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Skills-based hiring for Department of Defense civilian positions

Division A · Title XI: Civilian Personnel

Plain-language summaryAI

The Department of Defense will create a hiring system that focuses on applicants' skills, experience, and validated assessments rather than just education. Education requirements can be waived for some jobs if relevant skills and experience are demonstrated, but this does not apply to positions requiring specific professional licenses or legal education mandates. The department must submit a plan for implementing this system and provide annual reports on its use for five years.

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Section Text · Sec. 1102.
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(a) In general

Chapter 81 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

1599k. Skills-based hiring for civilian positions

(a) Framework for skills-based hiring

(1)

The Secretary of Defense shall establish and implement a skills-based hiring framework for appointment to a position in the competitive service or the excepted service that—

(A)

prioritizes the evaluation of applicants based on demonstrated competencies, skills, and relevant experience and validated assessments; and

(B)

permits applicants to qualify for positions through one or more pathways based on experience, training, apprenticeships, certifications, licenses, education, or other alternative credentials, as appropriate to the duties of the position.

(2)

Qualification standards for a position shall be based on a job analysis that identifies the competencies, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education, if applicable, necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

(b) Use of education requirements

(1) In general

Except as provided in subsection (c), and consistent with paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary may waive or remove a minimum education requirement as a mandatory qualification standard for appointment to a position based on a determination that the competencies required for the position may be demonstrated through relevant experience, apprenticeships, certifications, validated assessments, or other alternative qualifications.

(2) Sunset

The authority to waive or remove a minimum education requirement under paragraph (1) shall expire on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027.

(c) Exceptions

Subsection (b) shall not apply to a position—

(1)

for which a minimum education requirement is established by Federal statute;

(2)

in a recognized profession for which a minimum education requirement is necessary for professional licensure, certification, or accreditation by a recognized accrediting body, including positions in the fields of medicine, law, engineering, accounting, and other professions as determined by the Secretary; or

(3)

classified in a scientific or technical occupational series for which the Office of Personnel Management has established a positive education requirement that the Secretary determines is directly and specifically necessary for satisfactory performance of the duties of the position.

(d) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Education

The term education means any form of formal learning, including a high school diploma or its equivalent, a credential from a qualifying career or technical education program, an associate, baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degree, or industry-recognized certifications and apprenticeships.

(2) Education requirement

The term education requirement includes a requirement that can be met through—

(A)

education alone; or

(B)

a combination of education and experience.

(b) Technical and conforming amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

(c) Implementation plan

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for implementing this section, including—

(1)

a timeline for implementation of this section;

(2)

a strategy for training hiring managers and human resources professionals on skills-based assessment methods;

(3)

a description of validated assessment tools the Department plans to develop or adopt; and

(4)

metrics for evaluating the impacts of this section on time-to-hire, quality of hire, and retention rates.

(d) Annual report

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for five years, the Secretary of Defense shall submit a report on the authority under section 1599k(b) of title 10, United States Code, as added by this Act. The report shall include the following:

(1)

Identification of any occupational series or position for which the authority under such section is exercised.

(2)

The service, agency, or component to which such position is assigned.

(3)

The justification for exercising such section for each such occupational series or position.

(e) Applicability

Section 1599k of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to job opportunity announcements issued on or after the date that is 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.