I-2-5-52.Selecting a Vocational Expert
Last Update: 1/21/20 (Transmittal I-2-232)
A. Selecting a Vocational Expert (VE) from the Regional Office (RO) Roster
Each Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) regional office (RO) maintains a roster of VEs who have agreed to provide impartial expert opinions pursuant to a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) with OHO. For more information on BPAs, including how to invoice when a BPA is used, see Hearings, Appeals and Litigation Law (HALLEX) manual I-2-5-31. Except in the limited circumstances outlined in subsection B below, hearing office (HO) staff will select a VE from the RO roster. If a VE is not available on the RO roster, HO staff will coordinate with the RO to obtain the services of a VE from another OHO RO's roster.
Assisting HO staff will select VEs from the roster in rotation whenever possible. VEs must be rotated equitably. When HO staff selects a VE from the roster, the VE will go to the bottom of the roster and will not be selected again until all other available VEs who are higher on the roster have been selected.
NOTE:
For administrative efficiency reasons, HO staff may select a VE to provide expert opinion evidence at multiple hearings held on the same day. OHO management, through designated staff, is responsible for selecting the particular expert and will generally arrange for the VE to appear via audio, agency video, online video if hearing testimony is needed.
B. Selecting a VE Not on the RO Roster
An ALJ may use a VE who does not have a BPA with OHO only if:
No VE on any RO roster is available; or
Other extenuating circumstances require a one-time purchase of VE services.
For more information on qualifying a VE who is not under a BPA and paying the VE, see HALLEX I-2-1-31.