Indian Health Service Logo
Position Title
Physician Assistant
Agency
Indian Health Service
Announcement Number
IHS-25-WR-12741951-ESEP/MP Opens in new window
Open Period
Friday, May 23, 2025 to Monday, June 9, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions and you:
  • have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more OR
  • retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more
If eligible, submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. Please also provide the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
(limit characters)
3. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:
  • you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy
  • your grade is equivalent to or below the grade level of the vacancy AND
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
You will be required to submit supporting documentation to validate your claim of CTAP eligibility such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50. For more information, review the USAJOBS Resource Center.
(limit characters)
4. Are you an American Indian/Alaska Native who is enrolled in a federally recognized tribe as defined by the Secretary of Interior? The Indian Health Service gives qualified American Indian/Alaska Natives preference when filling vacancies in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC, Section 472), with approved exceptions.

If eligible, submit a copy of your Bureau of Indian Affairs Form 4432, "Verification of Indian preference for employment in the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service," that has been completed by authorized tribal or BIA Officials. For more information, review the IHS Indian Preference guidelines: http://www.ihs.gov/jobs/permanentDocs/indianpreference.pdf.
(limit characters)
5. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position?

If yes, confirm:
  • you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy
  • your grade is equivalent to or below the grade level of the vacancy and
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
You will be required to submit supporting documentation to validate your claim of ICTAP eligibility such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50. For more information, review the USAJOBS Resource Center.
(limit characters)
6. Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past twelve months?

-OR-

Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past 36 months and is requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility due to your military service, status as a full-time student or other experience related to this position?

-OR-

Are you a current or former Peace Corps employee who has completed at least 36 months of continuous service and has been separated from the Peace Corps for less than three years?

If yes, submit a copy of your description of service or other proof of non-competitive eligibility.

If you are a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who is requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility, please also provide the necessary documentation to support your request.
(limit characters)
7. Were you formerly employed as a federal civilian on a permanent competitive appointment but are not currently a permanent competitive federal employee?

If eligible, submit a copy of your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status.
  • Your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect career or career-conditional (Tenure 1 or 2) AND
  • Your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect your status was in the competitive service (Position Occupied is 1).
(limit characters)
8. Are you currently employed as a civilian employee in the competitive service in a federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position?

If eligible, submit a copy of your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status.
  • Your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect career or career-conditional (Tenure 1 or 2) and
  • Your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect your status was in the competitive service (Position Occupied is 1).
(limit characters)
9. Are you a United States Public Health Service Commissioned Officer or a United States Public Health Service Commissioned Officer candidate?
If yes, confirm
  • For current active duty USPHS Commissioned Corps officers, submit a copy of your most recent personnel orders. OR
  • For USPHS Commissioned Corps candidates, submit documentation from the Division of Commissioned Corps Personnel and Readiness (DCCPR) stating you have successfully completed the professional boarding process.
(limit characters)
10. Are you a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions and you:
  • served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (NOTE: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility) OR
  • are entitled to veterans' preference
If eligible, submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service.

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
(limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the location(s) you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location. (limit characters)
2. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in this PHYSCIAN ASSISTANT position with the Indian Health Service. We will evaluate your resume and your responses to this Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position. Your responses are subject to verification. Please review your responses for accuracy before you submit this questionnaire. SECTION I. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND FACTORS. (limit characters)
1. BASIC REQUIREMENT
In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the Basic Requirements for a physician assistant position. Select the response that most closely and accurately describes your background which demonstrates how you meet the education and certification requirements. Select only one response and do not leave blank.
(limit characters)
2. Minimum Qualification, GS-09, Physician Assistant
GS-09 from the descriptions below, select the response that best describes your experience which demonstrates your ability to perform the work of this position at the GS-09. Select only one response and do not leave blank.
(limit characters)
3. Minimum Qualification, GS-11, Physician Assistant
GS-11 From the description below, select the response that best describes your experience which demonstrates your ability to perform the work of this position at the GS-11. Select only one response and do not leave blank.
(limit characters)
4. Minimum Qualification, GS-12, Physician Assistant
From descriptions below, select the response that best describes your experience which demonstrates your ability to perform the work of this position at the GS-12. Select only one response and do not leave blank.
(limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
5. Communicates patient medical condition to allied health professionals for care and diagnostic procedure services. (limit characters)
6. Conducts patient counseling with courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to patients and their families. (limit characters)
7. Interviews patient to obtain diagnostic information and/or a clinical history. (limit characters)
8. Enter patient information into an Electronic Health Record (E.H.R.) to document patient care. (limit characters)
9. Protect the security of patient's medical record to ensure that confidentiality is maintained. (limit characters)
10. Prepares documentation for case management services to monitor patient progress. (limit characters)
11. Recognizes desired effects, side effects, or complications of pharmaceutical use. (limit characters)
12. Provide care in specialty clinics using knowledge of primary care, family medicine, or pediatric medicine principles and methodologies. (limit characters)
13. Treat individual adolescent patients to detemine diagnosis or evaluation. (limit characters)
14. Treat individual geriatric patients to detemine diagnosis or evaluation. (limit characters)
15. Treat individual infant patients to detemine diagnosis or evaluation.. (limit characters)
16. Treat individual women patients to detemine diagnosis or evaluation. (limit characters)
17. Interprets results of a medical examination or evaluation including specialty tests for a patient. (limit characters)
18. Identify medical needs or issues to determine necessary action. (limit characters)
19. Consults with physicians to change or modify treatment plans. (limit characters)
20. Educates patients and families in positive health techniques. (limit characters)
21. Provides assessment, diagnosis, and treatment to patients under physicians direction. (limit characters)
22. Evaluates and treats simple fractures, sprains and mild infections. (limit characters)
23. Evaluates the effectiveness of health care treatment plans to identify necessary changes or modifications. (limit characters)
24. Perform medical procedures such as sutures, staples, splinting. (limit characters)
25. Evaluate and treat simple fractures, sprains, and mild infections. (limit characters)
26. Provide gynecological, and/or contraceptive care for women. (limit characters)
27. Assess and work up non-acute abdominal and chest pain. (limit characters)
SECTION II. CERTIFICATION OF INFORMATION ACCURACY As previously explained, your responses in this Assessment Questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your responses. Deliberate attempts to falsify information will be grounds for disqualifying you or for dismissing you from employment following acceptance. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy. Certification of Information Accuracy If you fail to answer this question, you will be disqualified from consideration for this position. (limit characters)
28. I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information included in this questionnaire is true, correct, and provided in good faith. I understand that if I make an intentional false statement, or commit deception or fraud in this application and its supporting materials, or in any document or interview associated with the examination process, I may be fined or imprisoned (18 U.S.C. 1001); my eligibilities may be cancelled, I may be denied an appointment, or I may be removed and debarred from Federal service (5 C.F.R. part 731). I understand that any information I give may be investigated. I understand that responding "No" to this item will result in my not being considered for this position. (limit characters)