Terms of Service

USAJOBS API Terms of Service

As a USAJOBS API Consumer, you agree to the following terms and conditions governing your use of the USAJOBS application programming interface service (the "API Service"). An "API Consumer" is an individual or organization that registers for or uses credentials to access the API Service. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), through the USAJOBS Program Office, administers the API Service. These Terms of Service ("Terms") become effective for an API Consumer when accepted. OPM may update these Terms and will notify API Consumers of material changes by email or through the API Service. Continued use after the effective date stated in the notice constitutes acceptance unless OPM requires affirmative acceptance. Inquiries should be sent to access@usajobs.gov.

1. USE OF SERVICES

The API Service is described on the USAJOBS Developer site at https://developer.usajobs.gov. To request or maintain API credentials, an API Consumer must provide current and accurate registration and contact information. An API Consumer is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of its API credentials and for activity conducted using those credentials. The API Consumer must promptly notify OPM at access@usajobs.gov of suspected unauthorized use of its credentials or another security incident involving its API access.

OPM may modify, suspend, or discontinue the API Service, in whole or in part. When practicable, OPM will provide notice of material service changes. Suspension or termination of an individual API Consumer's access is governed by section 7.

2. USE OF USAJOBS APIS AND PUBLIC DATA

Public Data Use

For purposes of these Terms, "Public Data" means federal job-announcement and related reference data that OPM makes publicly available in an open, machine-readable format through a USAJOBS API, including the Search, Historic JOA, Announcement Text, and public code-list endpoints. Consistent with 44 U.S.C. §§ 3502 and 3506(b)(6), OPM provides Public Data under an open license. Public Data may be copied, stored, reformatted, adapted, analyzed, published, redistributed, and used for lawful commercial or noncommercial purposes. Prior OPM approval is not required. API registration and credentials govern access to the API Service, not lawful downstream reuse of Public Data. Public Data does not include content separately identified in accompanying metadata or notice as subject to a specific legal or third-party intellectual-property restriction.

OPM encourages users to identify USAJOBS as the source, link to the current official job announcement, include the date on which the data was retrieved, and disclose that an unofficial product or service is not operated, sponsored, approved, or endorsed by OPM.

Accuracy and Non-Affiliation

API Consumers and downstream users may modify, summarize, analyze, or combine Public Data but may not:

  • Falsely present modified information as official or unaltered government information;
  • Falsely represent that a product or service is operated, sponsored, approved, or endorsed by OPM or another federal agency;
  • Use an official seal, logo, or insignia except as authorized by law, or otherwise use an agency name or identifier in a manner likely to falsely imply government affiliation;
  • Falsely represent that an application has been transmitted to or received by USAJOBS or a hiring agency; or
  • Engage in phishing, fraud, deceptive collection of applicant information, or other unlawful conduct.

Applications must be submitted according to the official instructions in the applicable job announcement.

3. CONTENT OF DATA

The API Service provides publicly available federal job-announcement and related reference data. Public job announcements may include names and business contact information for agency points of contact. The API Service does not provide applicant profiles, applications, account information, or other nonpublic USAJOBS user data and is not authorized for dissemination of classified information or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

4. API ACCESS AND APPROPRIATE CONDUCT

API Consumers are responsible for their conduct while using the API Service and must use it only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms and applicable policies identified on the USAJOBS Developer site. An API Consumer may not:

  • Violate the legal rights of others, including rights of privacy and publicity;
  • Share or transfer API credentials or permit their use by an unauthorized person;
  • Circumvent authentication requirements, rate limits, or other technical safeguards;
  • Attempt to access nonpublic data or functions, including through false or fraudulent pretenses;
  • Restrict or inhibit authorized access by others, or disrupt, degrade, or impose an unreasonable burden on USAJOBS systems or networks;
  • Impersonate another person or entity or falsely represent authorization to act for another person or entity;
  • Transmit malicious code, content, or requests, or attempt to alter or delete data or functions without authorization; or
  • Use the API Service in connection with phishing, fraud, deceptive collection of applicant information, or other unlawful conduct.

5. API ACCOUNT INFORMATION AND PRIVACY

OPM collects and maintains information provided during API registration and information about API credentials and account activity to issue and administer credentials, operate and secure the API Service, provide user support, investigate suspected misuse or security incidents, and enforce these Terms. OPM accesses, preserves, uses, retains, and discloses this information only as permitted by the Privacy Act, an applicable system of records notice, OPM's published privacy notices, applicable NARA-approved records schedules, and other applicable law.

Authorized OPM personnel may monitor API activity to protect system security and availability and to investigate suspected misuse. Additional information about OPM's collection and handling of personal information is available at https://www.opm.gov/privacy/. Any notice required by 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(3) will be provided when information is collected directly from an individual.

6. GENERAL PRACTICES REGARDING USE AND STORAGE

OPM does not provide archival storage for copies of Public Data obtained by an API Consumer and is not responsible for an API Consumer's storage or preservation of those copies. OPM may establish or revise rate limits, transaction quotas, response-size limits, and other technical limits necessary to operate, secure, and maintain the availability of the API Service. Current generally applicable limits will be described in the USAJOBS Developer documentation, but OPM may implement immediate limits without advance notice when reasonably necessary to address security, misuse, or availability concerns.

7. TERMINATION

An API Consumer may discontinue use of the API Service at any time and may request deactivation of its credentials by contacting access@usajobs.gov. OPM may suspend or revoke API credentials for a violation of these Terms, suspected fraud or security misuse, an unreasonable burden on USAJOBS systems, account inactivity, or modification or discontinuance of the API Service. When practicable, OPM will provide notice of suspension or revocation. Suspension or revocation affects access to the API Service and does not prohibit lawful reuse of Public Data already obtained. OPM retains and disposes of API registration and account-activity records in accordance with applicable NARA-approved records schedules. Termination does not affect any right of access provided by applicable law.

8. LINKS

Public Data may include links to websites or resources outside the USAJOBS information system. OPM is not responsible for the availability, content, security, or privacy practices of external websites and does not endorse products or services solely by linking to them.

9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the extent permitted by law, OPM and its officers and employees will not be liable for direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or exemplary damages arising from the availability, interruption, or use of the API Service or Public Data.

Nothing in these Terms waives sovereign immunity or limits any right or remedy provided by applicable law.

10. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES

YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT:

  • The API Service and Public Data are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. To the extent permitted by law, OPM disclaims warranties of any kind, whether express or implied.

OPM MAKES NO WARRANTY THAT:

  • The API Service will meet every API Consumer's requirements;
  • The API Service will be uninterrupted, timely, or error-free;
  • Public Data or API results will always be complete, current, or free from transmission errors; or
  • Any error will be corrected immediately.

API Consumers are responsible for protecting their own systems and for verifying current job-announcement information against the official announcement and application instructions.

11. NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES

These Terms do not create rights in any third-party beneficiary.

12. GENERAL INFORMATION

Entire Agreement

These Terms constitute the entire agreement between the API Consumer and OPM governing use of the USAJOBS API Service. Separate terms may govern the use of other USAJOBS services.

Waiver and Severability of Terms

OPM's failure to exercise or enforce a provision of these Terms does not waive that provision. If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect to the extent permitted by law. These Terms are governed by applicable federal law.