Conversion refers to the process of changing a noncareer employee’s status to a career appointment in one personnel action. The selected noncareer employee should not be separated and then given a career appointment unless the employee’s appointment expires before the employee can be converted to career status.
A conversion to career status based on a competitive authority occurs when a selection is made from a Hiring List and the Hiring List documents the selection. A conversion to career status based on a noncompetitive authority occurs when a selection is made due to noncompetitive eligibility such as reinstatement, transfer from another agency, or veterans recruitment appointment.
A vacancy for a permanent position must exist for an employee to be converted to a career appointment. Conversion is not possible to a temporary vacancy (for example, due to another employee’s absence on active military duty).
Except as required by a collective bargaining agreement, an employee who is not entitled to veterans’ preference may not be converted to career status in a position restricted to veterans unless preference eligibles are unavailable. See Handbook EL–312, 232.52, Positions Restricted to Applicants Eligible for Veterans’ Preference.
