GS Grade & Qualification Requirements
Official minimum education and experience requirements for General Schedule (GS) positions, drawn from OPM's Group Coverage Qualification Standards. Select a grade and position group below, then verify against the specific USAJobs announcement.
GS-7 Requirements
Two Grade Intervalschool Education
Any one of these education options qualifies
- Superior Academic Achievement (bachelor's degree required)
- 1 full year of graduate level education
verified Specialized Experience
- 1 year equivalent to at least GS-5
Quick Reference
Browse GS Grade Requirements
Jump to official OPM minimum qualification requirements for commonly searched General Schedule grades.
info What is specialized experience?
Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sets minimum qualification patterns for General Schedule (GS) federal jobs. For most professional and administrative series, GS-5 entry requires a bachelor's degree or qualifying experience, GS-7 accepts Superior Academic Achievement or 1 year at GS-5, GS-9 accepts a master's degree or 1 year at GS-7, and GS-11 accepts a Ph.D. or 1 year at GS-9. At GS-12 and above, specialized experience is typically required. These are group minimums; your USAJobs announcement may list additional series-specific requirements.
Many professional and scientific job series have Individual Occupational Requirements on top of these group minimums. Always check the Qualifications section of the USAJobs posting for your series.
Education Only Qualifying Requirements
When education alone can qualify an applicant, OPM defines these minimum levels (Qualification Policies, Section E.4). At GS-13 and above, specialized experience is always required.
| Grade | Qualifying Education |
|---|---|
| GS-5 | 4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree, or a bachelor's degree |
| GS-7 | Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement, or 1 academic year of graduate education |
| GS-9 | Master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 academic years of progressively higher level graduate education |
| GS-11 | Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 academic years of progressively higher level graduate education |
Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.)
Qualifies bachelor's degree holders for GS-7 entry in two grade interval series, per OPM Qualification Policies.
The Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) provision applies to GS-7 level positions in two grade interval occupational series.
Class standing
Upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision (such as the College of Liberal Arts or School of Business), based on completed courses.
Grade point average
3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale ("B" or better) as recorded on the official transcript, computed over 4 years of education or over the final 2 years; OR 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale ("B+" or better) based on required courses in the major field or required major courses completed during the final 2 years.
Honor society membership
Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. Freshman honor society membership cannot be used.
Full OPM Group Coverage Tables
Complete minimum requirements by grade for each OPM occupational group. Individual occupational series may impose additional requirements such as licenses or specific coursework.
Two Grade Interval
Covers most white collar professional and administrative series (such as IT Specialist 2210, Program Analyst 0343, HR Specialist 0201). Entry is typically GS-5 or GS-7.
Professional and Scientific Positions ยท Administrative and Management Positions
| Grade | Education | General Exp. | Specialized Exp. |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | 4 year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree | 3 years of progressively responsible experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4 | Not applicable |
| GS-7 | Superior Academic Achievement (bachelor's degree required); 1 full year of graduate level education | Not applicable | 1 year equivalent to at least GS-5 |
| GS-9 | Master's or equivalent graduate degree; 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education | Not applicable | 1 year equivalent to at least GS-7 |
| GS-11 | Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education | Not applicable | 1 year equivalent to at least GS-9 |
| GS-12 | Not applicable | Not applicable | 1 year equivalent to at least GS-11 |
| GS-13 | Not applicable | Not applicable | 1 year equivalent to at least GS-12 |
Each column is an alternate path. You only need to meet the requirements in one column unless the grade notes say otherwise.
Common Career Ladders
Typical grade progression patterns in federal two grade interval series.
Standard two grade interval
GS-5, GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, GS-12, GS-13
Most professional and administrative series. Each promotion requires 1 year of specialized experience at the next lower grade.
Pathways Recent Graduates
GS-5 or GS-7 entry, GS-9 or GS-11 target
Recent graduate programs may enter at GS-5 or GS-7 and promote to GS-9 or GS-11 upon completion, per program terms.
Intervening even numbered grades
GS-6, GS-8, GS-10 (when established)
Some agencies establish intervening grades in the normal line of progression. Applicants must then have 1 year at the intervening grade, not skip a level.
Federal GS Qualification Requirements Guide
The General Schedule (GS) is the primary pay and classification system for most white-collar federal employees in the United States. Before you can be hired at a GS grade, you must meet the minimum qualifications published by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and stated in the USAJobs announcement for that position.
OPM organizes qualification standards into group coverage patterns. The two grade interval standard covers most professional, scientific, and administrative occupations such as IT Specialist (2210), Program Analyst (0343), and Human Resources Specialist (0201). The one grade interval standards cover clerical support and technical or medical support roles, where grades advance one level at a time.
At entry levels, education and experience are usually alternate paths. For example, GS-5 in a two grade interval series can be met with a bachelor's degree or with 3 years of progressively responsible experience that includes 1 year equivalent to GS-4. GS-7 can be met with Superior Academic Achievement, 1 year of graduate education, or 1 year of specialized experience at the GS-5 level.
From GS-9 upward in professional series, a master's degree or doctoral degree may qualify on the education path, but most competitive announcements also accept 1 year of specialized experience at the next lower grade. At GS-12 and above, education alone is generally not qualifying except for certain research positions.
Always review the Qualifications section of your specific USAJobs posting. Many series have Individual Occupational Requirements that add licensing, degree fields, or coursework beyond these OPM group minimums. Pair this guide with our 2026 GS Pay Scale and GS Pay Calculator to understand both qualification and compensation for your target grade.
warning Important disclaimer
These are minimum qualification patterns from OPM group standards, not requirements for a specific job announcement. Every USAJobs posting lists its own Qualifications section based on a job analysis. Many series (Engineering 0800, Nursing 0610, IT 2210, and others) have Individual Occupational Requirements that add licensure, specific degrees, or competency standards. Source: OPM Qualification Standards and OPM Qualification Policies