Equal Opportunity Employment at EPA

About Schedule A Hiring

Through amendments to the Rehabilitation Act, individuals with disabilities can be appointed to EPA positions without competing with the general public. This means that those individuals have non-competitive eligibility. Individuals with disabilities can be appointed via the following avenues:

• Non-competitively through USAJobs.gov. If you are an applicant with a disability you can apply using the Schedule A hiring authority.

  • Check the box in one of the USAJobs application fields to indicate that you want to be considered under this authority.

  • Provide documentation of your disability.

  • Upload the Schedule A documentation into your application on USAJobs (just like you can upload your resume). Recommendation: Send the documentation to the Human Resources Officer listed in the job announcement.

• Non-competitively through a number of special appointing authorities available to federal agencies to fill jobs, we use the following:

  • Special appointment authority to hire 30-percent-or-more-disabled veterans.

  • Schedule A hiring authority that allows job placements limited to individuals with psychiatric, intellectual or severe physical disabilities. You will need to provide documentation from one of the following:

    • A licensed medical professional.

    • A licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist.

    • Any federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits.

    • Documentation must be on letterhead, include a signature, and state you're eligible for employment under the Schedule A hiring authority, 5 CFR 213.3102(u).

  • Indicate on your resume that you are applying under Schedule A.

  • Examples of Schedule A Letters (PDF) (2 pp, 101 K, About PDF)

  • Applicants needing a reasonable accommodation assistance to apply for vacancies or need further assistance, please contact the Human Resources Specialist directly listed in the vacancies.

    Outside of USAJobs, you may apply by submitting your verifying documents for Schedule A or Special Appointment Authorities directly to hiring managers or recruiters. You may be considered among other applicants.

Related Federal Government Information

• U.S. Department of Labor
  • Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
  • Workforce Recruitment Program

• USAJobs.gov information

  • USAJobs Individuals with Disabilities Federal Hiring FAQ. To learn more, click on the following videos:

    • VIDEO: What are Special Hiring Authorities?
    • VIDEO: Special Federal Hiring Authority for Individuals with Disabilities
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission:

  • FINAL RULE: Affirmative Action for Individuals With Disabilities in Federal Employment (PDF) (28 pp, 401 K) (January 3, 2017).

  • EEOC’s ABCs of Schedule A for Applicants with Disabilities
• U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal Employment of People with Disabilities
  • Main disability employment page for job seekers with disabilities

  • Executive Order 13548 (July 2010) (PDF) (3 pp, 42 K) directs federal agencies to develop plans to promote employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.