OPM is proposing to eliminate the General Schedule (GS) “time-in-grade” (TIG) restriction that generally requires most competitive service employees to spend 52 weeks at their current grade before becoming eligible for promotion to the next higher grade.
- What’s changing: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) proposed removing the TIG requirement from its regulations governing advancement to higher GS grades, according to a notice published in the Federal Register.
- Current standard: TIG generally requires 52 weeks in grade for employees at GS-5 and above before eligibility for promotion to the next grade.
- Who it affects: The proposal targets TIG rules tied to GS promotions in the competitive service under merit promotion procedures.
- What stays the same: OPM said other qualification and eligibility requirements would still apply even if TIG is eliminated—agencies would still need to follow established standards for determining whether an employee meets the requirements of the higher-graded position.
- Not automatic promotions: Eliminating TIG would not, by itself, require agencies to promote employees. Promotions would still depend on positions available, agency procedures, and whether the employee meets qualification requirements.
- Status: This is a proposed rule, not a final change. The TIG requirement would remain in effect unless and until OPM issues a final rule.
Brief context
Time-in-grade has long functioned as a baseline screening rule for GS advancement, especially for employees moving up one grade at a time. OPM’s proposal would shift the focus away from a fixed “weeks in grade” threshold and toward other existing requirements agencies already use—such as whether applicants meet the qualifications for the higher grade and whether the promotion action complies with merit system rules.
If finalized, the change could alter how quickly some employees can be considered for higher-graded jobs, particularly in career ladders or when competing for merit-promotion announcements. However, OPM emphasized in the proposed rule that removing TIG would not eliminate the need to meet qualification standards for the position.
Employees tracking potential pay impacts from faster eligibility windows may want to reference FedInfo’s pay scales and calculators for GS grade and step context.
Source: Federal Register — OPM