5 CFR § 300.602 - Definitions.
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t5/s300.602"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "5 CFR § 300.602 - Definitions."
title_number: 5
title_name: "Administrative Personnel"
section_number: "300.602"
section_name: "Definitions."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS"
part_number: "300"
part_name: "EMPLOYMENT (GENERAL)"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 552, 2301, 2302, 3301, and 3302; E.O. 10577, 19 FR 7521, 3 CFR 1954-1958 Comp., p. 218, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "300"
---
# 300.602 Definitions.
In this subpart—
*Advancement* means a promotion (including a temporary promotion) or any type of appointment resulting in a higher grade or higher rate of basic pay.
*Competitive appointment* means an appointment based on selection from a competitive examination register of eligibles or under a direct hire authority.
*Hardship to an agency* involves serious difficulty in filling a position, including when:
(a) The situation to be redressed results from circumstances beyond the organization's control and otherwise would require extensive corrective action; or
(b) A position at the next lower grade in the normal line of promotion does not exist and the resulting action is not a career ladder promotion; or
(c) There is a shortage of candidates for the position to be filled.
*Inequity to an employee* involves situations where a position is upgraded without change in the employee's duties or responsibilities, or where discrimination or administrative error prevented an employee from reaching a higher grade.
*Nontemporary appointment* means any appointment other than a temporary appointment pending establishment of a register (TAPER) or a temporary or excepted appointment not to exceed 1 year or less.