The Application Process
If you are ready for the opportunity, adventure and purpose that a career with the Indian Health Service Division of Oral Health (DOH) offers, we are ready to assist you through the application process. The application process for each personnel system — the Commissioned Corps of the US Public Health Service (USPHS), the federal Civil Service, or direct Tribal hire – have specific requirements.
Our goal is to act as your marketing agent to inform our Indian Health Service (IHS) and Tribal sites that you are available for hire. It is perfectly acceptable to be undecided about which personnel system you wish to pursue. The checklist below will guide you to provide the necessary documents that will allow us to market you nationwide. In addition, we encourage you to visit the current vacancy list and contact the site directly to express your interest. When you wish to formally apply for a specific position you will need to follow the guidance of the local site.
Choosing your career path
First, please choose the personnel system you are interested in:
[Note: If you are Undecided, please follow the application process for Commissioned Corps, as it is the most comprehensive, and in your cover letter of intent express your interest in all personnel systems.]
Federal Civil Service Application Process
1. Prepare a CV or Resume, including:
- Contact information, education, community outreach
- Employment history (please remember to include locations and dates)
- Dental license numbers and expiration dates from all states that you hold licensure (this includes active and inactive). Dental students can include which licensing board they are planning to take.
2. Cover letter of intent, including:
- Indian Health Service Division of Oral Health as addressee
- Dates of Availability
- Geographic Preference
- Any other information that is not included in your CV/Resume Click here to upload your resume and cover letter
3. References
- Ideally you should have a minimum of three references; four references are preferred. Provide your reference with a pre-addressed envelope along with instructions to mail the references to:
Indian Health Service HQ
Division of Oral Health
801 Thompson Ave, Suite 300
Rockville, MD 20852
4. Professional School Transcripts
If it has been less than five years since graduation from professional school, please submit your official transcripts to:
Indian Health Service HQ
Division of Oral Health
801 Thompson Ave, Suite 300
Rockville, MD 20852
If you have decided on federal Civil Service, then items 1-4 above
will allow us to market your availability nationwide. Keep in mind, there will
be a formal application process for you to follow at the local level. The
primary contact at the site will be your best source for guidance through that
process.
NOTE: The Alaska and California Areas do not currently
offer federal Civil Service employment opportunities.
Commissioned Corps Application Process
[Note: for applicants who have not yet decided which career path to pursue, you should follow the Commissioned Corps path as it is the most comprehensive. In your cover letter of intent, please express your interest in all personnel systems.
1. Prepare a CV or Resume, including:
- Contact information, education, community outreach
- Employment history (please remember to include locations and dates)
- Dental license numbers and expiration dates from all states that you hold licensure (this includes active and inactive). Dental students can include which licensing board they are planning to take.
2. Cover letter of intent, including:
- Indian Health Service Division of Oral Health as addressee
- Dates of Availability
- Geographic Preference
- Any other information that is not included in your CV/Resume Click here to upload your resume and cover letter
3. References
- Ideally you should have a minimum of three references; four references are preferred. Please complete form #1813 per Corps instructions below:
a. Provide your reference with two pre-addressed envelopes. They should be instructed to mail one copy of form #1813 directly to IHS HQ and mail the other copy to the Commissioned Corps.
b. Form #1813 must be mailed by the reference directly to the addresses below:
Indian Health Service HQ
Division of Oral Health
801 Thompson Ave, Suite 300
Rockville, MD 20852Office of Commissioned Corps Operations
ATTN: DCCA
1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 100
Rockville, MD 20852
4. Professional School Transcripts
- If it has been less than five years since graduation from professional school, please submit your official transcripts to:
Indian Health Service HQ
Division of Oral Health
801 Thompson Ave, Suite 300
Rockville, MD 20852
Additionally, provide all undergraduate and professional school transcripts directly to the Corps address regardless of how many years you’ve been out of school:
Office
of Commissioned Corps Operations
ATTN: DCCA
1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 100
Rockville,
MD 20852
5. All instructions below must be followed in order to be commissioned in the USPHS. The Form 50 is a five-page Corps application. Before you mail the Form 50 to the Office of Commissioned Corps Operations (OCCO), please make a copy of the completed and signed Form 50 and mail it to:
Indian
Health Service HQ
Division
of Oral Health
801
Thompson Ave, Suite 300
Rockville,
MD 20852
USPHS Commissioned Corps Application Instructions
| Step 1: | Visit http://www.usphs.gov/applynow/,
scroll down to the three document titles listed below and click on the hyperlinks
to download the associated files:
|
|---|---|
| Step 2: | You may use this link to complete a PHS-50 at this site and print and sign three copies. |
| Step 3a: | Mail two copies of the PHS-50 in a 9 x 12 envelope, to: Office of Commissioned Corps Operations ATTN: DCCA 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 100 Rockville, MD 20852 |
| Step 3b: | Remember to mail one copy to IHS DOH Indian Health Service HQ Division of Oral Health 801 Thompson Ave, Suite 300 Rockville, MD 20852 |
| Step 4: | Following the instructions for PHS-1813.PDF, have the person
writing your recommendations send one copy directly to: Office of Commissioned Corps Operations ATTN: DCCA 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 100 Rockville, MD 20852 Have your reference send the other copy of the form #1813 in a pre-addressed envelope to IHS DOH. This is just a reminder, as this instruction was provided in the section #3 References above. |
| Step 5: | Now that we have marketed your availability and connected you
with the hiring authorities at the local level, perhaps you have reached a decision
on which personnel system will be the best fit for you. If you have decided on the Commissioned Corps of the USPHS and you are interested in a specific opportunity, there will be an additional formal application (identical to the local application process civil service applicants complete) that you will need to complete at the local level. The Primary contact at the site offering the opportunity will be your best source of guidance for the additional application process. |
Direct Tribal Hire Application Process
1. Prepare a CV or Resume, including:
- Contact information, education, community outreach
- Employment history (please remember to include locations and dates)
- Dental license numbers and expiration dates from all states that you hold licensure (this includes active and inactive). Dental students can include which licensing board they are planning to take.
2. Cover letter of intent, including:
- Indian Health Service Division of Oral Health as addressee
- Dates of Availability
- Geographic Preference
- Any other information that is not included in your CV/Resume Click here to upload your resume and cover letter
3. References
- Ideally you should have a minimum of three references; four references are preferred. Provide your reference with a pre-addressed envelope along with instructions to mail the references to:
Indian Health Service HQ
Division of Oral Health
801 Thompson Ave, Suite 300
Rockville, MD 20852
4. Professional School Transcript – If it has been less than five years since graduation from professional school, please submit your official transcripts to:
Indian
Health Service HQ
Division
of Oral Health
801
Thompson Ave, Suite 300
Rockville,
MD 20852
Note: Additional Tribal Hire Requirements
If you have decided on Tribal Hire, then there will be a formal application process
for you to follow at the local level. The Primary contact at the site will
be your best source of guidance for the Tribal Hire process.
Positions listed as Tribal hire are not part of the federal personnel systems, so pay and benefits vary by Tribe. Tribal hire opportunities generally require a license in the state in which the employee will work. The only exception is Alaska, which allows dentists with a valid license from another US state to work for the Tribal Corporation for a predetermined period of time while they actively pursue a valid Alaska license.
