Minimum requirements for applicants include:
- Applicant must be a Federal employee at a minimum of GS-12 level or Commissioned Corps O-3 or above. Applicant is not required to be a GS-12 or Commissioned Corps O-3 for a designated time period before applying.
- Applicant must be employed by the Federal Government in one of the following Public Health Service (PHS) agencies for at least twelve months at the time of application: Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA), Indian Health Service (IHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), or the Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) and other offices within the Office of the Secretary (OS), and other (PHS) agencies.
- Individuals enrolled in fellowship training programs (EIS, PHPS, ECP, PMT) are not eligible.
- Senior Service Fellows and title 42 hires are eligible.
- Applicants must be fully eligible for a government credit card
- Applicant must have a current full-year performance appraisal rating of at least fully successful or its equivalent. Commissioned Corps applicants must have a COER rating of at least "D". This rating must be submitted with your application package.
- Applicant must have the written permission of first-level and second-level supervisors to be released for three workshops and one 12-week international assignment. The employing office must be willing to cover costs associated with all training, including travel.
- Participants must complete Department of State medical clearance after preliminary acceptance to the program. Any participant with a chronic illness may be refused clearance by the State Department. Their decision is final and will result in the applicant being dropped from the program.
- Applicant must be available to attend ALL required training workshops and able to travel for a 12-week minimum international assignment.
- Applicant may have no more than 3 months prior public health experience in a less developed country.
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