Regina JamesNOAA Staffing and Position Management Program ManagerPolicies and Program Management OfficeWorkforce Management Office

Serving NOAA’s Most Valuable Asset – People

January 2008

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PurposeCategory Rating is an alternative to traditional rating and

ranking for delegated examining positions.

The purpose of category rating is to increase the number of eligible candidates on delegated examining certificates from which a selecting official can choose, while preserving veterans’ preference rights.

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CoverageHR Bulletin #066 dated August 30, 2007, authorizes the

use of the category rating flexibility throughout the Department for all positions, which are not covered by the Luevano Consent Decree, when competitive examining procedures are used to fill vacancies.

NOAA will not establish supplemental guidance implementing this flexibility as the DOC bulletin covers the mandatory points for use of category rating.

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Basic ComponentsRequires use of job-related competencies (KSAs).Candidates are ranked by pre-defined categories and

NOT ranked in numeric score order.Three categories established by the Department:

GOLD (Best Qualified)SILVER (Highly Qualified)BRONZE (Qualified)

Selection is made from the highest quality category.

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Basic Components (2)Applicants must meet minimum qualification

requirements, then assigned to the appropriate quality category.

All eligible candidates in the highest quality category are referred to the selecting official.

Preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category.

A not qualified category must not be established.

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AnnouncementsThe use of category rating is authorized for positions

announced under our delegated examining (DE) authority. Therefore, we cannot issue a combined MAP and DE announcement as we are using two separate rating processes.

Category Rating cannot be used to announce positions covered by the Luevano Consent Decree.

Must state that the category rating process will be used.

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Announcements (2)Must state how veterans’ preference is applied.Must include a description of the three quality

categories.Will consider all eligible CTAP and ICTAP applicants who

exceed basic qualifications and are placed in the gold or silver category as meeting the regulatory definition of well qualified.

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Veteran’s PreferencePreference eligibles must be identifiedNo preference points are added to scoresPreference eligibles must be placed above non-preference eligibles

within each category (Gold, Silver or Bronze)Qualified preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected

disability of 30% or more (CPS) and those with a compensable service-connected disability of more than 10% but less than 30% (CP) move from the category in which originally placed to the top of the highest category – EXCEPT for scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level (or equivalent) or higher

Preference eligibles who do not have a service-connected disability of 10% or more (TP/XP) are assigned to appropriate quality category (Gold, Silver or Bronze) based solely on job related assessment (i.e., responses to Experience Questions in vacancy announcement and required KSAs)

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Merging CategoriesCombines highest category with the next lower categoryOptionalUse when fewer than 3 qualifying applicants in the highest

quality categoryNewly merged category is the new highest quality categoryPreference eligibles must be listed ahead of non-preference

eligibles in the newly merged categoryDecision to merge can be made at two points in hiring process:

Before issuing a certificate of eligiblesBefore selecting an eligible

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Order of ReferralCTAP eligiblesRPL eligiblesICTAP eligiblesEligibles who lost consideration due to prior erroneous

certificationAll qualified eligibles in the highest quality category

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Selection ProcessMay select from highest quality category without being

limited to the top three eligible candidatesMay NOT select a non-preference eligible over a

preference eligibleApprovals to pass over a preference eligible must be

obtained from the Director for Human Resources Management at the Department (Follow procedures established in HR Bulletin #001 dated March 10, 2005.)

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Reporting RequirementsQuarterly delegated examining workload reports must

include your category rating numbers, along with your traditional rating numbers.

Notify Regina James by e-mail (Regina.D.James@noaa.gov) when a category rating announcement has been issued with the vacancy announcement number.

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ReferencesDOC Human Resources (HR) Bulletin #066, FY 07 dated

August 30, 2007Public Law 107-296, Homeland Security Act of 2002,

dated November 25, 20025 USC 33195 CFR Part 337, Subpart CDelegated Examining Operations Handbook, Chapter 5,

Section B

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QuestionsRegina.D.James@noaa.gov816-426-5017

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