5 CFR § 213.3402 - Entire executive civil service; Pathways Programs.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t5/s213.3402"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "5 CFR § 213.3402 - Entire executive civil service; Pathways Programs."
title_number: 5
title_name: "Administrative Personnel"
section_number: "213.3402"
section_name: "Entire executive civil service; Pathways Programs."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS"
part_number: "213"
part_name: "EXCEPTED SERVICE"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 3161, 3301 and 3302; 38 U.S.C. 4301  E.O. 10577, 19 FR 7521, 3 CFR 1954-1958 Comp., p. 218; E.O. 14171, 90 FR 8625."
regulatory_source: "46 FR 20147, Apr. 3, 1981, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "213"
---


# 213.3402 Entire executive civil service; Pathways Programs.

(a) *Internship Program; Positions in the Internship Program.* Agencies may make initial appointments of Interns under this authority at any grade level, depending on the candidates' qualifications. Appointments must be made in accordance with the provisions of subpart B of part 362 of this chapter.

(b) *Recent Graduates Program; Positions in the Recent Graduates Program.* (1) Agencies may make initial appointments of Recent Graduates at any grade level, not to exceed GS-09 (or equivalent level under another pay and classification system, including the Federal Wage System (FWS)), depending on the candidates' qualifications, and the position's requirements except that:

(i) Initial appointments to positions for science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) occupations may be made at the GS-11 level, if the candidate possesses a Ph.D. or equivalent degree directly related to the STEM position the agency is seeking to fill.

(ii) Initial appointments to scientific and professional research positions at the GS-11 level for which the classification and qualification criteria for research positions apply, if the candidate possesses a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree directly related to the position the agency is seeking to fill.

(iii) Initial appointments to scientific and professional research positions at the GS-12 level for which the classification and qualification criteria for research positions apply, if the candidate possesses a Ph.D. or equivalent degree directly related to the position the agency is seeking to fill.

(2) Appointments must be made in accordance with the provisions of subpart C of part 362 of this chapter.

[77 FR 28213, May 11, 2012, as amended at 90 FR 38606, Aug. 11, 2025]