Opinions-Possibility of New Cert off Old Register?

[aljwatch]

So many theories about when the NORs will come out and the New Register will finally be in place for any agencies who seek to hire.  What do people think of the possibility that it may take so long for OPM to finally set up the New Register that some agencies with immediate hiring needs might go ahead and do at least a small hire off of the Old Register, which is still in place?  When the NORs seemed imminent, that idea seemed unlikely.  But now, with all the reasons for there possibly being a significant delay in actually having the New Register in place, I'm not sure it's out of the question.   There are still a fair number of people with high or decent scores on the Old Register (mostly those who have limited GALs).   There was some speculation that Medicare Hearings & Appeals might be looking to hire, in addition to SSA.   What do people think the likelihood is that they might go ahead and pull a Cert off the Old Register if OPM continues to delay the release of the New Register? (especially of OPM tells them a target date for NORs is more than a couple of months out, so that they could conceivably complete the hire before OPM is done).  Just throwing it out there . . .

[71stretch]

Zero chance of that, IMO. Many have suggested that SSA is calling the shots with OPM as to the timing of the new register. If that's the case, or even if it's not, they haven't liked what was left on the old register for a long time. Given the limited use of the ALJ register by any other agency, that's not happening there, either.

[bartleby]

I am still seeing ALJ's being solicited by other Agencies from SSA, I see no reason that would stop and they would hire off of an old Register.

[funkyodar]

It's pure irony for one dreaming himself to discourage the dream of another, but I have to agree with observer.

Ssa isn't in a big enough hurry to justify jumping before the new register. Additionally, each of the powers that have publicly stated there would be a hire this year have prefaced by saying "as soon as the new registeris set" or some version of that.

As to other agencies (medicare), I suppose it possible but unlikely. Consider that the new testing was made litigation experience centric at the request of these other agencies andit seems counterintuitive for them to make a hire before these new candidates, from their requested testing, are available.

I truly feel for those left hanging on the old register. Thats my fear. I feel it would have been better to have been cut at phase 1 than to make a register only to sit thru years of waiting with no pay off. At this point, though, holding out hope for one more cert from that register appears only a prolonging of inevitable dissapointment.

Of course, I am frequently wrong...

[aljwatch]

Actually, I am not on the Old Register (although I know some very bright people who still are), I am just curious what people think. Perhaps the early March speculation for NORs is right (a year from start). But, what if OPM says that the New Register can't be put in place for 6 months because of all the problems (as discussed at length in other threads)??

[privateatty]

Feb 4, 2014 17:47:36 GMT -5 aljwatch said:

Actually, I am not on the Old Register (although I know some very bright people who still are), I am just curious what people think. Perhaps the early March speculation for NORs is right (a year from start). But, what if OPM says that the New Register can't be put in place for 6 months because of all the problems (as discussed at length in other threads)??

I don't see that happening. And I agree with observer53 and the funkmeister. OPM will release the NORs when they are good and ready and as to the appeals--well, if they decide in the appellant's favor then they will be put on the Register.

But the 64K question--WHEN, my take is that they have to take into account the SSA CALJ determination that there will be hires this FY. OPM can make SSA wait, but they can't blow them off.

[bhappy]

My understanding is that the most recent register expired October 2013. I have neither seen nor heard official OPM confirmation of its expiration. If there is a current register, it seems unlikely that OPM would refresh or extend it.

Perhaps someone could advise of the status of the most recent register?

[71stretch]

Feb 5, 2014 16:58:32 GMT -5 bhappy said:

My understanding is that the most recent register expired October 2013. I have neither seen nor heard official OPM confirmation of its expiration. If there is a current register, it seems unlikely that OPM would refresh or extend it.

Perhaps someone could advise of the status of the most recent register?

When applications opened in March of last year, those of us on the register were notified that the current register would expire when the new one was established, so we needed to reapply if we wanted to stay on the register. So, the current register, which was last refreshed in 2010, is still "alive" but will expire when the new one is ready.

EDIT: Good grief, I do save everything in my email. Here is the text of the Termination of Register notice from 2/7/13:


his is in regard to your current status on the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) register, based on your completion of the ALJ

examination under announcement numbers 2007, 2008, and/or 2009 ALJ-134575.



The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has developed a new ALJ examination and will soon post a new ALJ job opportunity

announcement with the new ALJ examination. Once OPM completes the administration of the ALJ examination and issues Notices of

Results for the entire group that participated in the examination, OPM will establish a new register with qualified applicants who have

completed the examination and met the new criteria.(1) The existing ALJ register will be terminated when OPM establishes the new

register based on the new examination. Therefore, if you wish to be considered for ALJ positions after the new register is established,

you must apply again under the new announcement during the open period and compete for a place on the new register, pursuant to the

new examination process.(2)



The existing register will remain in effect in the interim, and agencies may continue to use it until it is terminated. As explained above,

however, the establishment of a new register will result in the immediate termination of the existing register on which your name is

currently listed, meaning you will no longer have a place on the ALJ register after that date unless you have successfully competed under

the new announcement.



Sorry for the weird spacing. It doesn't appear that way until it shows up on the board.

[bhappy]

observer53, thanks. You are correct. I corroborated from another source.

[southeastalj]

there is no chance SSA will hire again off of the existing register