How service is counted
A month counts when the member works in a qualifying position (600+ hours a calendar year), is paid by the employer, and is employed more than half the calendar days. No more than one year per calendar year. School employees earn credit in six-month segments: working all of a term (presumed if employed Sept. 15 - Dec. 16, or Jan. 7 - May 26) also credits the summer months (July-August, or June). Leaving or a long unpaid leave mid-term loses the summer months, which matters for members counting on exactly 30 years. OPSRP members are credited for the six-month wait time; Tier One/Tier Two members are not but can buy it. Oregon PERS Employer Guide Ch. 1 (Sept. 2026), pp. 23-24, 44-45, 47; Oregon PERS webpage 'School employees'; ORS 238A.140
Buying service
Tier One/Tier Two (most purchases within 90 days before retirement, through a written estimate and Purchase Agreement): forfeited service from an earlier withdrawal (needs 10 years since reemployment; 1 month per 3 months worked; withdrawn amount plus 7.5% interest compounded; no lump-sum option), waiting time (10 years of service; interest-free employee and employer contributions), out-of-state public K-12 teaching (up to 4 years, full cost, licensed teacher currently employed by a school district or ESD), military before Oregon PERS (up to 4 years, full cost), seasonal positions, disability periods. Pretax 457/403(b) money may be used. OPSRP members get wait-time credit automatically. Oregon PERS Tier One/Tier Two Preretirement Guide (June 2026), pp. 17-20, Purchases; Oregon PERS Employer Guide Ch. 1 (Sept. 2026), p. 47; Oregon PERS webpage 'School employees'
Extra years go into the pension formula, and they can also move you past an early retirement factor or to 30 years; one more year shows what that's worth. To compare, try your service with and without the years in the calculator.
What the sources say
- Tier One/Tier Two members can buy forfeited service (repay plus 7.5% interest), waiting time, up to 4 years of out-of-state public K-12 teaching, military service and some other periods. OPSRP members are credited for their waiting time automatically.Oregon PERS Tier One/Tier Two Preretirement Guide (June 2026), pp. 17-20; Oregon PERS Employer Guide Ch. 1 (Sept. 2026), p. 47
Questions
What can I buy?
Tier One/Tier Two: forfeited service from an earlier withdrawal, waiting time, up to 4 years of out-of-state public K-12 teaching, military service before you joined, and some other periods.
What does a year add?
In Tier One and Tier Two, 1.67% of your final average salary a year: $97.42 a month on a $70,000 salary. In OPSRP, 1.5%.
Do OPSRP members buy waiting time?
No. OPSRP members get credit for the six-month waiting period automatically.
How do school years count?
Work a whole school term and you also get credit for the summer months.
Source: Oregon PERS Tier One/Tier Two and OPSRP Preretirement Guides, Published June 2026, Oregon PERS Tier One/Tier Two Preretirement Guide (June 2026) pp. 17, 18, 19, 20; Oregon PERS Benefit Comparison Chart (Dec. 2024) p. 1; Oregon PERS Employer Guide Ch. 1 (Sept. 2026) pp. 23, 24, 47; Oregon PERS webpages: OPSRP overview and benefit calculation; School employees; Tier One Tier Two overview and benefit calculation; ORS 238.300, 238A.125, 238A.140. Last reviewed .