Indian Health Service
Started by rxboy1996
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Depends on desperation. Also at times, Indian preference prevails in some jobs. Pay is less than VA but consistent with Civil Service.
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It's always a plus, but most pharmacist positions within IHS do not require residency and are in high need of a licensed pharmacist period (Great Plains area in particular). Another thing to consider is actually applying for the IHS PGY1 residency program. You have the option of applying to the residency program as a USPHS Commissioned Corps officer, which means you'll get paid as an O-3 (about $80k depending on location/housing allowance) during your residency year.
What sort of time commitment does that come with? Do you have to sign up for a 4 year tour and does the residency year count towards that total?
It seems like a pretty good deal for new graduates. If you consider the fact that your residency year(s) are going to be focused on work anyway, why not do this and get paid a reasonable salary while you're at it?
For now it is just a one year commitment, i.e. you do not have to stay on after your residency if you dont want to. There are some changes in the pipeline, but the details are still being hashed out.
Edit: to clarify, you are not obligated to stay in the Corps after you complete residency training, although if you do decide to stay in the Corps, you are required to serve at least two years, including residency year, in IHS, before you can transfer to a different agency.
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They prefer to hire their own residents. So if you can manage to get a residency there then you are probably going to work there after. Their residency program isn't through the match system.
If they prefer to hire they own residents, then what's point of the job posting?
Everyone prefers to hire their own residents though so that doesn't say much...IHS residency doesn't sound like a bad idea though if you get paid as an officer. Plus after you finish you can decide whether you want to stick it out for the good retirement or try switching to the VA...
I'm surprised it is still called the Indian Health Service. It should be the Native American Health Service.
If you accept a bonus, you are obligated for four total years. Every time an USPHS officer starts a position, they are expected to serve two years. So if a resident is not hired at their residency site, they would need to serve two more years before transferring to another site. This is because moving costs are reimbursed by the accepting site.
I couldnt remember if pharmacy residents were eligible for the $30,000 sign on bonus (that comes with a 4 year commitment), but i may be confusing that with costep or some other program...
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I read something about pharmacist residents from the last two years having problems getting their accession bonus, take it for what it's worth.
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Know how much more in-depth federal background checks are I'd say not likely
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It has changed year to year. This past year's residents were eligible.
I am already in the final stages of applying for a contract Indian Health Services (IHS) pharmacist position. So far, it has gone well. Has any pharmacist on this forum done IHS and knows exactly how long it takes for the final security clearance to be completed from the date all materials and forms are submitted. I am also seeking information on what exactly I will be facing while I am there from a transparent point of view. In other words, I’m looking for true honesty to develop a game plan for whatever is thrown at me. Most IHS contracts last one to two years, but this one is three months.
I am also interested in what exactly is involved in the federal background check, which is to my understanding the final stage. The IHS.gov website provides some information, but does not go into much details.
I am also interested in what exactly is involved in the federal background check, which is to my understanding the final stage. The IHS.gov website provides some information, but does not go into much details.
strong work digging up a 7 year old thread
For IHS, it's usually just the credit check and the standard education and criminal records for a contract (unless you interact with children, in which case you'll get that single scope too as IHS has a long, terrible recent history with employing the wrong kind of person in that regard).
There is no game plan with this. You need to be directly and forthrightly honest with the interviewer if done.
For most of the pharmacist jobs with IHS you do NOT need a residency, nor do they require it.
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