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Indian Health Service (IHS) physicians deliver comprehensive medical care to American Indian and Alaska Native communities, providing supervision and direction to healthcare teams and ensuring high-quality patient outcomes. The role emphasizes clinical leadership, supervision of staff, and coordinating diagnostic workups and treatment plans.
Physicians must hold an active medical license in the US or its territories, be prepared for a pre-employment background check, and meet federal
At the Indian Health Service (IHS), Physicians do more than practice medicine-they change lives. Guided by our mission to raise the health of American Indian and Alaska Native people, you'll deliver compassionate care where it's needed most. Your expertise brings healing and hope across generations.
If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges. You may be subject to a credit check as a part of the background investigation process.
This position requires a review of the applicant's financial history as part of the personnel security and suitability determination. Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility, maintain good standing with creditors, and satisfy all legal financial obligations prior to applying. Individuals with substantial delinquent or unresolved financial obligations-including, but not limited to, delinquent federal or state tax liabilities, defaulted federal student loans, court-ordered fines or fees, or child support arrears-may be deemed unsuitable for employment with the Indian Health Service (IHS).
Prior to the appointment, candidates must present two valid forms of identification. If one of the documents is a state-issued ID or driver's license, it must be REAL ID-compliant.
Degree: Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or equivalent from a school in the United States or Canada. This degree must have been accredited by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association(external link); Association of American Medical Colleges(external link); Liaison Committee on Medical Education(external link); Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association(external link), or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained.
A Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree from a foreign medical school must provide education and medical knowledge equivalent to accredited schools in the United States. Evidence of equivalency to accredited schools in the United States is demonstrated by permanent certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates(external link), a fifth pathway certificate for Americans who completed premedical education in the United States and graduate education in a foreign country, or successful completion of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination.
For all grade levels and positions, applicants must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a Physician from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.
Subsequent to obtaining a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, a candidate must have had at least 1 year of supervised experience providing direct service in a clinical setting, i.e., a 1-year internship or the first year of a residency program in a hospital or an institution accredited for such training. For purposes of this standard, graduate training programs include only those internship, residency, and fellowship programs that are approved by accrediting bodies recognized within the United States or Canada. Descriptions of such programs are described below.
Five (5) years of graduate training in the specialty of the position to be filled or equivalent experience and training.
Board Certified (ABMS or NBPAS) is preferred but not required in the specialty to which the applicant is applying. Board Certification in the specialty of position applied for: Applicant acknowledges responsibility to provide verification of an active and valid certification standing; OR if a lapse in board certification or completed an accredited residency program (in excess of 3 years) applicant must provide verification of active pursuit to become board certified with an American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member board. Failure to provide verification documentation may result in the withdrawal of an employment offer, up to disciplinary and/or adverse action to include termination of Federal employment.
You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.
This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.
Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.ed.gov/accreditation.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
You will be evaluated for this position in accordance with the OPM Merit Hiring Plan.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide short essay responses (200 words or less each) to the following four questions.
If you are found qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process.
Once the announcement closes, we will conduct a review of your application package to verify your eligibility and qualifications.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.