Applying for Jobs – Required Forms

Required Documents for NIST Vacancy Announcements

The documents required for a position depend on the applicant category you fall under. Please review the sections below and submit all documentation for every category that applies to you (for example, you may be both a current Federal employee and a veteran).

Important: Information on résumé requirements—including NIST’s two-page résumé limit—can be found on NIST’s Application Tips page.

After you submit your application, the HR Office will review your résumé and required documents to verify your eligibility and qualifications and will communicate next steps, including referral status, through USAJOBS.

Required Documents by Applicant Category

Current and Former Federal Employees

Current Federal Employees (permanent, competitive service only)

• Most recent SF-50 showing all required elements listed above.

Former Federal Employees (reinstatement eligible)

• Most recent SF-50 showing all required elements listed above.

Learn more about reinstatement eligibility: https://www.opm.gov/job-seekers/reinstatement/

Former Federal Employees (separated 1+ years, requesting non-competitive reinstatement at a higher grade or full-performance level)

• Separation SF-50, where:
• “Position Occupied” must show “1”.
• “Tenure” must show “1” or “2”.
• Most recent performance appraisal showing at least “Fully Successful”.

Military Service and Veteran Preference Categories

Candidates with Military Service

• DD-214 indicating character of service.

Active Duty Service Members

• Statement of Service or certificate from your branch indicating character of service and projected release date.

Candidates with a Service-Connected Disability

• DD-214 indicating character of service.
• VA letter on official letterhead confirming either:
• a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, or
• a compensable service-connected disability rated at least 10% but less than 30%.
• SF-15: Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference.

Derived Preference (Spouses, Widows/Widowers, Parents)

Spouse of a Disabled Veteran

• Statement from VA or Armed Forces certifying a 100% service-connected disability.
• Marriage certificate.
• DD-214 indicating character of service.
• SF-15: Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference (https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf).

Widow/Widower of a Service Member

• Documentation showing the service member died while on active duty or was released/discharged due to death.
• Documentation confirming the service member was killed while on active duty.
• Statement certifying you are the un-remarried widow/widower.
• DD-214 indicating character of service (if available).
• SF-15: Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference (https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf).

Parent of a Deceased or Disabled Veteran

• Documentation verifying the veteran died under honorable conditions during a qualifying war, campaign, or expedition.
• Parents’ marriage certificate.
• One of the following:
• Documentation showing you live with a permanently disabled spouse, or
• Documentation showing you are widowed, divorced, or legally separated from the veteran’s other parent.
• If remarried, documentation must show you were widowed, divorced, or legally separated at the time you claim derived preference.

Military Spouses (Active Duty Members)

• Marriage certificate.
• Documentation verifying your spouse’s current active-duty status (e.g., recent LES with PII removed, memo from chain of command, military ID/service card).
  • All documents must be dated within 30 days of the vacancy closing date.
• SF-15: Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference.

Career Transition Assistance Programs (CTAP & ICTAP)

• RIF notice.
• SF-50.
• Most recent performance rating.

Education-Based Eligibility

Higher-Level Education (College/University)

• Unofficial or official transcripts.
• Official transcripts are required if selected.

Foreign Education

• Transcripts.
• Evaluation letter from an accredited private organization providing a course-by-course equivalency assessment.

Note: NIST does not require the use of a specific evaluation service (such as WES). You may use any accredited private organization that provides a course-by-course evaluation of foreign education credentials.

Learn more about evaluation of foreign education: https://www.nist.gov/careers/evaluation-foreign-education

Schedule A (Individuals with Disabilities)

• Documentation from one of the following:
• Licensed medical professional.
• Licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist.
• Federal, state, District of Columbia, or U.S. territory agency that issues disability benefits.

Documentation must:

• Be on official letterhead and signed.
• Certify that you have a severe physical, intellectual, or psychological disability qualifying under 5 CFR 213.3102(u).

More information: Special Hiring Authorities (NIST)

Pathways Programs

• Transcripts showing degree conferred.
• Proof of completion of 640 hours of Internship Program work experience.
• Most recent performance rating.
• SF-50.
• Official transcripts are required if selected.

Pathways Recent Graduate Applicants

• Transcripts (official or unofficial) showing degree conferred.
• Official transcripts are required if selected.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

To prevent delays or an incomplete application, please review and avoid these common errors:

• Submitting an award SF-50. Award SF-50s cannot be used to verify eligibility. You must upload an SF-50 that shows position title, appointment type, occupational series, pay plan, grade/step, tenure, and SCD.
• Submitting an SF-50 that does not clearly show eligibility (for example, an older SF-50 that does not include your current grade, tenure, or appointment type).
• Not uploading all transcripts when education is required or used to qualify. Upload all transcripts from all institutions attended so HR can verify the maximum number of earned credits in your field of study.
• Uploading password-protected, encrypted, or corrupt files. Ensure that all documents open correctly without passwords or errors.
• Uploading scanned documents that are illegible or difficult to read (for example, documents that are too dark, blurred, cropped, or incomplete).
• Attaching documents incorrectly in USAJOBS. Double-check that each file is properly attached and indexed to the correct document type before submitting. In most cases, documents cannot be added after the announcement closes.
• Submitting unofficial transcripts that do not display your name, school name, course titles, credit hours, and (when applicable) degrees awarded.
• Not uploading supporting documentation for veteran preference when submitting the SF-15 (for example, missing DD-214 or VA letter), which may prevent 10-point preference from being applied.