Section 12: Referral and What It Means

After all required reviews and assessments are complete, applicants who meet the job-related referral criteria for a vacancy may be referred to the hiring official for further consideration. Being referred means your application has moved forward in the process, but it does not guarantee an interview or selection.

Understanding Referral Certificates

A referral certificate (sometimes called a “referral list”) is an official list of applicants who meet the qualification and referral requirements for a specific vacancy.

Referral certificates are issued for all hiring paths, including:

• Direct Hire Authority
• Delegated Examining
• Merit Promotion
• CTAP/ICTAP

Being placed on a referral certificate means:

• Your application materials are forwarded to the hiring official
• You may be reviewed alongside other referred applicants
• You may be contacted for an interview or additional steps

Referral certificates do not indicate applicant ranking or comparative standing unless required by a specific hiring authority (such as CTAP/ICTAP priority).

What Referral Means

If you are referred:

• The hiring official or selection panel receives your application materials
• You may be considered for an interview
• You may be asked to provide additional information, depending on the position

Referral is an important milestone, but it does not require the hiring official to take further action.

What Referral Does Not Mean

Referral does not:

• Guarantee an interview
• Indicate how you compare to other applicants
• Establish a specific selection timeline
• Require the hiring official to interview all referred applicants

Hiring officials determine which applicants to interview based on mission needs, applicant volume, and the specific requirements of the position.

Referral Differences Across Hiring Paths

While the referral process follows the same general framework across hiring paths, some differences apply:

Direct Hire Authority (DHA)

• Veterans’ preference does not apply. All qualified applicants who meet job-related criteria may be referred.

Delegated Examining (DE)

• Veterans’ preference applies. Qualified preference-eligible applicants may be referred ahead of non-preference applicants, consistent with the Rule of Many.

Merit Promotion (MP)

• Referral is limited to status-eligible applicants who meet qualification and job-related criteria.

CTAP/ICTAP

• Well-qualified CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive priority referral when they apply under the appropriate hiring path.

The vacancy announcement will identify which hiring paths are being used for a given position.

If You Are Selected For An Interview

If selected for an interview:

• You will be contacted by the hiring official, HR specialist, or interview panel
• Interview formats may vary (virtual, phone, or in-person)
• Additional steps, such as reference checks or document verification, may follow

If You Are Not Selected

If you are not selected, your USAJOBS status will update once the referral certificate is closed. NIST does not provide individualized feedback on non-selection.

Important Note

Hiring officials may choose to interview all, some, or none of the referred applicants, depending on the needs of the organization and the specific position.