5 USC § 3325 - Appointments to scientific and professional positions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t5/s3325"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "5 USC § 3325 - Appointments to scientific and professional positions"
title_number: 5
title_name: "GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES"
section_number: "3325"
section_name: "Appointments to scientific and professional positions"
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. 423; Pub. L. 95–454, title IX, § 906(a)(2), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1224; Pub. L. 102–378, § 2(12), Oct. 2, 1992, 106 Stat. 1347; Pub. L. 110–372, § 2(c)(3), Oct. 8, 2008, 122 Stat. 4044.)"
---


# § 3325. Appointments to scientific and professional positions

**(a)** Positions established under section 3104 of this title are in the competitive service. However, appointments to the positions are made without competitive examination on approval of the qualifications of the proposed appointee by the Office of Personnel Management on the basis of standards developed by the agency involved in accordance with criteria specified in regulations prescribed by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management.

**(b)** This section does not apply to positions established under section 3104(c).

**(c)** The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of this section.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 423; Pub. L. 95–454, title IX, § 906(a)(2), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1224; Pub. L. 102–378, § 2(12), Oct. 2, 1992, 106 Stat. 1347; Pub. L. 110–372, § 2(c)(3), Oct. 8, 2008, 122 Stat. 4044.)

| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes andStatutes at Large |
| --- | --- | --- |
| (a) | 5 U.S.C. 1162(a). | Oct. 4, 1961, Pub. L. 87–367, § 202 “Sec. 2(a)”, 75 Stat. 790. |
| (b) | 5 U.S.C. 1161(g) (2d sentence). | Oct. 11, 1962, Pub. L. 87–793, § 1001(a)(2) “(g) (2d sentence)”, 76 Stat. 863. |

In subsection (a), the words “or its designee” are substituted for “or such officers or agents as the Commission may designate”.

For repeal of the , , as amended, see revision note for section 3104.

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

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2008—Subsec. (a). , substituted “on the basis of standards developed by the agency involved in accordance with criteria specified in regulations prescribed by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management” for “or its designee for this purpose”.

Subsec. (c). , added subsec. (c).

1992—Subsec. (b).  substituted “section 3104(c)” for “”.

1978—Subsec. (a).  substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment by  effective on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after the 180th day following , see , set out as a note under .

### Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Amendment by  effective 90 days after , see , set out as a note under .