Become a PMF
Eligibility
The information below explains the eligibility criteria in general. Please select the class year application webpage to the left for more specific information. The PMF application is conducted annually in the fall and the Class Year aligns with the Federal Government's Fiscal Year. For example, the 2025 PMF application will take place in the fall of 2024.
You may be eligible to apply to the PMF Program if you are a current graduate student or a recent graduate student. You may be eligible to apply if:
(1) You are a current graduate presently attending a qualifying college or university and expecting to complete your advanced degree requirements (including the completion or successful defense of any required thesis or dissertation) by August 31st of the year following the annual application.
- OR -
(2) You are a recent graduate who has completed an advanced degree from a qualifying college or university during the two years preceding the opening date of the PMF Program’s annual application (referred to as the 2-year rule).
For example, the PMF Class of 2025 application launches on September 4, 2024, and if you obtained your advanced degree between September 4, 2022 and September 4, 2024, you would be eligible to apply based on the 2-year rule. If you expect to complete all advanced degree requirements (including the completion or successful defense of any required thesis or dissertation) by August 31, 2025 (the following year), then you would be eligible to apply. If you obtained your advanced degree prior to September 4, 2022 (prior to the 2-year rule), then you would NOT be eligible to apply; we are unable to waive any advanced degree requirements.
Based on the above, if you are not eligible to apply, you may be interested in other Federal opportunities at www.USAJOBS.gov.
“Advanced degree” is defined as a professional or graduate degree (e.g., Master's, Ph.D., J.D.). Eligibility to apply to the PMF Program for selection of Finalists is based on an advanced degree, not by the type or discipline of the advanced degree. "Certificate" programs are not eligible. There are no GPA (grade point average) requirements or age restrictions associated with the application.
NOTE: An individual who previously applied to the program, but was not selected as a Finalist, may reapply if they meet eligibility requirements. Such individuals will need to re-register for an applicant user account. Current Finalists who have not obtained a PMF appointment and remain eligible may apply again; however, they will forfeit their status as a current Finalist upon initiating a new application. There is no exception in the PMF Program regulations for the 2-year eligibility rule for advanced degrees.
A qualifying college or university is an academic institution that must be accredited or must have acquired “pre-accreditation” or “candidate for accreditation” status by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants using an advanced degree from a non-U.S. academic institution who are selected as Finalists will be required to utilize a credential evaluation service (see additional information under Become a PMF/Eligibility/Education Outside U.S.). If degree requirements are not completed by the August 31st deadline, Finalists will be ineligible for placement and withdrawn from the program.
Applicants who are in the process of completing their advanced degree are strongly encouraged to determine whether they will complete all degree requirements by the August 31st deadline. There is no regulatory provision to allow the PMF Program Office to waive or defer a Finalists' appointment eligibility if he/she does not complete all advanced degree requirements. Completing advanced degree requirements includes the successful completion/defense of any required thesis/dissertation, which includes any deadlines or findings of the school's review.
If you have completed or will complete multiple advanced degrees, choose the one that meets the eligibility requirements referenced above. Applicants can identify multiple degrees when applying and will be searchable by Federal agencies if selected as a Finalist.
There is no waitlist option for those applicants not selected as Finalists.
Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have as much as six years after degree completion to apply via the Recent Graduates Program (which is separate than the PMF Program). General information about the Recent Graduates Program can be found at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/students-recent-graduates/#url=graduates.
Please note, in fairness to all applicants, the PMF Program Office is not able to pre-screen applicant documents.
You may link to information on Citizenship, Education Outside U.S., Attorneys, Veterans' Preference, Selective Service, and Equal Employment Opportunity to the left.
UPDATED: 07-26-2024