---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 9806"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "9806"
heading: "Term appointments"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/9806"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart I — Miscellaneous"
  - "Chapter 98 — National Aeronautics and Space Administration"
---

# §9806. Term appointments

- (a) The [Administrator](/usc/5/9801.md?p=2) may authorize term appointments within the [Administration](/usc/5/9801.md?p=1) under subchapter I of [chapter 33](/usc/5/chptIII/sptB/ch33.md), for a period of not less than 1 year and not more than 6 years.
- (b) Notwithstanding [chapter 33](/usc/5/chptIII/sptB/ch33.md) or any other provision of law relating to the examination, certification, and appointment of individuals in the competitive [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26), the [Administrator](/usc/5/9801.md?p=2) may convert an [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) serving under a term appointment to a permanent appointment in the competitive [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) within the [Administration](/usc/5/9801.md?p=1) without further competition if—
  - (1) such individual was appointed under open, competitive examination under subchapter I of [chapter 33](/usc/5/chptIII/sptB/ch33.md) to the term [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3);
  - (2) the announcement for the term appointment from which the conversion is made stated that there was potential for subsequent conversion to a career-conditional or career appointment;
  - (3) the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) has completed at least 2 years of current continuous [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) under a term appointment in the competitive [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26);
  - (4) the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2)’s performance under such term appointment was at least fully successful or equivalent; and
  - (5) the [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) to which such [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) is being converted under this section is in the same occupational series, is in the same geographic location, and provides no greater promotion potential than the term [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) for which the competitive examination was conducted.
- (c) Notwithstanding [chapter 33](/usc/5/chptIII/sptB/ch33.md) or any other provision of law relating to the examination, certification, and appointment of individuals in the competitive [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26), the [Administrator](/usc/5/9801.md?p=2) may convert an [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) serving under a term appointment to a permanent appointment in the competitive [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) within the [Administration](/usc/5/9801.md?p=1) through internal competitive promotion procedures if the conditions under paragraphs [(1)](#b-1) through [(4)](#b-4) of subsection (b) are met.
- (d) An [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) converted under this section becomes a career-conditional [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2), unless the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) has otherwise completed the [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) requirements for career tenure.
- (e) An [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) converted to career or career-conditional employment under this section acquires competitive status upon conversion.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 108–201, § 3(a), Feb. 24, 2004, 118 Stat. 466.)