---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 C.F.R. § 213.3402"
title: "5"
number: "213.3402"
heading: "Entire executive civil service; Pathways Programs."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/5/213.3402"
---

# §213.3402. Entire executive civil service; Pathways Programs.

- (a) **Internship Program; Positions in the Internship Program.** Agencies may make initial appointments of Interns under this authority at any grade level, depending on the candidates' qualifications. Appointments must be made in accordance with the provisions of [subpart B of part 362](/cfr/5/part362-subpartB.md) of this chapter.
- (b) **Recent Graduates Program; Positions in the Recent Graduates Program.**
  - (1) Agencies may make initial appointments of Recent Graduates at any grade level, not to exceed GS-09 (or equivalent level under another pay and classification system, including the Federal Wage System (FWS)), depending on the candidates' qualifications, and the position's requirements except that:
    - (i) Initial appointments to positions for science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) occupations may be made at the GS-11 level, if the candidate possesses a Ph.D. or equivalent degree directly related to the STEM position the agency is seeking to fill.
    - (ii) Initial appointments to scientific and professional research positions at the GS-11 level for which the classification and qualification criteria for research positions apply, if the candidate possesses a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree directly related to the position the agency is seeking to fill.
    - (iii) Initial appointments to scientific and professional research positions at the GS-12 level for which the classification and qualification criteria for research positions apply, if the candidate possesses a Ph.D. or equivalent degree directly related to the position the agency is seeking to fill.
  - (2) Appointments must be made in accordance with the provisions of [subpart C of part 362](/cfr/5/part362-subpartC.md) of this chapter.

## Notes

### Amendments

[77 FR 28213, May 11, 2012, as amended at 90 FR 38606, Aug. 11, 2025]

### Source

Source: 77 FR 28213, May 11, 2012, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 3161, 3301 and 3302; 38 U.S.C. 4301 et seq. E.O. 10577, 19 FR 7521, 3 CFR 1954-1958 Comp., p. 218; E.O. 14171, 90 FR 8625. Sec. 213.101 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 2103. Sec. 213.3102 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 3307, 8337(h), 8456; 38 U.S.C. 4301 et seq. E.O. 12125, 44 FR 16879, 3 CFR, 1979 Comp., p. 375; E.O. 13124, 64 FR 31103, 3 CFR, 1999 Comp., p. 192; E.O. 13562, 75 FR 82585, 3 CFR, 2010 Comp, p. 291; E.O. 14217, 90 FR 10577; and Presidential Memorandum of May 11, 2010, 75 FR 27157, 3 CFR, 2010 Comp., p. 327. Sec. 213.3202 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 3304.

### Source

Source: 46 FR 20147, Apr. 3, 1981, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[77 FR 28213, May 11, 2012, as amended at 90 FR 38606, Aug. 11, 2025]