(a) Selection. When making an appointment from a priority reemployment, reemployment, or regular list on which candidates have not received numerical scores, an agency must make its selection from the highest available preference category, as long as at least three candidates remain in that group. When fewer than three candidates remain in the highest category, consideration may be expanded to include the next category. When making an appointment from a list on which candidates have received numerical scores, the agency must make its selection for each vacancy from not more than the highest three names available for appointment in the order provided in § 302.304. Under either method, an agency is not required to—

(1) Accord an applicant on its priority reemployment or reemployment list the preference consideration required by § 302.304 if the list on which the applicant's name appears does not contain the names of at least three preference eligibles; or

(2) Consider an applicant who has previously been considered three times or a preference eligible if consideration of his/her name has been discontinued for the position as provided in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) Passing over a preference applicant. When an agency, in making an appointment as provided in paragraph (a) of this section, passes over the name of a preference eligible, it shall follow the procedures in 5 U.S.C. 3318(c) and 3319(c) as described in the Delegated Examining Operations Handbook. An agency may discontinue consideration of the name of a preference eligible for a position as described in 5 U.S.C. 3318(c).

An agency may reappoint a current or former nontemporary employee of the executive branch of the Federal Government who is a preference eligible to a position covered by this part without regard to the names of qualified applicants on the agency's priority reemployment, reemployment, or regular employment list.

In determining qualifications for promotion with respect to an employee who is a preference eligible, an agency shall waive:

(a) Requirements as to age, height, and weight unless the requirement is essential to the performance of the duties of the position; and

(b) Physical requirements if, in the opinion of the agency, after considering the recommendation of an accredited physician, the preference eligible is physically able to perform efficiently the duties of the position for which the promotion is proposed.