---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 3305"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "3305"
heading: "Competitive service; examinations; when held"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/3305"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart B — Employment and Retention"
  - "Chapter 33 — Examination, Selection, and Placement"
  - "Subchapter I — Examination, Certification, and Appointment"
---

# §3305. Competitive service; examinations; when held

- (a) The [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) of Personnel Management shall hold examinations for the competitive [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) at least twice a year in each [State](/usc/5/8521.md?p=a-3) and territory or possession of the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18) where there are individuals to be examined.
- (b) The [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) shall hold an examination for a [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) to which an appointment has been made within the preceding 3 years, on the application of an individual who qualifies as a preference [eligible](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-3) under [section 2108(3)(C)](/usc/5/2108.md?p=3-C)–(G) of this title. The examination shall be held during the quarter following the application.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 418; Pub. L. 90–83, § 1(8), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 197; Pub. L. 96–54, § 2(a)(14), (15), Aug. 14, 1979, 93 Stat. 382.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1966 Act |  |  |
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and<br>Statutes at Large |
| (a) | 5 U.S.C. 635 (last 24 words of 6th sentence). | Jan. 16, 1883, ch. 27, § 3 (last 24 words of 6th sentence), 22 Stat. 404. |
| (b) | 5 U.S.C. 859. | June 27, 1944, ch. 287, § 10, 58 Stat. 390.<br>Jan. 19, 1948, ch. 1, § 3, 62 Stat. 3.<br>Dec. 27, 1950, ch. 1151, § 2(b), 64 Stat. 1117. |

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

### 1967 Act

This section amends various sections [§§ 3305, 3309, 3318] of title 5, United States Code, to reflect the redesignation of paragraphs (3)(B) through (F) of section 2108 of title 5 as paragraphs (3)(C) through (G) by section 1(6) of this bill.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1979—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–54, § 2(a)(14), substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–54, § 2(a)(15), substituted “Office” for “Commission”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–54 effective July 12, 1979, see section 2(b) of Pub. L. 96–54, set out as a note under section 305 of this title.