DEU CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
VERIFIED.
Who is responsible for responding to applicant rating appeals?
Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)
OPM
The Agency
Office of Special Counsel (OSC) - ANS The Agency
Which of the following statements about the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
(ICTAP) is true?
ICTAP is a process whereby employees who will be or have been involuntarily separated (other
than for cause) may receive selection priority for jobs in agencies other than the one from
which they separated.
ICTAP is a process whereby employees who are voluntarily separated may receive selection
priority for jobs in agencies other than the one in which they were previously employed.
Both A and B
None of the above - ANS ICTAP is a process whereby employees who will be or have been
involuntarily separated (other
than for cause) may receive selection priority for jobs in agencies other than the one from
which
they separated.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 24
,In addition to 10-point preference eligible, which of the following are entitled to file late
application?
Those who could not file because of military service.
Those who could not file due to hospitalization continuing for 1 year or less following discharge
for military service
Those who could not file because of overseas service with a Federal agency
All the above - ANS All the above
Agencies are required to communicate with applicants during the application process using how
many touch points?
There is no requirement for the agency to communicate with applicants; communication is
optional.
1-Only at the receipt of an application
3- At application assessment for minimum qualifications, referral, and selection.
4- At application receipt, assessment for minimum qualifications, referral, and selection.
5- At application receipt, assessment for minimum qualifications, referral, interview, and
selection - ANS 4- At application receipt, assessment for minimum qualifications, referral, and
selection.
Which of the following positions is not restricted preference-eligible veterans?
Custodian
Elevator Operator
Guard
Clerk - ANS Clerk
After working a certificate, a manager is left with three available candidates: one veteran and
two non-veterans. Undecided on hiring any of them, he asks HR to merge categories, allowing
him to consider additional names. Can this request be accommodated?
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, Yes. Category rating was intended to give managers a larger pool of candidates from which to
choose so the manager may merge at any time.
No. There are at least three names remaining in the highest quality category so the hiring
manager may not merge with the next lower category.
Yes. The manager has not identified a candidate for hire so more names should be provided
until a suitable candidate is identified.
No. As long as a veteran remains in the highest quality category, quality categories cannot be
merged. - ANS No. There are at least three names remaining in the highest quality category
so the hiring manager
may not merge with the next lower category.
Which of the following is not true of interdisciplinary positions?
The positions must be in the scientific or professional job family
Applicants should be referred on a separate certificate for each series
The qualifications of the selectee determine to which series the person is appointed
The position contains elements of at least two series or is work that is done by individuals in
multiple series. - ANS Applicants should be referred on a separate certificate for each series
A hiring manager returns a certificate with the following actions: Carter CPS not selected; Maris
XP selected; and Avis TP selected. Are the selections valid?
No, only Maris, a 10-point veteran, is a valid selection.
No, only Avis, a 5-point veteran, is a valid selection.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
VERIFIED.
Who is responsible for responding to applicant rating appeals?
Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)
OPM
The Agency
Office of Special Counsel (OSC) - ANS The Agency
Which of the following statements about the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
(ICTAP) is true?
ICTAP is a process whereby employees who will be or have been involuntarily separated (other
than for cause) may receive selection priority for jobs in agencies other than the one from
which they separated.
ICTAP is a process whereby employees who are voluntarily separated may receive selection
priority for jobs in agencies other than the one in which they were previously employed.
Both A and B
None of the above - ANS ICTAP is a process whereby employees who will be or have been
involuntarily separated (other
than for cause) may receive selection priority for jobs in agencies other than the one from
which
they separated.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 24
,In addition to 10-point preference eligible, which of the following are entitled to file late
application?
Those who could not file because of military service.
Those who could not file due to hospitalization continuing for 1 year or less following discharge
for military service
Those who could not file because of overseas service with a Federal agency
All the above - ANS All the above
Agencies are required to communicate with applicants during the application process using how
many touch points?
There is no requirement for the agency to communicate with applicants; communication is
optional.
1-Only at the receipt of an application
3- At application assessment for minimum qualifications, referral, and selection.
4- At application receipt, assessment for minimum qualifications, referral, and selection.
5- At application receipt, assessment for minimum qualifications, referral, interview, and
selection - ANS 4- At application receipt, assessment for minimum qualifications, referral, and
selection.
Which of the following positions is not restricted preference-eligible veterans?
Custodian
Elevator Operator
Guard
Clerk - ANS Clerk
After working a certificate, a manager is left with three available candidates: one veteran and
two non-veterans. Undecided on hiring any of them, he asks HR to merge categories, allowing
him to consider additional names. Can this request be accommodated?
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 24
, Yes. Category rating was intended to give managers a larger pool of candidates from which to
choose so the manager may merge at any time.
No. There are at least three names remaining in the highest quality category so the hiring
manager may not merge with the next lower category.
Yes. The manager has not identified a candidate for hire so more names should be provided
until a suitable candidate is identified.
No. As long as a veteran remains in the highest quality category, quality categories cannot be
merged. - ANS No. There are at least three names remaining in the highest quality category
so the hiring manager
may not merge with the next lower category.
Which of the following is not true of interdisciplinary positions?
The positions must be in the scientific or professional job family
Applicants should be referred on a separate certificate for each series
The qualifications of the selectee determine to which series the person is appointed
The position contains elements of at least two series or is work that is done by individuals in
multiple series. - ANS Applicants should be referred on a separate certificate for each series
A hiring manager returns a certificate with the following actions: Carter CPS not selected; Maris
XP selected; and Avis TP selected. Are the selections valid?
No, only Maris, a 10-point veteran, is a valid selection.
No, only Avis, a 5-point veteran, is a valid selection.
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