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Home > About USPS & News > Forms & Publications > Postal Periodicals and Publications > Manuals > Employee and Labor Relations Manual - Issue 18 > 7 Training and Development > 740 Nonpostal Training Policy
740 Nonpostal Training Policy
Nonpostal training is provided by nonpostal sources under a tuition or
registration fee arrangement funded wholly or partially by the Postal Service.
(Training provided by nonpostal sources under contract with the Postal
Service is within the definition of postal training and is governed by the
preceding sections of this chapter.)
741.21 Salary Compensation and Travel Expenses
Compensation for required attendance at nonpostal training is authorized as
outlined in 438.2, 712, and 716.
741.22 Other Related Expenses
Educational expenses for tuition, fees, books, and supplies for nonpostal
training are paid by the Postal Service if both of the following conditions are
met:
a. The nonpostal training is either Job Training (as defined in 711.41) or
Self-Development Training (as defined in 711.42) benefiting both the
employee and the Postal Service from a career development
standpoint. When Self-Development Training goals cannot be identified
as providing benefit to the Postal Service, no payment of expenses is
authorized.
b. The nonpostal training is not for the sole purpose of obtaining one or
more academic degrees, even if an academic degree is required to
qualify for appointment to a particular position. Each course that is part
of a degree program must be evaluated on its own merits; that is, each
course must meet the criteria in a.
Exception: This restriction does not apply when the employee is any
one of the following: a professional and specialist trainee, an EAS-17
(or higher EAS position), a PCES candidate, or a participant in a
specific program that provides such opportunities.
741.23 Restrictions
Employees do not have a right to have their nonpostal training costs paid by
the Postal Service unless the specific training is approved in advance by an
authorized official.
741.232 Prohibited Training Sponsors
The Postal Service does not pay nonpostal training costs if a training sponsor
does either of the following:
a. Discriminates because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin,
physical or mental handicap, or any other nonmeritorious factor in the
admission or subsequent treatment of students.
b. Has legislative or campaign propaganda as a substantial part of its
activities.
742 General Procedures
742.1 PS Form 1782
PS Form 1782 is the basic document used to request, approve, and finance
nonpostal training. PS Form 1782 is completed in full and processed even
when nonpostal training organizations require separate nomination forms.
742.21 Standard Training
The employee's supervisor (nominating manager) prepares PS Form 1782
and forwards it to the PCES executive authorized to certify and commit funds
and to approve the employee's training or to that executive's designee.
Signature of the approving PCES executive or designee on PS Form 1782
certifies that the employee's selection is consistent with the published training
policies and that any prerequisites to the training have been met.
742.22 Medical Training
Training requests for postal medical personnel are submitted through the
employee's supervisor to the approving PCES executive. All denials of such
requests and the reasons for denial are to be forwarded to the senior area
medical director.
742.3 Distribution of Copies
After approving PS Form 1782, the PCES executive forwards it to the PEDC
for distribution of copies as follows:
a. One copy is sent to the training sponsor if the sponsor will be billing the
Postal Service directly or if the sponsor requires advance payment (see
742.414).
b. One copy is sent to the employee's supervisor.
c. One copy is retained by the PEDC official, who, upon completion of the
training, processes PS Form 1782 as instructed in 742.5.
d. The original PS Form 1782 is sent to the San Mateo Accounting
Service Center (ASC) after the training is completed, as instructed in
742.412.
742.41 Tuition, Fees, Books, and Supplies
Expenses for tuition, fees, books, and supplies for nonpostal training are paid
based on the approved PS Form 1782 supported by certified receipts and/or
invoices. These expenses are not claimed on PS Form 1012, Travel Voucher,
or PS Form 1164, Claim for Reimbursement for Expenditures on Official
Business.
742.412 Payment to the Training Sponsor
The original PS Form 1782 is retained at the billing address office (the
employing postal facility and unit of the employee to be trained) until the
employee completes the training and an invoice is received from the training
sponsor. (See 742.414 for an exception to this procedure when the training
sponsor requires advance payment.) Someone other than the person who
attended the training (such as immediate manager, PEDC official, etc.) must
check the invoice for accuracy, certify it for payment, and promptly submit it
with the original PS Form 1782 to the San Mateo ASC. It is not necessary for
the PCES executive who approved the training to certify the invoice. In the
certification statement, "Form 1782" is shown in lieu of a contract or order
number. Only original invoices, not statements, are submitted to the ASC for
payment.
742.413 Reimbursement to Employees
If the employee has paid approved nonpostal training expenses from
personal funds, the employee must provide certified receipts or canceled
checks to be submitted with the original PS Form 1782 to the ASC for
payment and reimbursement.
742.414 Advance Payments
If the training sponsor requires payment in advance of the training, PS Form
1782 must be prepared, approved, and processed before the training begins.
To accomplish this, the PCES executive who signs PS Form 1782 or the
PEDC official who distributes copies of the form must send (or deliver through
the employee enrolling in the training) a copy of PS Form 1782 to the training
sponsor. The training sponsor must produce an invoice for the training and
send it to the billing address on PS Form 1782. The PCES executive or
PEDC official must certify the invoice as correct for payment and send it with
the original PS Form 1782 to the San Mateo ASC for payment. Based on PS
Form 1782 and the certified invoice, the ASC issues a remittance advice
(indicating the invoice number and the SSN of the employee) and check to
the training sponsor.
Approved travel expenses (transportation, lodging, and per diem) for
participation in nonpostal training are claimed on PS Form 1012 or PS Form
1164, Claim for Reimbursement for Expenditures on Official Business, as
appropriate, and as authorized in Handbook F-15, Travel and Relocation. As
PS Form 1782 is not submitted with these forms, it is important that these
expenditures be charged to the proper travel-for-training account to
distinguish them from other travel expenses for official purposes.
742.5 Documentation
Employees furnish their PEDC official documents of completion of the
nonpostal training including certificates and/or grade reports. The PEDC
official attaches copies of the documents to PS Form 1782 and forwards the
forms and documentation for filing in the employee's OPF. If such evidence of
completion is not furnished, the PEDC official verifies completion of the
training.
743.1 Failure to Enroll in or Complete Approved Training
Employees who fail to enroll in or to successfully complete approved training
for reasons that are unacceptable to the approving official may be required to
(a) pay any cancellation fee required by the training sponsor and (b)
reimburse the Postal Service for costs or liabilities incurred for tuition, fees,
books, supplies, transportation, and per diem (but not for salary). A PCES
executive may waive the requirement for any such payment or
reimbursement.
The PEDC official promptly notifies those who have received copies of
Form 1782 of the employee's failure to enroll in or complete approved
training in order that:
a. ASC accounts may be adjusted.
b. The training sponsor does not bill the Postal Service for payment of
tuition and fees.
c. The Postal Service and training sponsor may consider other candidates
for the training.
743.2 Double Payment
743.21 Policy
The Postal Service reduces the amount provided for training by any amount
that an employee receives from other sources for the same purpose
(including payments received under the GI Bill and other governmental
education assistance programs).
743.22 Certification
743.221 Conditions for Signing
Employees scheduled to take nonpostal training, either on or off the clock,
that exceeds 4 consecutive weeks of full-time training must sign the
certification quoted in 743.222. These employees do not have to sign the
certification in either of the following cases:
a. The training is being provided by a manufacturer as a normal service
incident to the initial purchase or lease of products under a
procurement contract.
b. There are no expenses to the Postal Service other than salary.
743.222 Text of Certification
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I certify that, to the best of my knowledge, I will not receive
payment from other sources (including payment under Veterans
Education Assistance, Chapter 34 of Title 38, commonly called the
GI Bill) for the training that will be provided by the Postal Service.
I agree that, in the event I subsequently do receive and accept
such payment from other sources, I will promptly notify the Postal
Service. I understand and agree that the Postal Service may
reduce the amount provided for training by any amount I receive
from other sources for the same purpose.
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Employees sign and date the certification prior to the start of the training. The
certification accompanies PS Form 1782, which is submitted to the ASC.
743.3 Contribution or Award
743.31 Conditions for Acceptance
An employee may accept a contribution or award offered by a
nongovernment organization to defray part or all of the nonpostal training
expenses under these conditions:
a. The organization offering the contribution or award is exempt from
taxation under 26 U.S.C. 501(a). The Director of Internal Revenue of
the district where the employee's installation is located can provide this
information.
b. The contribution or award will not reflect unfavorably on the ability of
the employee to perform his or her duties fairly and objectively.
c. The contribution or award will not place the employee, the Postal
Service, or the government in a position of compromised integrity.
d. Acceptance of the contribution or award is compatible with the Code of
Ethical Conduct contained in 660.
743.32 Insufficient Payment of Expenses
If an authorized contribution, award, or payment to an employee for
nonpostal training does not fully cover travel expenses, the Postal Service
pays an amount considered sufficient to cover the balance of these
expenses. The per diem rate is established to spread the uncovered part of
the per diem over the period of training.
743.4 Training Beyond Four Consecutive Weeks
743.41 Policy
Employees scheduled to take on-the-clock nonpostal training that exceeds 4
consecutive weeks of full-time training must sign a continued service
agreement.
743.42 Agreement
743.421 Conditions for Signing
Employees do not have to sign the agreement in either of the following
cases:
a. The training is being provided by a manufacturer as a normal service
incident to initial purchase or lease of products under procurement
contract.
b. There are no expenses to the Postal Service other than salary.
743.422 Text of Agreement
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I agree that after leaving this training, I will continue serving in the
Postal Service for a period equal to the number of hours of training
provided, unless I am involuntarily separated. I understand that the
obligated hours will begin at the start of business on my first
workday after leaving the training. If I voluntarily leave the Postal
Service before completing the obligated period and do not enter
the service of another federal agency within 3 calendar days,
I agree to reimburse the Postal Service on a pro rata basis for
those expenses that are in addition to my salary, pay, or
compensation. I understand that any amounts that may be due the
Postal Service as a result of any failure on my part to meet the
terms of this agreement may, unless recovery is waived by the
Postal Service, be withheld from any monies owed me by the
Postal Service or the federal government, or may be recovered by
such other methods as prescribed by law. This agreement does
not in any way commit the Postal Service or the federal
government to continue my employment.
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Employees sign and date the continued service agreement prior to the start
of the training. The agreement accompanies PS Form 1782, which is
submitted to the ASC.
743.43 Reimbursement
If an employee gives voluntary notice to leave the Postal Service prior to
completing the service agreed to in the continued service agreement and
does not plan to transfer to another federal government agency, the
employee's supervisor advises in writing the official who approved the
training on PS Form 1782. The employee's supervisor indicates the reason
for the failure to fulfill the agreement and recommends that either the
employee be required to reimburse the Postal Service under the terms of the
agreement or that the agreement be waived because recovery of the money
would be contrary to equity, conscience, or public interest. If the official who
approved the training decides to require reimbursement, the official notifies
the ASC of the amount due by means of PS Form 1902, Justification for
Billing Accounts Receivable, in duplicate. The ASC bills the employee and
makes the necessary collection.
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