IETA Application Process
Applications for the 2023-2024 cohort will open in Summer 2023.
Information Sessions
We held a webinar for HHS employees on Thursday, September 8, 2022. You can download the slides from the webinar by clicking on this link: IETA Program Overview [PDF – 850 KB]. We have created Frequently Asked Questions that address the questions we received during the webinar and the questions we have received in our e-mail box.
Selection Process and Timeline
All complete applications received by September 23 will be reviewed and scored by a screening panel that consists of a mix of CDC staff who have extensive experience working internationally for the agency, IETA program alumni, and subject matter experts in the field(s) of technical expertise identified by the candidates. The screening panel will review and rate each application based on the IETA Best Fit Model (see below). To decrease the likelihood for factors such as unconscious bias towards names, genders, work location, etc, each application reviewed by the screening panel will be blinded—identification details on each application will be removed by IETA program staff prior to screening.
The highest scoring applicants will be invited to interview virtually in October. Following reference checks, finalists will be invited to participate in the 2022-2023 IETA cohort in October. The program will begin in November.
* The IETA resume template will not be considered in the applicant screening, interview, and ranking process. It will be used at the time of interviewing and matching for the international field assignment. For the resume template, please note that having a U.S. Government security clearance, a U.S. Government official passport (maroon), or a U.S. Department of State medical clearance are not prerequisites for applying to the IETA program. Having past deployments is not a prerequisite for applying to this program.
Best Fit Model for IETA Candidates
Are you interested in IETA, but not sure if the program is right for you—or if you’re a good fit for the program? IETA’s Best Fit model below is designed to help potential candidates consider whether IETA is an appropriate program to advance their public health career. This list gives an overview of the core competencies that the IETA program is seeking in its candidates and might help you determine whether you will be successful as an IETA participant. For more information about IETA eligibility requirements, visit the Eligibility page.
Competency
Competency
Description
Description
Career goals
Career goals
“Best fit” candidates are growth-minded and have global health career goals that include supporting CDC’s global mission.
“Best fit” candidates are growth-minded and have global health career goals that include supporting CDC’s global mission.
Cultural humility
Cultural humility
“Best fit” candidates actively use cultural humility to build understanding with colleagues and partners and promote equity of individual perspectives, experiences, and identities. They demonstrate the ability to live, work, and interact with people across a wide variety of cultural and social backgrounds.
“Best fit” candidates actively use cultural humility to build understanding with colleagues and partners and promote equity of individual perspectives, experiences, and identities. They demonstrate the ability to live, work, and interact with people across a wide variety of cultural and social backgrounds.
Flexibility
Flexibility
“Best fit” candidates are open and flexible to different ways of seeing and doing. They are willing and able to adapt to change, particularly regarding how and when work gets done. They function well under uncertainty and frequently changing conditions.
“Best fit” candidates are open and flexible to different ways of seeing and doing. They are willing and able to adapt to change, particularly regarding how and when work gets done. They function well under uncertainty and frequently changing conditions.
Personal accountability
Personal accountability
“Best fit” candidates take ownership of what happens as a result of their choices and actions. They pay close attention to the quality of their performance and address identified performance problems promptly.
“Best fit” candidates take ownership of what happens as a result of their choices and actions. They pay close attention to the quality of their performance and address identified performance problems promptly.
Team player
Team player
“Best fit” candidates are comfortable collaborating with others and care more about helping a team to succeed than individual success.
“Best fit” candidates are comfortable collaborating with others and care more about helping a team to succeed than individual success.
Technical expertise
Technical expertise
The IETA program seeks applicants from a wide variety of professional backgrounds. “Best fit” candidates are able to clearly articulate how they will contribute to CDC’s global mission.
The IETA program seeks applicants from a wide variety of professional backgrounds. “Best fit” candidates are able to clearly articulate how they will contribute to CDC’s global mission.
IETA Competencies
IETA competencies provide a framework for the training, international field assignments, and practical program activities and describe capabilities each IETA participant should be able to demonstrate following program completion. Competencies are also core to IETA’s applicant screening, program planning, and evaluation processes and will continue to evolve to meet CDC’s expanding mission. The IETA competencies are divided into four domains (skillsets): Leadership, Cross-Cultural Humility, Diplomacy, and Technical Expertise. To learn more about the IETA competencies and each of the four domains, click on this link: Competency Model [PDF – 213 KB].
