To: Heads of State Agencies and Human Resource Directors

Subject: New Definition Of Professional Level Experience

Issue Date: September 27, 1996

Since January 1, 1987 the Examining Division of the Department of Civil service has defined professional level experience in the classified service as experience gained in jobs which are evaluated with an Education Factor rating of "5" or higher (i.e., the minimum qualifications call for at least a baccalaureate degree with substitutions). However, we recognize that there are some career fields and jobs which have such a high level of responsibility that any reasonable person would consider them professional level even though a baccalaureate degree is not required and most persons occupying such jobs do not possess a degree. We have made exceptions to the definition of professional level on a case by case basis to include jobs in the professional category that do not require degrees provided they showed a high degree of responsibility as evidenced by such things as factor ratings in Complexity, Organizational Control, and Impact. We have also used the Dictionary of Occupational Titles published by the U.S. Department of Labor which includes evaluations of jobs on many factors using a nationwide data base to help evaluate exceptions, particularly for experience gained outside of the classified service. However, we have decided this method of evaluating on a case by case basis to allow exceptions is not adequately handling this issue. Therefore, we are revising our definition of professional level as follows:

"For the purposes of qualifying for jobs in the classified service, professional level experience is defined as experience gained in a job in the classified system which has an Education factor rating of at least 5, i.e., in a job requiring a baccalaureate degree or substitutions as the minimum education requirement

OR

experience gained in any classified job that has a current evaluation level of GS-15 or higher".

It is important to note that the determining factor for jobs not requiring a degree is the EVALUATION level. Jobs with a GS-level at 15 or above that have a market adjustment which brings them to that level but which are evaluated below GS-15 will not be considered professional level. Medical Pay Plan jobs will be judged on their evaluated GS-level not their actual M-level. Experience gained prior to January 1, 1987 when we used a different pay plan will use GS-19 as the beginning point, i.e., experience in a job requiring a baccalaureate degree or substitutions or experience in any job GS-19 or above gained prior to January 1, 1987 will be considered professional level.

In determining the LEVEL of professional experience at which a particular job will be evaluated, no job at GS-15 which does not have an Education factor rating of "5" or higher will be considered higher than Entry-Professional Level regardless of the level of work appearing on the class specification. For example, Corrections Captain which is a GS-15 job will be considered Entry-Professional Level even though the level of work on the class specification indicates the job as a supervisor. We cannot use the levels of work on the class specifications because they rank jobs in the same job series only in relation to each other and not in relation to the whole pay plan. For jobs higher than GS-15 that do not require a degree, we will determine on a case by case basis what level of professional experience will be granted based on how each job relates to other professional level jobs in the same job series or the pay plan as a whole.

We will begin evaluating experience using these criteria effective the date of this circular. If you have any questions or comments please call Max Reichert, Assistant Chief of Examining at 504-342-8536.

Sincerely,

Allen Reynolds
Acting Director