DE CERTIFICATION 2026 FULL QUESTIONS
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ What is the name of the nine basic standards that govern the
management of the executive branch workforce and serve as the
foundation of the Federal Civil service?
A. Prohibited Personnel Practices
B. Merit Systems Principles
C. Federal Recruitment Standards
D. None of the above. Answer: B. Merit Systems Principles- DEOH, Ch
1-3: OPM maintains an oversight program to ensure that delegated
examining activities, including any supporting work performed by
contractors, are conducted in accordance with applicable law, merit
system principles, and the standards established under 5 U.S.C. §
1104 (b)(1).
◉ What is the name of the actions that are forbidden for employees
who have the authority to make personnel decisions?
A. Federal Recruitment Standards
B. Prohibited Personnel Practices
C. Merit Systems Principles
,D. None of the above. Answer: B. Prohibited Personnel Practices-
DEOH, Ch 1-4:
A delegated examining unit has two fundamental responsibilities:
1. To ensure to the maximum extent possible that the agency's
vacant positions are filled with the best-qualified persons from a
sufficient pool of well-qualified eligibles, and taking into account
veterans' preference requirements; and
2. To uphold the laws, regulations, and policies governing
competitive examination and selection (see 5 U.S.C. §§ 3304-3319,
merit system principles (id. at § 2301), and prohibited personnel
practices (id. at § 2302).
◉ How many Prohibited Personnel Practices are there?
A. 7
B. 9
C. 14
D. 3 Answer: C. 14 - DEOH, Ch 1- / 5 U.S. Code § 2302 (D)(b)(1-14).
Any employee who has authority to take, direct others to take,
recommend, or approve any personnel action, shall not violate any
law, rule or regulation.
◉ True or False: Agencies have the exclusive authority to grant or
deny a pass over request of a 30% or more CPS preference eligible
,Veteran? Answer: False: DEOH, Ch 1-2 / (5 CFR § 339.306); and (5
U.S.C. § 3318): Only OPM has the exclusive authority to grant or deny
a pass over request of a 30% or more CPS preference eligible
Veteran
◉ True or False: The agency is required to conduct job analysis and
develop valid assessment tools. Answer: TRUE: DEOH, Ch 1-4:
Agencies must develop instruments in accordance with 5 CFR part
300.
◉ True or False: It is the responsibility of the Agency to establish
policies and procedures including application acceptance
procedures and category ranking policy. Answer: True: DEOH, Ch 3-
8: Your agency headquarters is responsible for establishing policies
and procedures for accepting and processing applications from all
applicants, including status applicants. In developing these policies
and procedures, your headquarters must comply with all applicable
laws and regulations.
◉ A position/job that is not expected to last longer than a year is
what type of an appointment:
A. Career-Conditional
B. Term NTE 4 years
C. Temporary Limited
, D. None of the Above Answer: C. Temporary Limited- DEOH, Ch 2-1:
A temporary limited appointment is a non-status appointment to a
competitive service position for a specific period not to exceed one
year.
You may extend a temporary limited appointment for a period of up
to one additional year, for a total of 24 months (see 5 CFR part 316).
◉ How many Merit Systems Principles are there?
A. 7
B. 9
C. 14
D. 3 Answer: B. 9- DEOH, Ch 1-8:
In accordance with OPM's general responsibility to ensure
compliance with civil service laws (5 U.S.C. § 1103(a)(5)) and its
oversight responsibility to ensure that your delegated examining
activities are in compliance with OPM standards and with merit
system principles (see 5 U.S.C. §§ 1104(b)(1) and (2) and 2301).
◉ You may extend a temporary appointment for a period of up to an
additional:
A. Four Years (for a total of 5 years)
B. Two Years (for a total of 3 years)
C. One Year (for a total of 24 months)
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ What is the name of the nine basic standards that govern the
management of the executive branch workforce and serve as the
foundation of the Federal Civil service?
A. Prohibited Personnel Practices
B. Merit Systems Principles
C. Federal Recruitment Standards
D. None of the above. Answer: B. Merit Systems Principles- DEOH, Ch
1-3: OPM maintains an oversight program to ensure that delegated
examining activities, including any supporting work performed by
contractors, are conducted in accordance with applicable law, merit
system principles, and the standards established under 5 U.S.C. §
1104 (b)(1).
◉ What is the name of the actions that are forbidden for employees
who have the authority to make personnel decisions?
A. Federal Recruitment Standards
B. Prohibited Personnel Practices
C. Merit Systems Principles
,D. None of the above. Answer: B. Prohibited Personnel Practices-
DEOH, Ch 1-4:
A delegated examining unit has two fundamental responsibilities:
1. To ensure to the maximum extent possible that the agency's
vacant positions are filled with the best-qualified persons from a
sufficient pool of well-qualified eligibles, and taking into account
veterans' preference requirements; and
2. To uphold the laws, regulations, and policies governing
competitive examination and selection (see 5 U.S.C. §§ 3304-3319,
merit system principles (id. at § 2301), and prohibited personnel
practices (id. at § 2302).
◉ How many Prohibited Personnel Practices are there?
A. 7
B. 9
C. 14
D. 3 Answer: C. 14 - DEOH, Ch 1- / 5 U.S. Code § 2302 (D)(b)(1-14).
Any employee who has authority to take, direct others to take,
recommend, or approve any personnel action, shall not violate any
law, rule or regulation.
◉ True or False: Agencies have the exclusive authority to grant or
deny a pass over request of a 30% or more CPS preference eligible
,Veteran? Answer: False: DEOH, Ch 1-2 / (5 CFR § 339.306); and (5
U.S.C. § 3318): Only OPM has the exclusive authority to grant or deny
a pass over request of a 30% or more CPS preference eligible
Veteran
◉ True or False: The agency is required to conduct job analysis and
develop valid assessment tools. Answer: TRUE: DEOH, Ch 1-4:
Agencies must develop instruments in accordance with 5 CFR part
300.
◉ True or False: It is the responsibility of the Agency to establish
policies and procedures including application acceptance
procedures and category ranking policy. Answer: True: DEOH, Ch 3-
8: Your agency headquarters is responsible for establishing policies
and procedures for accepting and processing applications from all
applicants, including status applicants. In developing these policies
and procedures, your headquarters must comply with all applicable
laws and regulations.
◉ A position/job that is not expected to last longer than a year is
what type of an appointment:
A. Career-Conditional
B. Term NTE 4 years
C. Temporary Limited
, D. None of the Above Answer: C. Temporary Limited- DEOH, Ch 2-1:
A temporary limited appointment is a non-status appointment to a
competitive service position for a specific period not to exceed one
year.
You may extend a temporary limited appointment for a period of up
to one additional year, for a total of 24 months (see 5 CFR part 316).
◉ How many Merit Systems Principles are there?
A. 7
B. 9
C. 14
D. 3 Answer: B. 9- DEOH, Ch 1-8:
In accordance with OPM's general responsibility to ensure
compliance with civil service laws (5 U.S.C. § 1103(a)(5)) and its
oversight responsibility to ensure that your delegated examining
activities are in compliance with OPM standards and with merit
system principles (see 5 U.S.C. §§ 1104(b)(1) and (2) and 2301).
◉ You may extend a temporary appointment for a period of up to an
additional:
A. Four Years (for a total of 5 years)
B. Two Years (for a total of 3 years)
C. One Year (for a total of 24 months)
