# 5 CFR § 316.301: Purpose and duration

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-316.301

## Section

- **Citation:** 5 CFR § 316.301
- **Heading:** Purpose and duration
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 5—Administrative Personnel > CHAPTER I—OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT > SUBCHAPTER B—CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS > PART 316—TEMPORARY AND TERM EMPLOYMENT > Subpart C—Term Employment

## Text

(a) An agency may make a term appointment for a period of more than 1 year but not more than 4 years to positions where the need for an employee's services is not permanent. Reasons for making a term appointment include, but are not limited to: project work, extraordinary workload, scheduled abolishment, reorganization, contracting out of the function, uncertainty of future funding, or the need to maintain permanent positions for placement of employees who would otherwise be displaced from other parts of the organization. Agencies may extend appointments made for more than 1 year but less than 4 years up to the 4-year limit in increments determined by the agency. The vacancy announcement should state that the agency has the option of extending a term appointment up to the 4-year limit.
(b) OPM may authorize exceptions beyond the 4-year limit when the extension is clearly justified and is consistent with applicable statutory provisions. Requests to make and/or extend appointments beyond the 4-year limit must be initiated by the employing office and sent to the appropriate OPM service center.
(c)(1) An agency may make a term appointment for a period of more than 1 year but not more than 10 years to a covered position defined in paragraph (c)(2) of this section when the need for an employee's services is not permanent. An agency may extend an appointment made for more than 1 year but fewer than 10 years up to the 10-year limit in increments determined by the agency. The vacancy announcement must state that the agency has the option of extending a term appointment under this section up to the 10-year limit. No appointment made under this section may last longer than 10 years from the date of the initial appointment.
(2) An agency may make a term appointment for more than 1 year but not more than 10 years to the following positions (as described in OPM's Handbook of Occupational Groups and Series):
(i) Social Science Series, 0101;
(ii) Economist Series, 0110;
(iii) Psychology Series, 0180;
(iv) Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Group (i.e., 0400 group);
(v) Medical, Hospital, Dental, and Public Health Group (i.e., 0600 group);
(vi) Engineering and Architecture Group (i.e., 0800 group);
(vii) Physical Science Group (i.e.,1300 group);
(viii) Mathematical Sciences Group (i.e., 1500 group); and
(ix) Information Technology Group (i.e., 2200 group).
[63 FR 63783, Nov. 17, 1998, as amended at 87 FR 73632, Dec. 1, 2022; 91 FR 54795, Aug. 25, 2026]

## Nearby sections

- [5 CFR § 316.301 § 316.301 Purpose and duration.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-316.301.md)
- [5 CFR § 316.302 § 316.302 Selection of term employees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-316.302.md)
- [5 CFR § 316.303 § 316.303 Tenure of term employees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-316.303.md)
- [5 CFR § 316.304 § 316.304 Probationary period.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-316.304.md)
- [5 CFR § 316.401 § 316.401 Purpose and duration.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-316.401.md)
- [5 CFR § 316.402 § 316.402 Procedures for making temporary appointments.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-316.402.md)
- [5 CFR § 316.403 § 316.403 Designation of provisional appointments.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-316.403.md)
- [5 CFR § 316.601 § 316.601 Appointment without competitive examination in rare cases.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-316.601.md)
- [5 CFR § 316.701 § 316.701 Public or private enterprise taken over by Government.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-316.701.md)
- [5 CFR § 316.702 § 316.702 Excepted positions brought into the competitive service.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-316.702.md)
- [5 CFR § 316.703 § 316.703 Effect on tenure of position change of status quo employees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-316.703.md)
- [5 CFR § 316.901 § 316.901 Appointment authority.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-316.901.md)
- [5 CFR § 316.902 § 316.902 Eligibility.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-316.902.md)
- [5 CFR § 316.903 § 316.903 Qualifications.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-316.903.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-316.301. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.