Category Rating

1
Category Rating
2
What is Category Rating?

• Hiring tool in the competitive examining process.
• Alternative ranking and selection procedure with
  category rating ranking and selection procedures.
• Optional use instead of traditional ranking and
  selection procedures.

3
History of Category Rating

• Department of Agriculture had the first
  demonstration project testing category rating.
• Category rating replaced the traditional
  numerical rating and ranking process in the
  Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Forest
  Service (FS).

4
USDA

• Used for both white-collar and blue-collar
  positions GS-1 through GS-15 with the exception
  of ALJs and Luevano Consent Decree positions.
• Recruitment and retention incentives.
• Extended probationary period for research
  scientists.

5
USDA

• ARS is responsible for extending the nations
  scientific knowledge across a broad range of
  program areas that affect the American people on
  a daily basis.
• Work is performed in fundamental and applied
  research related animal production, natural
  resources systems and crop production.

6
USDA

• FS is responsible for managing and protecting 193
  million acres of lands 2/3s of the nations
  Federally owned lands.
• Comprised of the National Forests, National
  Grasslands, Research and Development, State and
  Private Forestry.

7
USDA

• Applicants assessed against criteria and are
  placed in one of two pre-defined categories
  Eligible and Quality.
• Eligible Group Applicants who meet basic
  qualification requirements established for the
  position.

8
USDA Quality Group

• Above Average Educational Experience High
  School, Associate, or Baccalaureate Degree, if
  2.7 GPA (All courses, or courses completed the
  last two years), Or 3.0 GPA in Major area, Or
  Membership in National Honor Society (Applies
  to post-high school only).
• Advanced Degree appropriate to the position being
  filled. OR

9
USDA Quality Group

• Quality Experience Experience in the field
  directly related to the position being filled. OR
• Demonstration of High Ability to do the Work
  Directly related trade or vocational program
  certificate, or
• With a 2.7 GPA in directly related course work
  above high school level.

10
USDA

• Candidates are assessed and placed in a group
  based on assessment.
• Preference eligibles are listed ahead of
  non-preference eligibles within each category (no
  points are assigned).
• Selecting official selects from among candidates
  in the group.

11
USDA

• Qualified preference eligibles with a compensable
  service-connected disability of more (CPS) than
  10 but less than 30 (CP) move from the
  category in which they placed to the top of the
  highest quality group (except for scientific or
  professional positions at the GS-9 level or
  higher).

12
Authorization to use Category Rating

• Authorized under the Chief Human Capital Officers
  Act of 2002 (Title XIII of the Homeland Security
  Act of 2002) and codified at 5 U.S.C. 3319.
• Agencies have the authority to develop a
  category-based rating method as an alternative
  way to assess job applicants for positions filled
  through competitive examining.

13
References

• 5 U.S.C. 3319
• 5 CFR part 337, subpart C
• Delegated Examining Operations Handbook, Chapter
  5, Section B
• www.opm.gov/employ/category_rating/index.asp

14
Policy Requirements

• Define quality categories prior to announcing the
  job.
• Establish a minimum of two quality categories (no
  not-qualified).
• Establish policy requirements.
• Submit annual report to Congress.

15
Defining Quality Categories

• Human Resources Specialist (Staffing), GS-201-14,
  headquarters policy office
• Highly Qualified Senior Human Resources
  Specialist in an agency headquarters office with
  experience writing regulations or agency policy,
  or providing guidance on staffing, downsizing, or
  realignments.

16

• Qualified Senior Human Resources Specialist
  with operations experience in staffing,downsizing
  or realignments.
• Applicants are assessed and placed in categories.
• Preference eligibles are listed ahead of
  non-preference eligibles within each category (no
  points are assigned).
• Selecting official selects from among candidates
  in the group.

17

• Qualified preference eligibles with a compensable
  service-connected disability of more (CPS) than
  10 but less than 30 (CP) move from the category
  in which they placed to the top of the highest
  quality group (except for scientific or
  professional positions at the GS-9 level or
  higher).

18
Questions?

• Thank you,
• Mary Ann Jenkins
• Department of Agriculture
• [phone]
• maryann.jenkins_at_usda.gov