U.S. Office of Personnel Management www.opm.gov - Recruiting, Retaining and Honoring a World-Class Workforce to Serve the American People

The Intergovernmental Personnel Act Mobility Program provides for the temporary assignment of personnel between the Federal Government and state and local governments, colleges and universities, Indian tribal governments, federally funded research and development centers, and other eligible organizations.

Recruitment and Hiring Policy "Myth Busters."

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) encourages agencies to re-think the following myths and mis-perceptions:

1. Myth: IPAs are a popular and a widely used flexibility.

   Truth: Agencies do not take full advantage of the IPA program which, if used strategically, can help agencies meet their needs for "hard-to-fill" positions such as Information Technology and Nurses.

2. Myth: IPAs are cumbersome to use and require OPM approval.

   Truth: Agencies do not need OPM approval to make assignments under the IPA authority. Federal agencies interested in using the authority simply enter into a written agreement.

3. Myth: IPAs are expensive to use.

   Truth: Agencies may enter into IPA assignments on a reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis. This means they may be cost-neutral to Federal agencies. Whether an IPA assignment is reimbursable is determined by the agency and non-Federal entity involved in the assignment.

4. Myth: An agency may only enter into an IPA agreement with a State Government entity.

   Truth: An agency may enter into an IPA agreement with State and local governments, institutions of higher education, and Indian tribal governments.

5. Myth: Agencies receive no recruitment benefit from sending employees on IPA assignments.

   Truth: Federal employees serving in IPA assignments can serve as both recruiters and ambassadors for positions in your agency. For example, Federal nurses sent to colleges and universities as teachers/instructors can inspire students about Federal employment and encourage them to consider employment with your agency via the Pathways Program. This results in a win-win for the academic institution as well as your agency.

6. Myth: An agency may document IPA assignments for full-time employment only.

   Truth: An agency may document IPA assignments for intermittent, part-time, and full-time employment.

Report to Congress on Nursing Faculty and the Intergovernmental Personnel Act Mobility Program: The Forum, Findings, and Recommendations [1.85 MB]

For more information contact:

IPA Mobility Program
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Room 7463
1900 E St., N.W.
Washington, DC 20415

Email: ipa@opm.gov