Review Salary and Benefits Information
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The application period for EIS Class of 2024 is open now through June 5, 2023.
The hiring mechanism for incoming EIS officers depends on citizenship status and other factors. Following are the options for each scenario.
- U.S. citizens: Civil service (Title-42 Fellowships and Other Training Programs) or U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (requires USPHS application after EIS acceptance)
- U.S. permanent residents: Civil service (Title 42)
- Non-U.S. citizens without U.S. permanent resident status: CDC-sponsored J-1 visa (Exchange Visitor visa in the Research Scholar category)
Civil Service
See Pay & Leave Salaries & Wages by location. EIS base pay is GS 12 step 3.
Upon initial appointment, the Title-42 fellowship entry grade will be set comparable to the federal government General Schedule (GS) base pay rate for GS-12, step 3 regardless of previous experience and compensation. An additional locality pay is based on the location of the official duty station. Physicians may also receive an additional $20,000 per year with an active, unrestricted U.S. clinical license.
Additional incentives include:
- Thrift Savings Plan
- Federal Employees Retirement System Benefit Plan
- Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan
- Federal Employees Group Life Insurance
- Federal Employees Vision and Dental Insurance Program
- 4 hours of annual leave and 4 hours of sick leave every 2 weeks (13 days total of each per year)
U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps (U.S. citizens Only)
USPHS Commissioned Corps Information
The USPHS is one of the eight uniformed services. It is a specialized career system designed to attract, develop, and retain health professionals to accomplish its mission.
Incoming EIS officers must meet eligibility criteria for the Commissioned Corps:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be less than 44 years of age (at date of entry into EIS)
- Have a degree in an appropriate health-related discipline
- Meet medical standards
J-1 Exchange Visitor Status (J-1 Visas)
CDC sponsors J-1 Exchange Visitor status for EIS officers who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Upon initial appointment, the fellowship entry grade will be set comparable to the Federal Government General Schedule (GS) base pay rate equivalent of GS-12, step 3 regardless of previous experience and compensation. An additional locality pay is based on the location of the official duty station. Physicians are allowed up to an additional $20,000 special pay per year with an active, U.S. unrestricted license.
Additional incentives include:
- Reimbursement for health insurance coverage up to $900 per month
- 4 hours of annual leave and 4 hours of sick leave every 2 weeks (13 days total of each per year)
Joint ID/EIS fellows are hired and paid through each respective institution during the four-year program. For their first two years, fellows will participate in an infectious disease (ID) fellowship with pay and benefits provided by the ID fellowship program. For their second two years, fellows will participate in the EIS fellowship with pay and benefits provided by CDC (as noted above). Please send specific salary and benefits questions to the relevant institution. Learn more about the Joint ID/EIS Fellowship program.
Steps to Apply to Epidemic Intelligence Service
- Applying to EIS
- 1. Check Eligibility
- ›2. Review Salary and Benefits Information
- 3. Informational Webinars for Fellowship Applicants
- 4. Prepare Application Information and Materials
- 5. Complete Online Application