CTAP is designed to improve your chances of finding a new job in your agency through selection priority. To receive selection priority, you must:
- Be "surplus" or "displaced";
- Have a current performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent;
- Occupy a position in the same local commuting area of the vacancy;
- Apply for a specific vacancy at or below your current grade level with no greater promotion potential than your current position;
- Meet the application deadline in the announcement; and
- Be found "well qualified" for the job.
You are "surplus" if you:
- Are in the competitive service;
- Are in tenure group I (career) or tenure group II (career-conditional); and
- Have an official notice from your agency saying that your position is no longer needed. This notice could be:
- a "Certificate of Expected Separation" (CES);
- an agency certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation;
- a notice that your position is being abolished; or
- a letter saying you are eligible for discontinued service retirement.
You are "displaced" if you:
- Are in the competitive service;
- Are in tenure group I (career) or tenure group II (career-conditional); and
- Have an official notice from your agency saying you will be separated by reduction in force. This notice could be:
- a specific reduction in force separation notice; or
- a notice of proposed removal because you declined a directed reassignment or transfer of function out of the local commuting area.
You are generally NOT eligible for selection priority if you are:
- In the excepted service;
- Downgraded or reassigned due to reduction in force, but not separated;
- In a different local commuting area from the vacancy;
- In a temporary or term position in the competitive service;
- In an agency that is not in the Executive branch;
- In an agency that does not follow OPM hiring procedures (this includes Postal Service, legislative and judicial branch agencies); or
- In the Senior Executive Service (SES).
For additional information on CTAP, see
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/15/2025.
Basic Requirement: You must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-101 occupational series:
- Degree in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position OR
- Combination of education and experience that provided you with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field (the quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field) OR
- Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that you have acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
Specialized Experience:
In addition to the basic requirement, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS-13, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: providing mid/upper-level administrative and management guidance in a major health care or benefits delivery system; experience and training that includes combat experience, non-combat military experience, direct readjustment or other psycho-social service provision for combat Veterans, service members and their families; providing overall operations for a readjustment counseling delivery system; program and policy development related to readjustment counseling; counseling practice casework experience; overseeing and approving budget and financial plans; developing short and long term goals for a major health care or benefits delivery system; assessing and analyzing the productivity, effectiveness, and efficiency of program operations; devising solutions to program operations; and providing technical advice and assistance on program operations.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Note:
A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Physical Requirements: Due to the widespread geographical area of responsibility, the position requires a commitment of at least fifty percent travel. The position requires that the incumbent must possess a valid driver's license. Completing of his/her supervisory and oversight functions involves driving long distances between Vet Centers and other VA or community partner facilities.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.