The following requirements are prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management and used to determine minimum qualifications.

Individual Occupational Requirements


Basic Requirements:
 

  1. Degree: Mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science or field directly related to the position. The degree must be in a major field of study (at least at the baccalaureate level) that is appropriate for the position.
  2. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major field of study (30 semester hours) as shown in paragraph A above, plus additional education or appropriate experience.

Experience and education requirements for GS-7 and above

In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants must have specialized experience and/or directly related education in the amounts shown in the table below.

GRADE/
POSITIONS
EDUCATION SPECIALIZED
EXPERIENCE
GS-7 1 year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement 1 year equivalent to at least GS-5
GS-9 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree 1 year equivalent to at least GS-7
GS-11 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree 1 year equivalent to at least GS-9
GS-12
and
above
  1 year equivalent to at least next lower grade level

Research Positions

GS-11
research positions
Master's or equivalent graduate degree 1 year equivalent to at least GS-9
GS-12
research positions
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree 1 year equivalent to at least GS-11
GS-13 and above
research positions
  1 year equivalent to at least next lower grade level


NOTE: Education and experience may be combined for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable.

This page was last updated on February 28, 2023