5 USC § 3305 - Competitive service; examinations; when held

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t5/s3305"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "5 USC § 3305 - Competitive service; examinations; when held"
title_number: 5
title_name: "GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES"
section_number: "3305"
section_name: "Competitive service; examinations; when held"
chapter_number: 33
chapter_name: "EXAMINATION, SELECTION, AND PLACEMENT"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "EXAMINATION, CERTIFICATION, AND APPOINTMENT"
part_number: "III"
part_name: "EMPLOYEES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 418; Pub. L. 90–83, § 1(8), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 197; Pub. L. 96–54, § 2(a)(14), (15), Aug. 14, 1979, 93 Stat. 382.)"
---


# § 3305. Competitive service; examinations; when held

**(a)** The Office of Personnel Management shall hold examinations for the competitive service at least twice a year in each State and territory or possession of the United States where there are individuals to be examined.

**(b)** The Office shall hold an examination for a position to which an appointment has been made within the preceding 3 years, on the application of an individual who qualifies as a preference eligible under section 2108(3)(C)–(G) of this title. The examination shall be held during the quarter following the application.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 418; Pub. L. 90–83, § 1(8), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 197; Pub. L. 96–54, § 2(a)(14), (15), Aug. 14, 1979, 93 Stat. 382.)

| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes andStatutes at Large |
| --- | --- | --- |
| (a) | 5 U.S.C. 635 (last 24 words of 6th sentence). | Jan. 16, 1883, ch. 27, § 3 (last 24 words of 6th sentence), 22 Stat. 404. |
| (b) | 5 U.S.C. 859. | June 27, 1944, ch. 287, § 10, 58 Stat. 390.Jan. 19, 1948, ch. 1, § 3, 62 Stat. 3.Dec. 27, 1950, ch. 1151, § 2(b), 64 Stat. 1117. |

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

### 1967 Act

This section amends various sections [§§ 3305, 3309, 3318] of title 5, United States Code, to reflect the redesignation of paragraphs (3)(B) through (F) of  as paragraphs (3)(C) through (G) by section 1(6) of this bill.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1979—Subsec. (a). , substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission”.

Subsec. (b). , substituted “Office” for “Commission”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as a note under .