Chance to Compete Act of 2024

Chance to Compete Act of  2024

This bill requires federal agencies to use technical assessments to fill most positions in the competitive service.

Under the bill, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must develop and implement a plan for transitioning to using technical assessments for hiring into competitive service positions unless the hiring agency certifies that it is impracticable. Technical assessments must be developed by subject matter experts within each hiring agency and allow for candidates to demonstrate job-related skills and knowledge; however, they may not include an occupational questionnaire. An agency may determine that the use of a technical assessment to assess applicants for a position in the competitive service is not practicable and, instead, use an occupational questionnaire. (An occupational questionnaire is an evaluation system in which applicants self-rate their training and experience and that is commonly delivered through an automated system such as USAJobs.)

OPM must also study and report to Congress regarding the feasibility of examining agencies sharing technical assessments and the development of an online platform to be used by the agencies.

The OPM plan must be provided to Congress within 18 months after the bill's enactment and implemented within three years following the bill's enactment. During the three-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this bill, technical assessments must be preferred by hiring agencies.