Civil Service Examination (USAJOBS / OPM federal hiring) Suitability, Security, and Onboarding Syllabus

What are the position sensitivity/risk designations used for federal positions?

Risk levels: Low Risk, Moderate Risk, High Risk (Public Trust). Sensitivity levels: Non-Sensitive, Noncritical-Sensitive, Critical-Sensitive, and Special-Sensitive.

What is a 'Public Trust' position?

A position (Moderate or High Risk) that, while not requiring access to classified info, involves significant program responsibility or trust such that misconduct could cause material adverse impact; it requires a public trust investigation (e.g., Tier 2 or Tier 4).

What are the five federal background investigation tiers?

Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, and Tier 5 (the new tiered system replacing legacy NACI/MBI/BI/SSBI investigations).

Which tier covers Low Risk / Non-Sensitive positions?

Tier 1 (replaced the old NACI). Used for Low Risk public trust / non-sensitive positions and HSPD-12 credentialing.

Which tier covers Moderate Risk Public Trust positions?

Tier 2 (replaced the Moderate Background Investigation / MBI).

Which tier covers Noncritical-Sensitive (Secret/Confidential) positions?

Tier 3 (replaced the legacy ANACI/NACLC for Secret clearances).

Which tier covers High Risk Public Trust positions?

Tier 4 (replaced the Background Investigation / BI).

Which tier covers Critical-Sensitive and Special-Sensitive (Top Secret/SCI) positions?

Tier 5 (replaced the Single Scope Background Investigation / SSBI).

What is the typical investigative scope (look-back period) for a Tier 5 investigation?

10 years (covering employment, residences, education, references, plus expanded checks like subject interview, foreign travel, financial, and field interviews).

What is the standard form used to apply for a Secret or Confidential (national security) clearance?

Standard Form 86 (SF-86), Questionnaire for National Security Positions — used for Tier 3 and Tier 5 national security investigations.

What form is used for Public Trust (moderate/high risk) positions?

Standard Form 85P (SF-85P), Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions.

What form is used for Non-Sensitive Low Risk positions?

Standard Form 85 (SF-85), Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions.

What electronic system do applicants use to submit security questionnaires?

e-QIP (Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing); being modernized/replaced by the eApp system under the NBIS platform.

Which agency now conducts the majority of federal background investigations?

The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), which absorbed the former National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB) from OPM in 2019.

What is 'Trusted Workforce 2.0' and continuous vetting?

A government-wide reform replacing periodic reinvestigations with Continuous Vetting (CV) — ongoing automated record checks of cleared personnel — so issues are flagged in near-real-time instead of only at 5/10-year reinvestigations.

Under the old model, how often were Top Secret clearances reinvestigated versus Secret?

Top Secret: every 5 years; Secret: every 10 years; Confidential: every 15 years. (Now largely replaced by continuous vetting.)

What fingerprint form accompanies a background investigation?

Standard Form 87 (SF-87) Fingerprint Card, or electronic fingerprints submitted via SWFT, used for the FBI criminal history check.

What is HSPD-12 and the PIV card?

Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 mandates a standard secure identity credential — the Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card — for federal employees/contractors; requires at minimum a favorable FBI fingerprint check and an initiated Tier 1 investigation before issuance.

What is the SF-61?

Standard Form 61, the Appointment Affidavits — the form on which a new federal employee executes the Oath of Office, affidavit as to striking against the government, and affidavit on purchase/sale of office.

What is the text/substance of the federal Oath of Office (5 U.S.C. 3331)?

To support and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic; bear true faith and allegiance to it; take the obligation freely without mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office.

What is the legal authority requiring the federal Oath of Office?

5 U.S.C. § 3331, which prescribes the oath for individuals (except the President) elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services.

The Appointment Affidavits (SF-61) include affidavits on what three subjects?

(1) The Oath of Office; (2) An affidavit that the person has not and will not strike against the U.S. government; (3) An affidavit that the person has not paid/accepted money or property for the appointment (purchase/sale of office).

What form documents a new hire's federal income tax withholding, and what documents employment eligibility?

IRS Form W-4 (tax withholding) and USCIS Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification), typically verified through E-Verify.

What is the SF-256 used for at onboarding?

Standard Form 256, Self-Identification of Disability — voluntary form collected for federal workforce disability statistics and affirmative employment.

What is the SF-181 used for at onboarding?

Standard Form 181, Ethnicity and Race Identification — voluntary self-identification of race/ethnicity for EEO statistical reporting.

What is the SF-50 and SF-52?

SF-52 is the 'Request for Personnel Action' (initiates a personnel action); SF-50 is the 'Notification of Personnel Action' — the official record documenting the appointment and its terms (tenure, grade, salary).

What governs federal employee ethics standards, and where are the conduct rules found?

The Ethics in Government Act and the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch at 5 CFR Part 2635, overseen by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE).

What is the OGE Form 450 versus OGE Form 278e?

OGE-450 is the Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (for lower-level covered employees); OGE-278e is the Public Financial Disclosure Report (for senior officials and Presidential appointees).

What are the 14 General Principles of Ethical Conduct based on?

Executive Order 12674 (as modified by EO 12731), codified in 5 CFR 2635.101 — e.g., public service is a public trust, no use of office for private gain, no conflicts of interest, impartiality, and avoiding even the appearance of impropriety.

Which federal positions are subject to mandatory pre-employment drug testing, and under what authority?

Applicants tentatively selected for 'testing designated positions' (TDPs) — safety/security/national-security sensitive jobs — under Executive Order 12564 (Drug-Free Federal Workplace) and HHS Mandatory Guidelines (SAMHSA).

What five drug classes are screened in the standard federal (SAMHSA) drug panel, and what testing method is used?

Traditionally a 5-panel: marijuana (THC), cocaine, opiates/opioids, amphetamines, and phencyclidine (PCP); collected as a urine specimen, screened by immunoassay and confirmed by GC/MS or LC/MS-MS, with review by a Medical Review Officer (MRO).

When is a pre-placement medical examination required for a federal applicant?

Only when the position has documented medical/physical requirements (per OPM qualification standards and the position's physical demands); a tentative offer may be conditioned on passing the medical exam, and it must comply with the ADA/Rehabilitation Act (job-related and consistent with business necessity).