Physician Assistant

About This Role

This Physician Assistant role offers the chance to provide high-quality, patient-centered care, focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, and comprehensive treatment. It suits a dedicated and experienced professional ready to join a healthcare team with purpose.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive therapeutic and preventative health services to individual patients, family members, and patient groups in an outpatient setting
• Identify and manage specific illnesses, as well as their preventive aspects
• Familiarize self with the social, political, geographic, demographic, economic, and epidemiological characteristics of the assigned communities
• Orient staff, tribal members, health board, and tribal leaders on relevant health care issues
• Serve in a teaching capacity in the development of other health care workers and precept students

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check
• Set up direct deposit
• Successfully complete a federal background investigation as a condition of employment
• Complete all required background investigation forms within five (5) calendar days of issuance upon receipt of instructions
• Graduation from a physician assistant educational program, accredited by the Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) or its predecessors, at a college, university, or educational institution that is accredited by an accrediting body or organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained
• Successful completion of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) examination; must maintain status as a certified physician assistant, including completion of all requirements for Continuing Medical Education (CME) and re-certification
• OR Successfully graduated from the IHS intramural PA training program in operation between 1971-1983 (Graduates from the IHS program may also be known as Community Health Medics (CHM))
• Possess a current, active, full and unrestricted license or registration as a Physician Assistant from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States

GS-09:

• Completion of Master of Physician Assistant Studies; OR Completion of a master's degree in a related health care or health related science and completion of an accredited physician assistant educational program (Examples of related master's degree programs include, but are not limited to, Master of Medical Sciences, Master of Public Health, Master of Biomedical Sciences, or other related major fields of study)
• OR At least one (1) year of work experience as a certified physician assistant equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector and graduation from an accredited physician assistant educational program (Examples of work experience includes: Ability to perform patient history and physical; Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient; and ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession)

GS-11:

• Completion of Doctorate of Physician Assistant Studies, Doctorate of Science Physician Assistant (DScPA) or equivalent; OR Completion of a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in a related health field and completion of an accredited physician assistant educational program (Examples of related doctoral degree programs include, but are not limited to, public health; allied health field; public health education; or other related health science programs)
• OR At least one (1) year of work experience as a certified physician assistant equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector and completion of an accredited physician assistant educational program (Examples of work experience includes: Assessing patient health by interviewing patients and performing physical examinations; determining abnormal conditions by administering or ordering diagnostic tests, i.e., x-rays, electrocardiograms and laboratory tests; and documenting patient care services by charting in patient and department record)

GS-12:

• At least one (1) year of work experience as a certified physician assistant equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector and completion of an accredited physician assistant educational program (Examples of work experience includes: providing comprehensive preventive and therapeutic healthcare services to all age groups that includes assessment, diagnosis and treatment of various illnesses; formulating and implementing treatment plans; prescribing medications; ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests; educating and counseling patients; and collaborating with physicians concerning patient care and management)

Benefits

• Recruitment/relocation sign-on bonus
• Annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years served as a Federal employee
• Credit for directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service in determining annual leave earning rate
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized

Important Details

• Schedule: On-call hours or standby duty may be required; position may be subject to rotating shifts (days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays)
• Contract: Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
• Other conditions: This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.
• Other conditions: IHS Selectees that will work in an IHS health care facility may be subject to Employee Health Policies related to Measles and Rubella, and seasonal influenza immunizations. Vaccine exemption requests may be available according to the National and/or Service Unit guidance.
• Other conditions: A service agreement will be required for recruitment or relocation incentives.
• Other conditions: Not all locations may have a promotion potential to the GS-12 level. Promotion to the next grade level is at management's discretion and is based on demonstrated ability to perform the higher level duties, the continuing need for the higher level duties, and "Regulatory/Administrative" approval. Promotion to the next higher grade level is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied.

Application Process

• Submit documentation from the educational institution's registrar, dean or other appropriate official that attests to the applicable timeframe for completion of the professional program/coursework AND a copy of the most recent unofficial transcript if currently enrolled and expected to complete the required education and obtain the required licensure/certification/registration within 9 months of applying
• 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.)
• If using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript
• Provide short essay responses (200 words or less each) to the following four questions (optional and will not be scored, but may be reviewed by hiring managers and agency leadership):
  • How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government?
  • In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness?
  • In this role, you will be expected to professionally and efficiently implement executive direction. Provide an example where you implemented leadership direction on a strategy or policy decision that differed from your own recommendation.
  • How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements?
• Certify that your responses are written in your own words and that you did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) tool (such as ChatGPT or Copilot)

Physical Demands

• The work involves walking, sitting, standing, reaching and bending in the assessment and treatment of patients.

About the Company

Federal Employees earn annual leave based on their years of service. The Indian Health Service (IHS), National Health Service Corps (NHSC), and The Health Resources And Services Administration (HRSA) have student loan repayment programs for qualifying health disciplines.