1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017 or the EQUALS Act of 2017 . 2. Extension of probationary period for positions within the competitive service (a) In general Section 3321 of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by striking The President and inserting Subject to subsections (c) and (d), the President ; (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e); and (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) (1) The length of a probationary period established under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) shall— (A) with respect to any position that requires formal training, begin on the date of appointment to the position and end on the date that is 2 years after the date on which such formal training is completed; (B) with respect to any position that requires a license, begin on the date of appointment to the position and end on the date that is 2 years after the date on which such license is granted; and (C) with respect to any position not covered by subparagraph (A) or (B), be a period of 2 years beginning on the date of the appointment to the position. (2) In paragraph (1)— (A) the term formal training means, with respect to any position, a training program required by law, rule, or regulation, or otherwise required by the employing agency, to be completed by the employee before the employee is able to successfully execute the duties of the applicable position; and (B) the term license means a license, certification, or other grant of permission to engage in a particular activity. (d) The head of each agency shall, in the administration of this section, take appropriate measures to ensure that— (1) any announcement of a vacant position within the agency and any offer of appointment made to any individual with respect to any such position clearly states the terms and conditions of any applicable probationary period, including any formal training period and any license requirement