Frequently Asked Questions
No, but IHS is required by law to provide job preference to American Indians and Alaska Natives. To learn about Indian preference, visit the Jobs web site.
Yes. The maximum repayment dollar amount for qualifying loans is $20,000 per year (after taxes).To learn more about this program, visit the IHS Loan Repayment Program web site.
Yes. The IHS Scholarship Program is open to American Indian and Alaska Native students interested in pursuing a health professional or allied health professional career. Visit the IHS Scholarship Program web site for program information and how to apply.
Yes. There are numerous opportunities for students to gain clinical practice while experiencing what a career at IHS has to offer. Please visit the IHS Student Opportunities page for more information.
There are no age requirements for the Civil Service or Tribal hire career paths at IHS. However, if you choose to pursue employment with us through the US Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps, you must be under the age of 44 at the time of commissioning. Contact USPHS for more information.
Yes, we do accept volunteers. The IHS determines the credentialing process for each volunteer by location. Because the credentialing process can be time consuming, most IHS sites prefer individuals who are interested in recurrent volunteering.
The best way to get employee and facility contact information for a particular Area is to visit the IHS Employee and Facility Locator page on the IHS Web site.
Yes, your military service counts toward retirement when you join IHS through the US Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps. Your retirement date will be calculated prior to commissioning you as an officer.
