IHS Scholarship Program Recipient Orientation Extern Program Overview

IHS Scholarship Program Recipient Orientation Extern Program

Overview The Extern Program: • Provides a practical, hands-on experience working among other health professionals at an Indian health facility. • Provides the opportunity to experience different work locations throughout the United States. • Offers up to 120 days of employment per calendar year working in the civil service, for a Tribal facility or in the US Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps. • Places health profession students in positions during non-academic periods.

Priorities for Selection • Health Professions Scholarship recipients. • Health profession students (non-recipients) who are American Indian or Alaska Native. • Health profession students (non-recipients) who are not American Indian or Alaska Native. • Preparatory or Pre-Graduate scholarship recipients.

Personnel Systems • Civil Service — the federal civil service personnel system. • Tribal Program — employment through Tribal facilities. • Junior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program (JRCOSTEP) — a program of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

Salaries The personnel system you choose determines your salary. • Civil service is based on the number of semester hours you have completed: – GS-3: 30 semester hours/45 quarter hours. – GS-4: 60 semester hours/90 quarter hours. – GS-5: Bachelor’s degree (120 semester hours/180 quarter hours). – GS-7: First year of graduate school (18 semester hours of graduate education/27 quarter hours of graduate selection). – GS-9: Completed master’s degree or equivalent graduate degree; or two full years of progressively higher graduate education leading to such a degree; or LLB or JD if related to health profession program.

Salaries (Cont. ) • Tribal hires are brought on and paid as civil servants. • A Commissioned Corps extern serves as an Ensign (O-1). • For IHS scholarship recipients only, salary is waived if the externship fulfills a requirement for an academic field placement or an internship. IHS will pay the required tuition and fees.

How to Apply • You must submit your application via USAJOBS (USAJOBS. gov). • You must create a user account. • IHS Extern Program Student Training positions are listed as Series 0699. • JRCOSTEP applicants must also apply to the USPHS Commissioned Corps via www. usphs. gov. • Application deadlines: – Summer externship: Mid-January. – Winter externship: Early September. – JRCOSTEP: Mid-December.

Supporting Documentation You are required to upload the following documents as part of your application: • Resume • Extern Site Preference Request (IHS-856 -17) form. • Proof of vaccination against measles and rubella. • Documentation of school enrollment for fall term.

Supporting Documentation (cont. ) • A copy of your: – School transcripts. – Social Security card. – Driver’s license. Note: Obtaining a copy of your fingerprints from your local police department will help to expedite the security clearance and hiring process.

Benefits • Travel reimbursement is available for one round-trip fare to your extern site. • Securing housing is your responsibility. Information is available through the Area Scholarship Coordinator serving the IHS Area office in which you choose to work. Contact Information: • Vickye Santiago, Extern Coordinator — vickye. santiago@ihs. gov

Support Staff • IHS Scholarship Program Analyst — www. ihs. gov/scholarship/index. cfm/contact/programanalysts/ • Area Scholarship Coordinator — www. ihs. gov/scholarship/contact/areascholarshipcoordinators • IHS Discipline Chief — www. ihs. gov/scholarship/contact/disciplinechiefs For additional information: • Visit www. ihs. gov/scholarship/. • Consult your Student Handbook, which can be found on our website. • Visit us on Facebook at Indian Health Service Scholarship Program.