5 CFR § 362.302 - Eligibility.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t5/s362.302"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "5 CFR § 362.302 - Eligibility."
title_number: 5
title_name: "Administrative Personnel"
section_number: "362.302"
section_name: "Eligibility."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS"
part_number: "362"
part_name: "PATHWAYS PROGRAMS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "E.O. 13562, 75 FR 82585, 3 CFR, 2010 Comp., p. 291, as amended by E.O. 14217, 90 FR 10577."
regulatory_source: "77 FR 28215, May 11, 2012, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "362"
---


# 362.302 Eligibility.

(a) A Recent Graduate is an individual who obtained a qualifying associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational, technical degree or a certificate from a qualifying educational institution or completed a qualifying career or technical education program within the previous 2 years or other applicable period provided in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, an individual may apply for a position in the Recent Graduates Program only if the individual's application is received not later than 2 years after the date the individual completed all requirements of an academic course of study leading to a qualifying associate, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or completed a qualifying career or technical education program.

(2) A veteran, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 2108, who, due to a military service obligation, was precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon his or her release or discharge from active duty. In no event, however, may the individual's eligibility period extend beyond 6 years from the date on which the individual completed the requirements of an academic course of study or a qualifying career or technical education program.

[89 FR 25773, Apr. 12, 2024]