# Federal Register #2026-21319

OPM rule removes Time-in-Grade restriction for covered General Schedule promotions

**Buyer:** Office of Personnel Management
**Posted:** October 19, 2026
**Identifier:** 2026-21319

The Office of Personnel Management finalized a rule removing the Time-in-Grade restriction for certain General Schedule promotions.
- **Government agency:** U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
- **Rule change:** Removes the prior 52-week time-in-grade requirement for covered competitive-service promotions to GS-6 and above.
- **Requirements that remain:** Employees must meet applicable qualification standards, classification requirements, and any consistently applied, job-related prerequisites established by their agency.
- **Effect:** The change allows eligible employees to be considered; it does not guarantee promotion or change merit promotion procedures, statutory qualifications, or within-grade increase rules.
- **Procurement details:** This is a regulatory action, not a procurement opportunity. No products, services, quantities, part numbers, OEMs, or vendors are requested.

### Description

The Office of Personnel Management is issuing a final rule eliminating the Time-in-Grade restriction on advancement to covered competitive service positions in the General Schedule. The rule removes the prior requirement that candidates generally complete 52 weeks at a specified lower grade before advancement to GS-6 or above. Employees must still meet applicable qualification standards and agency-established job-related requirements, and the rule does not create an entitlement to promotion. The rule is effective January 19, 2027.

[View original listing](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/19/2026-21319/elimination-of-time-in-grade)