EPA Job Vacancy Announcements: Policies and Procedures
- E-Verify
- Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
- Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)
- Education - Accredited Colleges and Universities
- Interview Process
- Background Investigation Process
- Job Offer Process
- Special Appointing Authority Documentation
- Uploading Resumes and Other Documents to USAJobs
- Part-Time Work Experience
E-Verify: Instant Verification of Work Authorization
NOTICE: Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.
This employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.
IMPORTANT: If we cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, we are required to provide you written instructions and an opportunity to contact SSA and/or DHS before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment.
Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or to re-verify current employees and may not limit or influence the choice of documents presented for use on the Form I-9.
In order to determine whether Form I-9 documentation is valid, this employer uses E-Verify s photo screening tool to match the photograph appearing on some permanent resident and employment authorization cards with the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) photograph.
If you believe that your employer has violated its responsibilities under this program or has discriminated against you during the verification process based upon your national origin or citizenship status, please call the Office of Special Counsel at 1-800-255-7688 (TDD: 1-800-237-2515)
Learn more about E-Verify at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Website.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. Well-qualified is a score of 85. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application.
Information about CTAP eligibility is on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Guide (PDF).
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)
The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility, you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. Well-qualified is a score of 85. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form.
Information about CTAP eligibility is on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Guide (PDF).
Education - Accredited Colleges and Universities
Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet degree/educational requirements. Your claim of college-level education may be checked against federal government and/or accrediting organization databases.
If you earned your degree in a foreign country, you must provide an U.S. equivalency evaluation of your education by a private U.S. organization (credential evaluation service).
For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Policies web page and U.S. Department of Education Accreditation web page.
Interview Process
Interviews are not required. However, if they are conducted, you will be contacted by the selecting official or his/her representative to schedule the interview.
Background Investigation Process
EPA has an established pre-employment security process, contingent on the risk level of the position, that new hires must undergo prior to an official letter of employment can be issued with a report for duty date. All conditions of the pre-employment process must be met by a tentative selectee in order to be hired.
Job Offer Process
Official job offers to tentative hires can only be extended by the EPA Human Resources Office issuing the vacancy announcement.
Additional paperwork will be required from successful candidates. Learn more about the forms you'll need to fill out if you're selected for an EPA job.
Special Appointing Authority Documentation
You are eligible to be hired under a special appointing authority such as those authorized for:
- persons with disabilities;
- disabled veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more;
- certain other veterans;
- spouses of certain members of the armed forces; and
- returning Peace Corps volunteers.
You must submit relevant supporting documentation (e.g., certification from state Office of Vocational Rehabilitation; DD-214 and VA letter; Peace Corps letter, etc).
Learn more about special appointing authorities.
Uploading Resumes and Other Documents to USAJobs
To upload a document in USAJOBS:
- If you haven't already created an account in USAJobs, create one.
- Log-in to USAJobs and click on the "My Account" link at the top of the page.
- Click on the "Resumes" and then "Upload New Resume" link on the left side of the page, or on "Saved Documents" in the middle of the page.
- Click "Browse" and select a file stored on your computer.
- Once you have selected your file, enter a name for the resume or other document, making sure to be as accurate in your description as possible.
- Once selected and named, click "Upload".
- After you have successfully uploaded a document, you can click to view or delete your document(s) at any time.
Part-Time Work Experience
Only experience described in the qualifications section of the vacancy announcement is credited towards meeting the requirements for the position. We will prorate your part-time work that meets the qualification requirements as stated in the announcement for this position. For example, if you work 20 hours per week for a 12-month period, you would receive credit for six months of experience. Your total experience would need to add up to at least one year of full-time experience when qualifying based on your work. We highly recommend that your part-time work be clearly listed on your resume with the actual weekly hours worked, begin and end dates of employment, so that we may fully credit all of the experience that we can for you!