Chapter 3: Service Credit

SERS Service Credit

Rules

These rules do not apply to Elected Officials. The following information explains how SERS members earn service credit while working in eligible positions. If you have questions about a member's service credit or elected and Governor-appointed officials service credit, contact PERS/SERS Retirement Services.

Note: If a SERS member was employed with a school district or educational service district prior to September 2000, the educational service credit rules in effect at that time apply.

Note: If a SERS member worked for a non-education employer; e.g., state agency or county, prior to September 2000, the PERS service credit rules (versus PERS Education) in effect at that time apply.

September 1, 2008 and After

A member employed in an eligible position earns service credit as follows:

If compensated in at least five months of a six-month period and compensated for at least 630 hours = 6 months of service credit.

September 1, 1991 and After

A SERS member working for an educational employer earns 12 months of service credit if all three of the following requirements are met. The member must:

• be employed in an eligible position;
• earn compensation in nine months of the school year; and
• be compensated for 810 hours or more.

A member cannot earn service credit for months before employment in an eligible position. For example, a member who meets the criteria for a full year of service credit but is not employed in an eligible position until October can receive only eleven months of service credit that year.

If the member works as a substitute, refer to the New Hire Pyramid for key information about Substitutes.

A SERS member who does not meet the criteria to earn a full year of service credit earns 1/2 year (six months) of service credit if the member is:

• employed in an eligible position;
• compensated in nine months of the school year; and
• compensated for at least 630 hours but less than 810 hours.

A member cannot earn service credit for months before employment in an eligible position. For example, a member who meets the criteria for a full year of service credit but is not employed in an eligible position until October can receive only eleven months of service credit that year.

Beginning with the 2008/2009 school year, a SERS member earns ½ year (six months of service credit if the member is:

• employed in an eligible position;
• compensated in at least five months of a six-month period; and
• compensated for at least 630 hours.

If the member works as a substitute, refer to the New Hire Pyramid for key information about Substitutes.

A SERS member in an eligible position who does not meet the criteria to earn a full year or 1/2 year of service credit earns monthly service credit as follows:

• A member compensated for 90 hours or more in a month earns one month of service credit.
• A member compensated for at least 70 hours but less than 90 hours in a month earns 1/2 month of service credit.
• A member compensated for less than 70 hours in a month earns 1/4 month of service credit.

A member cannot earn service credit for months before employment in an eligible position. For example, a member who meets the criteria for a full year of service credit but is not employed in an eligible position until October can receive only eleven months of service credit that year.

If the member works as a substitute, refer to the New Hire Pyramid for key information about Substitutes.

September 1, 1990, through August 31, 1991

During the period from September 1, 1990, through August 31, 1991, a SERS member working for an educational employer earned 12 months of service credit if the member was:

• employed in an eligible position;
• compensated in nine months of the school year; and
• compensated for 810 hours or more in the school year.

A member cannot earn service credit for months before employment in an eligible position. For example, a member who meets the criteria for a full year of service credit but is not employed in an eligible position until October can receive only eleven months of service credit that year.

A SERS member in an eligible position who did not meet the requirements to earn a full year of service credit earned service credit on a monthly basis as follows:

• A member compensated for 90 hours or more in a month earned one month of service credit.
• A member compensated for less than 90 hours in a month did not earn service credit for that month.

A member cannot earn service credit for months before employment in an eligible position. For example, a member who meets the criteria for a full year of service credit but is not employed in an eligible position until October can receive only eleven months of service credit that year.

Prior to September 1, 1990

Before September 1, 1990, a SERS member working for an educational employer earned 12 months of service credit if the member:

• was employed in an eligible position;
• was continuously employed for nine months; and
• earned service credit in at least nine calendar months of the contract or school year. (Members earned service credit if they received compensation for at least 90 hours of employment in a month.)

A SERS member in an eligible position who did not meet the requirements to earn a full year of service credit earned service credits on a monthly basis as follows:

• A member compensated for 90 hours or more in a month earned one month of service credit.
• A member compensated for less than 90 hours in a month did not earn service credit for that month.

Note: Before September 1, 1990, there were some exceptions to the service credit rules. Refer to the Section "Exceptions..." for information about:

• school district employees who fell below 90 hours a month between September 1, 1983, and August 31, 1990;
• employees with a contract year other than September 1 through August 31; and
• members employed by educational service districts.