competitive service. 

What is the Excepted Service Appointment Authority?

Excepted service appointing authorities are critical tools for increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the Federal Government. Federal Government civilian positions are traditionally acquired through a merit based competitive civil service hiring process. This means that an applicant will have to compete against other applicants to ultimately be chosen for the desired position. 

The Excepted Service Appointment Authority is a streamline hiring process that allows applicants satisfying all Federal requirements to be exempted from the traditional competitive hiring process and placed into an appointed hiring status.

There are four classifications identified as “schedules” established under the Excepted Service Appointing Authority. The schedule(s) are simply titled by letter A, B, C, D. This page will focus specifically upon Schedule A (5 C.F.R. 213.3102(u)) hiring authority for people with disabilities.  

Who can use Schedule A? 

Applicants choosing to apply for Federal appointments though the Schedule A process must provide proof of eligibility under 5 C.F.R. 213.3102(u)

• Proof of Disability: An individual wishing to be hired under this Schedule A (5 C.F.R. 213.3102(u)) authority must provide proof of being an individual with an intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability. This proof must be provided to the hiring agency before an individual can be hired. This proof may be in the form of documentation obtained from licensed medical professionals, state or private vocational rehabilitation specialists, or any Government agency that issues or provides disability benefits. 

As a person with a disability, do I have to apply only as a Schedule A applicant?

No, how you apply is completely up to you. Schedule A applicants may apply for a vacancy in the following ways:

1. Choose to use the Excepted Service Special Appointing Authority Pathway.
   • After 2 years of satisfactory service, the agency may convert applicant, without competition, to the competitive service.
   • Probationary period is one (1) year.
   • There is no limit to the number of times you can apply under this authority.
2. Choose to not use the Excepted Service Special Appointing Authority and apply competitively
   • Applicants may not convert to Schedule A status during or after this process
   • Applicants are competing amongst other applicants through this process
   • Probationary period is one (1) year.
3. Apply to a vacancy using both competitively and using Excepted Service Special Appointing Authority. Though a candidate applies using both pathways, whatever pathway is started must be continued throughout the hiring process and not change. Candidates with disabilities using the traditional hiring method are entitled to accommodations necessary for their interviews and working accommodations upon their request.