Can anyone explain the GS Career Ladder Program?

That means you start as a GS-11. After a year assuming you have successful performance your boss may promote you to 12. A year after that 13. I use the word may, because it isn't guaranteed, but I have never seen someone held up either. Congrats on the position!

Not sure what agency you were hired into, but basically you will promote as you meet certain career milestones, be they time of service, career achievement or performance standards. These should be spelled out in your "contract", and are not negotiable once you've successfully completed each milestone. Review the written job offer and make sure that this is covered in detail.

Welcome to bean counting. A little more clarity here. A career ladder position offers the opportunity to be promoted on a noncompetitive basis. Several conditions need to be met. First, it can't be a supervisory position. Second is a time in grade aspect. For that level, it's more likely 2 years each. Third, you must be able to perform at the higher level. That's not an automatic. There should be some pedigree things you'll have to do in the credentialing arena. And finally, the thing out of your control, the work at the higher level must exist. We had a couple of career ladder financial types that got capped early because our finance authority wasn't increased as planned (to AAA Accounting Activity). The higher level work never materialized, hence the applicable grading factors didn't increase. They moved on fairly quickly to another organization.

Typically you have a career ladder position for series in which the job specifics are best met by a lot of OJT and other developmental activities. The systems you work in are unique. This type of position is established because there's a problem in grabbing qualified workforce. If the GS-13 work existed and qualified candidates were available, you'd just do a Merit Systems fill. There's a morale issue with them too. Other employees will be jealous of your cleared pathway and not knowing the ins/outs of the HR system, will feel they're second class citizens. Don't rub their noses in it. And finally, finance on the Fed side is serious business. Don't get too "creative".

You are in a position, that will auto promote you in 1 year to 12 and year 2 to GS-13. Those are rare and good positions. Promotions are job hunting for a position with more responsibility. There is no promotion system like the military. Every 52 weeks of work in the grade, will qualify you to APPLY for a job in the next grade level. Funny thing...most people will stay in the same job and not apply for different jobs. See my article https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-thoughts-acquiring-federal-job-jim-lint?trk=prof-post

As written GS-11/13 is a "developmental" position where you start out as a GS-11, but once you meet specific criteria (time in grade, satisfactory performance, education, etc) you will be promoted to your final grade of GS-13. Congrats! That is a pretty good rating.

First off congratulations on the job. I have a follow up question. Do the steps just refer to time in grade?

CAPT Kevin B. did an excellent job of explaining the career ladder program. Here's my experience: We had a GS-13 position I recruited for. Got 14 applicants--all GS-12s and 13s. Picked top 7 based on resumes and they all interviewed well. I offered my job to my top applicant, she declined, then the second, he declined, and so on to the 7th applicant who also declined. Basis for the declination in every case was not wanting to live in mid-America (St Louis area). The HR department (G1) recommended I make the position a GS12/13 and lower my standards slightly to expand the labor pool. I did that and received about 30 applications (some from the same people who had declined the job the first time). Went through the hiring process and eventually hired a GS11. He performed very well and after a year I recommended he be promoted to GS13. My boss (GS15, Director) backed my recommendation and he was promoted.

Understand that I set very difficult standards for granting the recommendation. He had to complete a stringent training course and achieve a difficult-to-get Army certification (Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt). He also had to demonstrate capabilities that I believed were essential for GS13 in his specialty. He and I agreed on the performance standards and had them on paper and signed within 2 days of his hiring. The wording of the standards allowed me to provide quantifiable evidence that he was ready for promotion. He met the standards, so it was easy to recommend his promotion.

Takeaway for you: get the required performance standards for promotion in writing up front, then go for it!

In addition to the other comments, be aware that you may have Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements to meet. You did not state which agency you will be working for, but if it is within DoD be advised that you will need to complete DAWIA Certification requirements. There are three certification levels. However, upon entry into government service, they should discuss with you your training/certification requirements. Completing these requirements within the specified time-frame will impact you meeting the requirements for advancement to the next GS Grade. Most of the training is Computer Based, but there are a few residency classes taught at Defense Acquisition University (DAU) locations.

Normally, you get a step increase on your first anniversary assuming successful performance. In a position such as yours, you'll be reviewed and your boss can elevate you a GS level instead, The steps will not come in to play until your third anniversary.