((a)) ** In general** The Secretary of Agriculture may appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, other than sections 3303 and 3328 of such title, a qualified candidate described in subsection (b) directly to a position with the Department of Agriculture, Forest Service for which the candidate meets Office of Personnel Management qualification standards.

((b)) ** Qualifications** Subsection (a) applies to a former resource assistant (as defined in section 203 of the Public Land Corps Act  ()) who—

((1)) completed a rigorous internship with a land managing agency, such as the Forest Service Resource Assistant Program;

((2)) successfully fulfilled the requirements of the internship program; and

((3)) earned an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education (as defined in ).

((c)) ** Limitation** The direct hire authority under this section may not be exercised with respect to a specific qualified candidate after the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date on which the candidate completed the undergraduate or graduate degree, as the case may be, or has successfully fulfilled the requirements of the internship program, whichever is later.