Careers

Student Career Experience Program (SCEP)

AUTHORITY Excepted Service Appointing Authority, Schedule B, 213.3202(b) [Tenure Group 2]
APPOINTMENT Conditional appointment not subject to time limitation but for completion of program requirements.
CONVERSION May be non-competitively converted to a permanent appointment at any time within 120 days after satisfactory completion of the requirements of academic program and the 640-hour work requirement.[1]
ELIGIBILITY Student must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a qualifying institution pursuing a degree on at least a half-time basis.[2]
Written agreement between GAO and the institution is required.
GAO requires U.S. Citizenship requirements be met.
Work MUST be related to student’s academic/career goals
SCHEDULES Students may work full or part-time at any time during the year. The student’s work schedule should not interfere with his/her academic schedule.[3]
BREAK(S) IN PROGRAM Agencies may use their discretion in either approving or denying a break in program. A “break in program” is defined as (1) a period of time when the student is working, but unable to attend school OR (2) neither attending classes nor working at the agency.
BENEFITS Annual/vacation leave
Sick leave
Social Security
FERS
TSP
Health Insurance
Life Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Federal Dental and Vision Supplemental Plans

[1] There are some exceptions to the 640-hour work requirement.

    1. For students pursuing baccalaureate, graduate, doctoral or other professional degrees, up to 320 hours of the 640-hour work requirement may be acquired through a comparable non-Federal work-study program that was in a field or functional area that is related to the student’s target position/career field.

    2. Up to 320 hours may be waived if a student enrolled in an accredited college or university completes 320 hours of career-related work experience under a STEP/SCEP appointment and has demonstrated high potential as evidenced by outstanding academic achievement and exceptional job performance. Outstanding academic achievement must be demonstrated by an overall GPA of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale; standing in the top 10 percent of the student’s graduating class; and/or induction into a nationally-recognized scholastic honor society. Exceptional job performance is demonstrated by a formal evaluation conducted by the student’s work-study supervisor(s) in a manner consistent with the applicable performance appraisal program established.

[2] An individual who needs to complete less than the equivalent of half an academic load in the period immediately prior to graduating is still considered a student for purposes of SCEP.

[3] Examples: Student could alternate working one semester full time and going to school a semester. Student could go to school full time during the fall and spring semesters and work full time during the summer and winter (and possibly, spring) breaks. Student could go to school part time and work part or full time.