• Promotion Information

  Opt Out

  
  Overview
  Expanding Opt Out Opportunities
  Changes to the Opt Out Procedure
  Submitting an Opt Out Request
  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  
  

  Overview

  Opt out or promotion deferral is an opportunity for an officer to delay their promotion consideration so they can focus on enhancing their career and promotion potential.  The promotion opt out information is outlined in Personnel Operations Memorandum (POM) 821.89, "Promotion Opt Out."

  Expanding Opt Out Opportunities

  For PY2026, there will be additional opt out opportunities to allow up to three times per grade while designated as "In the Zone" (ITZ) and "Above the Zone" (ATZ).

  Example 1:
  An officer opted out in PY24 and PY25, will now have one additional opportunity that could be used when designated ITZ or ATZ in PY26 or in later PY cycles for that same eligible grade

  Example 2:
  An officer entered the promotion pool in PY24, then opted out in PY25, will have two additional opportunities to opt out when designated ITZ or ATZ for the same eligible grade

  Example 3:
  An officer entering into the promotion pool in PY26 for the first time for the eligible grade, will have a total of three opt out opportunities when designated ITZ or ATZ

  The number of standard promotion attempts (ITZ and ATZ) depends on eligible grade and category. Additional information can be found on the Promotion Zones page. However, an officer can choose to use one of the three opt out opportunities (per grade) during any Promotion Year (PY) that the officer is eligible for that grade.

  For example, an officer could use all three opt outs, the first time they are designated as ITZ1, or could alternate years entering the pool and opting out, or could wait until they are ATZ and opt out all three times then. Any combination an officer chooses within the designated approved zones (ITZ or ATZ) would be acceptable.

  Changes to the Opt Out Procedure

  Beginning in PY 2026, the Forms Platform will be utilized to capture all opt out requests. The resource box, PHSOptOut@hhs.gov, previously utilized to accept opt out requests in previously years has been closed. Email submission is no longer accepted.

  Form PHS-7090 must be submitted using the online Forms system within CCMIS. This form requires the signature of the officer to certify their request to opt out of the current promotion year for which they are eligible. Officers not eligible for promotion for the current cycle will not have access to the Form PHS-7090. Officers will be notified of the outcome of their requests in accordance with POM 821.89 and a copy of the approved form will be indexed into the Confidential Section of the electronic Official Personnel File (eOPF).

  Submitting an Opt Out Request

  To initiate the PHS-7090:

  1. Go to the Officer Secure Area of the Commissioned Corps Management Information System (CCMIS) - https://dcp.psc.gov/osa/osa_security_statement.aspx

     

  2. Login to CCMIS using your PIV, CAC, or ALT card

     
     

  3. Once logged in, click "Forms" on the left-side menu

     

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  4. Click the large, turquoise box labeled "MY FORMS"

     

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  5. Click "Add new record"

     

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  6. Ensure "PHS-7090 (Opt Out Request)" is selected then click the button labeled "Save"
     
     Note: The PHS-7090 will only be available during the opt out window, which begins October 1st through November 1st. Only officers eligible for promotion in the current Promotion Year (PY) will have access to PHS-7090. Officers will only be able to open and submit one PHS-7090 per PY cycle.

     

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  7. Click the icon under the "Edit" column

     

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  8. Questions 1-6 will auto-populate with the officer's information

     

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  9. Check the box in Question #7 to indicate that you are requesting to opt out of the current promotion year. The corresponding year will auto-populate into this section.

     

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  10. Officers will enter printed name and enter signature certifying that they have read and attest to the requirements in the CCI 331.01 and POM 821.89 and will select Submit

      

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  11. After an officer selects Submit, a pop-up window confirming submission will appear and the officer must select yes to submit and no to be directed back to the form.

      

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  12. After Officer submission, the PHS-7090 will move to the admin stage for review before the final approval authority approves or rejects the request.
      
      Note: The window for submission of the PHS-7090 will close on November 1st at 2359 EST. After that time, no late submissions will be allowed via the Forms platform nor will be accepted.

      

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  13. When the PHS-7090 is approved by the Final Approving Authority, the officer will receive an eOPF notification via email that the approved PHS-7090 has been indexed into the Confidential Documents section of the eOPF with the document titled "Opt Out Memo"

      

  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  How many times per grade can an officer opt out of promotion consideration?

  • Since the update to the POM_821.89, "Promotion Opt Out" in August 2025, officers will now have a total of three opt out opportunities per grade to be utilized during a standard promotion attempt (when ITZ or ATZ).

  Can I still submit my opt out request via email?

  • Email submissions of opt out requests starting in PY 2026 will not be accepted. Officers must submit a PHS-7090 via the Forms platform.

  I am unable to access Form PHS-7090, how can I be granted access?

  • The Form PHS-7090 is only available during the opt out window, which is October 1st through November 1st of the PY cycle. Only officers who are eligible for promotion in the upcoming PY cycle and have not exhausted all three of their opt out opportunities will be able to access the form. If you believe there is an error, and you should be eligible for promotion and/or eligible to opt out of the upcoming PY cycle, please contact PHSPromotions@hhs.gov and cc your Agency Liaison.

  I am unable to submit my Form PHS-7090, what should I do?

  • Officers should make sure that they have provided the required responses to number 7 and 8. If one of the steps is incomplete, the Form cannot be submitted, and an error message will appear.

  

  How will I know if my opt out request has been approved?

  • Once the Form PHS-7090 has been submitted by the officer and moves through the workflow, the request will be approved or denied by the Final Approval Authority. Approved requests will be indexed into the Confidential Section of the eOPF and officers will receive a eOPF notification via email.

  Who is the Final Approval Authority and when will I be notified of their decision?

  • The Director, CCHQ, or designee, will approve or deny requests for opting out of an ITZ or ATZ examination no later than 60 calendar days after CCHQ notifies officers of their designation for promotion examination.

  How will my agency liaison be notified that I have opted opt of a promotion year?

  • Agency Liaisons who are not up for promotion in the given cycle have access in the Forms platform to view the status of the PHS-7090 for officers in their agency. CCHQ will provide agency liaisons with the officers who have received approval to opt out of promotion consideration for the current PY cycle.

  I want to opt out of the next three years of promotion consideration, how can I do so at this time?

  • An approved request for opting out of an ITZ or ATZ examination remains in place for one promotion year (PY) and, if eligible, an officer may submit a new request, if desired, when designated for that ITZ/ATZ examination in a subsequent PY.

  Can there be more than three opt out opportunities per grade in the future?

  • The SG may authorize further requests, in addition to the three that the Director, CCHQ, may approve, to opt out of a promotion examination for the same grade in unique and exceptional circumstances.

  I used two opt out opportunities when eligible for the O-4 grade then successfully promoted in the last PY cycle. How many opportunities will I have in the future when eligible for the O-5 grade?

  • There are three opt out opportunities per grade. In this instance, the number of opt out opportunities for this officer would reset to three when they become eligible for the O-5 grade.

  Will Promotion Board members know if I have opted out in past promotion cycles?

  • No, Promotion Board members will not be notified of an officer opting out of a previous promotion year nor are they notified of an officer's promotion zone.

  Will an opt out count as a promotion attempt or a failure of promotion?

  • No, when an officer utilized an opt out opportunity for the current promotion year, they will enter into the promotion pool the following year in the same promotion zone. It will not count as one of their standard promotion attempts or count as a failure of promotion.

  Last Updated: 9/30/2025

   
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