Except as provided in this section, this subtitle applies to all employees in the: skilled service; and professional service. This subtitle does not apply to an employee in: the management service; and a special appointment position in any service.

Each employee subject to this subtitle is required to complete a 6-month probationary period as the final step in: the employee's initial appointment to a position in the State Personnel Management System; the employee's appointment to a position in the skilled or professional service following a competitive promotion; and except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the employee’s appointment to a position in the skilled or professional service following a reinstatement. An employee is not required to serve a probationary period if the employee is reinstated within 1 year after the employee’s separation from State service to a classification in which the employee had previously completed a probationary period. To successfully complete a probationary period, an employee is required to demonstrate proficiency in the assigned duties and responsibilities of the position to which the employee is appointed.

Subject to subsection (b) of this section and at the sole discretion of the employee's appointing authority, an employee's probationary period may be extended if: the appointing authority decides that additional time is necessary to allow the employee to demonstrate proficiency in the performance of the employee's assigned duties and responsibilities; in the appointing authority's judgment, the period of the employee's absence on approved leave is sufficient to prevent the appointing authority from making a reasonable decision regarding the proficiency of the employee's performance; or the employee requests to extend the probationary period. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, an employee’s probationary period may be extended under subsection (a) of this section up to one additional 6-month period. For an employee appointed to a skilled service position below grade 7, an employee’s probationary period may be extended under subsection (a) of this section up to one additional 3-month period.

Each appointing authority and, where applicable, supervisor has the responsibility of properly explaining the duties and responsibilities of an employee's position to the employee, providing the employee with a written position description and otherwise orienting the employee to the operations of the employee's unit. Periodically during the probationary period, an appointing authority or an employee's supervisor, as appropriate, shall confer with the employee about the employee's performance and improvements in that performance that are necessary to satisfactorily complete probation. An appointing authority shall ensure that at the end of an employee's first 90 days of probation the employee receives a written evaluation of the employee's performance and any recommendations for improvement. If the appointing authority extends an employee's probationary period, the appointing authority shall ensure that the employee receives additional written evaluations: at the end of the employee's initial probationary period; and at the mid-point of the extension period.

An appointing authority may take disciplinary action against or terminate the employment of a probationary employee in accordance with Title 11 of this article.