What is the Schedule A hiring authority?
There are several ways for individuals to be hired into the Federal Government. These avenues are called hiring authorities. One avenue available for people with disabilities is the Schedule A hiring authority, or Schedule A for short.
The Schedule A hiring authority allows people with disabilities to be hired for federal positions without competing with the general public if they meet the eligibility requirements for Schedule A and are qualified for the position they are seeking or being considered for. Each hiring agency decides when to use Schedule A, so not all federal jobs are Schedule A eligible.
Schedule A, 5 CFR 213.3102(u), is the statute for hiring people with psychiatric disabilities, severe physical disabilities, and intellectual disabilities into the Federal Government. Individuals hired under this authority have a two-year probationary period and can qualify for permanent status after two years of satisfactory service.
Schedule A allows federal employers to hire qualified candidates with disabilities much more quickly than through the traditional hiring process. Federal employers value the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) as a source of qualified, Schedule A–eligible candidates.
What documentation does someone need to be hired under Schedule A?
To be eligible under Schedule A, candidates must provide the required supporting documentation—commonly, the Schedule A letter—when it is requested by the federal agency to which they are applying. The Schedule A letter must indicate that the candidate has an intellectual disability, a severe physical disability, or a psychiatric disability. The letter should be presented on official letterhead and signed by a:
- licensed medical professional, such as a primary care physician, family physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, audiologist, or other specialist;
- certified rehabilitation professional; or
- federal or state agency or entity that issues or provides disability benefits, such as the Social Security Administration or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Schedule A letter does not need to include the candidate’s individual diagnosis, medical history, or need for an accommodation.
The WRP requires applicants to confirm that they are people with disabilities eligible to use the Schedule A hiring authority. Students and recent graduates must verify program eligibility by providing a Schedule A letter when applying to the WRP.
Please be aware that some agencies may request additional documentation as proof of disability.
What should a Schedule A letter say or contain?
Please view and download an example of a Schedule A letter here. Learn more about the steps to obtain a Schedule A letter here.
For more information about the Schedule A hiring authority, please refer to the following websites: U.S. Office of Personnel Management, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and USAJOBS.
Letters do not need to include the individual’s specific disability or diagnosis, medical history, or need for accommodation. Although some students may need to provide documentation to support an accommodation request later, they do not need to disclose specifics at this point in the hiring process.
How do I know if my student is eligible for Schedule A? What does “psychiatric, severe physical, or intellectual disability” mean?
The regulations do not specify particular disabilities under those three categories of disability. Students must have a licensed medical professional, certified rehabilitation professional, or disability benefits agency provide the documentation. It is up to the medical or rehabilitation expert to make this determination.
How is Schedule A related to the WRP? Does the WRP require a Schedule A letter?
All WRP applicants must be students and recent graduates with a disability and be eligible for Schedule A. Candidates are required to submit a Schedule A letter to apply for the WRP.
I have my student’s disability documentation on file since I work in disability services. Can I write their Schedule A letter?
In most cases, no, you may not. However, if you are also a licensed medical professional or a certified vocational rehabilitation professional working with the student, you may be able to write their letter. In some cases, disability or career services offices partner with the health care center on campus and a licensed professional from that office may be able to support writing Schedule A letters for students that have appropriate documentation with them. Otherwise, the student should request the letter from their doctor or another licensed medical professional.
I am having trouble getting a particular licensed medical professional to understand how Schedule A works. What should I do?
If you have permission from the student to do so, you may explain Schedule A to the medical professional directly or help the student craft communication to explain it. You can also point the medical professional to the sources at the bottom of this fact sheet for more information. Please email WRP@dol.gov with questions.
Can my students and recent graduates use the Schedule A hiring authority outside of WRP for Federal Government job and internship opportunities?
Yes. Although the WRP is a primary employment resource for Schedule A candidates, they can also identify as eligible for Schedule A in their USAJOBS profile and directly contact the selective placement program coordinator at agencies they are interested in working for.
Do you have to be a student or recent graduate to be hired using Schedule A?
No, anyone with a disability who has a Schedule A letter can be hired into federal positions using this authority. The WRP Talent Program is specifically for students and recent graduates, but Schedule A is used outside of our program to hire individuals with disabilities. Former WRP applicants or other individuals with disabilities can continue to look for employment using Schedule A, even if they are no longer a student or recent graduate.
Sources for this guide:
The ABCs of Schedule A: Tips for Applicants with Disabilities on Getting Federal Jobs from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Schedule A Hiring Authority from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management