What is the meaning of 'provisional appointment' in civil service terms?

• A. A temporary job not related to civil service.
• B. An appointment pending final eligibility or list certification, often until a formal list is available.
• C. A permanent appointment with no qualifications.
• D. An appointment only for a specific event.

Answer: (B)

Provisional appointment is a temporary hiring status used when a vacancy must be filled quickly but the candidate’s final eligibility hasn’t been certified yet. It allows the agency to bring someone on while the civil service process—such as final eligibility verification or certification of an eligible list—is completed. This temporary status keeps operations going without delaying recruitment, and it is understood to convert to a permanent appointment only if the candidate ultimately meets all eligibility requirements and earns the certification on the official list. It’s not for unrelated work, not a permanent spot with no qualifications, and not restricted to a single event.