Executive Order 13162: Federal Career Intern Program
President: Bill Clinton
Created a federal career-intern route using time-limited Schedule B appointments and training.
Status: Revoked.
Is Executive Order 13162 still in effect? No. Revoked effective March 1, 2011 by EO 13562; Pathways became successor framework.
What does Executive Order 13162 do?
EO 13162 created the Federal Career Intern Program, a time-limited entry route using excepted-service appointments, structured training and possible conversion to competitive status. OPM was to set merit-based recruitment and veterans-preference procedures. Completion did not guarantee a permanent job. EO 13562 later established the Pathways framework and revoked EO 13162 effective March 1, 2011; incumbent interns were covered by transition directions. Current student and recent-graduate hiring operates under the later Pathways order, OPM regulations and subsequent amendments, not the 2000 program.
Later evidence reviewed October 2, 2026: EO 13562 revoked the career-intern program effective March 1, 2011. OPM’s current Pathways materials incorporate later orders.
Before and after
Before the order
Agencies used other student and entry-level hiring authorities without this career-intern framework.
After the order
OPM administered a Schedule B career-intern route.
EO 13562 ended the program and established Pathways as a successor framework.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| OPM | Set merit, equal-opportunity, veterans-preference and training procedures | Historical program |
| Agencies | Recruit, train and evaluate career interns | Until revocation |
| Agencies | Convert incumbent FCIP appointees as directed by EO 13562 | 2011 transition |
What happened next
EO 13162 signed.
Published in the Federal Register.
EO 13562 established the successor Pathways framework.
Revocation of EO 13162 took effect; transition directions applied to incumbents.
NARA disposition and current OPM framework checked.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
The old program used 5 U.S.C. 3301–3302 and excepted-service appointments. Its revocation date was deferred to March 1, 2011, a distinction from EO 13562’s December 2010 signing. Present applicant rules come from the later Pathways order, OPM regulations and amendments.
Sources by type
If a source is unavailable, first check the cited publisher or another official repository. The cited publisher remains the authority.
Primary and official sources
Orders, laws, court records and official implementation material.
- OPM — 2011 transition guidance (opens in a new tab) Official record
- National Archives — 2000 disposition table (opens in a new tab) Official record
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on October 2, 2026. How we research →