(a) Recommendation by agency. An agency may recommend to OPM that the employment of an employee who has completed at least 1 year of satisfactory service under §316.601 be converted to career or career-conditional employment.

(b) Tenure on approval of recommendation. When OPM approves the agency's recommendation submitted under paragraph (a) of this section, the employee becomes:

(1) A career-conditional employee, except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section;

(2) A career employee when he has completed the service requirement for career tenure or is excepted from it by §315.201(c).

(c) Acquisition of competitive status. A person whose employment is converted to career or career-conditional employment under this section acquires a competitive status automatically on conversion.