---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 3311"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "3311"
heading: "Preference eligibles; examinations; crediting experience"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/3311"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart B — Employment and Retention"
  - "Chapter 33 — Examination, Selection, and Placement"
  - "Subchapter I — Examination, Certification, and Appointment"
---

# §3311. Preference eligibles; examinations; crediting experience


In examinations for the competitive [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) in which experience is an element of qualification, a preference [eligible](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-3) is entitled to credit—

- (1) for [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) in the armed forces when his employment in a similar vocation to that for which examined was interrupted by the [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26); and
- (2) for all experience material to the [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) for which examined, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26), and organizational activities, regardless of whether he received [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) therefor.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 420.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and<br>Statutes at Large |
|  | 5 U.S.C. 853. | June 27, 1944, ch. 287, § 4, 58 Stat. 388. |

The words “for the competitive service” are added after “examinations” for clarity. Application of this section to the excepted service in the executive branch and to the government of the District of Columbia, as provided in former section 858, is carried into section 3320.

In paragraph (1), the words “service in the armed forces” are substituted for “in the military or naval service of the United States” on authority of the Act of July 26, 1947, ch. 343, § 305(a), 61 Stat. 508. The word “actual” is omitted as surplusage.

In paragraph (2), the words “material to the position for which examined” are substituted for “valuable” for clarity.

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