CDC Public Health Internships: Eligibility Requirements and Opportunities

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a wide array of internships, fellowships, training, and volunteer opportunities for students and recent graduates across various academic disciplines and levels. These programs provide invaluable practical experience, allowing participants to contribute to professional development and explore federal careers. This article will outline the eligibility requirements for various CDC public health internship programs.

Pathways Programs

The Pathways Program is a multifaceted initiative designed to provide students and recent graduates with opportunities to gain work experience in public health and related fields. It comprises three main components:

The Internship Program: This program offers internship and summer employment opportunities to students enrolled in educational institutions ranging from high school to graduate level. These are paid opportunities where students can work in agencies and explore federal careers while still in school. Successful completion of the program may lead to conversion to a permanent job in the civil service.
The Recent Graduates Program (RGP): Recent college graduates can obtain enriching developmental work experience in public health and related support occupations through this program. To be eligible, applicants must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion, with an exception for veterans who have up to six years after degree completion to apply due to their military service obligation.
The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program: This program offers leadership development opportunities to students who are in the process of completing their master’s, law, or doctoral-level degree within the academic year. The PMF Program is a two-year, paid program designed to develop future leaders committed to excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs. Candidates must be nominated by their graduate program’s dean, director, or chair. Upon successful completion of the program, fellows may be eligible for permanent placement within a federal agency. Note that this program is set to sunset in accordance with an Executive Order.

Student Employment Opportunities

Student Summer Employment

Student Summer Employment provides training and work experience for individuals during summer months. To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a diploma, certificate, or degree-seeking student. Student summer employment opportunities are announced January through March of each year.

Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program

The CDC Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program offers students work experience in various occupations during the academic year and/or summer months. FWS at CDC exposes students to a wide array of opportunities, including public health careers.

Student Worksite Experience Program (SWEP)

The CDC Student Worksite Experience Program (SWEP) offers high school and college students non-paid, educationally related work opportunities. Students can gain practical experience by engaging in projects and tasks that contribute to their professional development. Students volunteer for a maximum of six months (180 days) during the academic school year or summer months. Students can earn academic credit for work assignments (at the school’s discretion). A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is required between the student's school and CDC for participation in SWEP.

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Fellowship Programs

Public Health Law Fellowship

CDC’s Public Health Law Program and ChangeLab Solutions offer a Public Health Law Fellowship, which is a paid training opportunity for current students and recent graduates to prepare them for careers in public health law and policy.

Service Fellowship

Talented scientists engaged in public health research, studies, training, or investigations may qualify for one of the fellowship programs. These programs are available to both U.S. citizens and non-citizens. Pay for a senior or associate Service Fellow is commensurate with assignments, and fellows are eligible for performance awards and special act or service awards. Service Fellows whose initial appointment exceeds 12 months are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Regular Fellows are classified as trainees and do not require an FTE. Participants from the Exchange Visitor Program must have a bachelor’s degree and three or more years of relevant experience. The initial appointment for Regular Fellows is for a period not to exceed one year and may be extended up to seven years in one-year increments, assuming there are no visa time constraints.

Epi Scholars Program

The Epi Scholars Program provides rigorous training through a full-time, paid 10-12 week summer internship program in applied epidemiology to stellar graduate epidemiology students at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). Selected interns are expected to be available for 35 hours per week during the regular workday of the program.

Public Health Associate Program (PHAP)

The Public Health Associate Program (PHAP) is a competitive, two-year, paid training program with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Throughout the two-year training program, associates gain hands-on experience that will serve as a foundation for their public health careers. Candidates must complete and submit their initial applications on USAjobs.gov.

Other Fellowship Opportunities

A wide range of other fellowships and training programs are available, including those focused on data science, diversity and minority health, environmental health, epidemiology and research, global public health, and health policy.

Specific Program Requirements

Occupational Health Internship Program (OHIP): This is a full-time, paid summer internship designed to link the skills and interests of students with the needs of workers employed in an under-served or high hazard job. Undergraduate students must have completed at least two years of college (i.e., juniors and seniors only) by the OHIP summer, and students enrolled in graduate programs are eligible to apply.
SRCOSTEP: Participants in this program serve in the Public Health Service (USPHS) and receive full pay and benefits of an active duty officer. In return for financial assistance, SRCOSTEP participants agree to work for the USPHS sponsoring agency as a Commissioned Corps officer immediately after graduation.
Thurgood Marshall College Foundation/CDC Ambassador and Internship Program: This program is designed to increase interest in public health careers among minority students and to increase minority representation in mission critical occupations at CDC and the public health workforce.
Summer Public Health Scholars Program (SPHSP): This program is designed for undergraduate students and recent baccalaureate degree students who are undecided about their career goals to increase interest in and knowledge of public health and biomedical science careers. The program is designed for undergraduates entering their junior or senior year.
Division of Maternal and Child Health Workforce Development (DMCHWD) Internship: Graduate students must be enrolled at least half-time in a graduate program as verified by the student’s institution of higher learning. Post-graduate students and undergraduate seniors are considered on a case-by-case basis, with undergraduate seniors required to be enrolled at least half-time in an undergraduate program.
REAL Program: To be eligible for the REAL Program, students must be enrolled in the Emory Rollins School of Public Health (RSPH) and must have received the REAL award through their Financial Aid and Career Services Offices.

General Requirements

In addition to the specific requirements for each program, some general requirements may apply to all CDC internships and fellowships:

Citizenship: Applicants are generally required to be U.S. citizens. However, some programs may be open to non-citizens. Applicants must provide a copy of their Naturalization Certificate, passport, visa, or green card/ permanent resident card.
Academic Standing: Most programs require students to be enrolled in an accredited college or university and to maintain a certain GPA.
Application Materials: Applicants are typically required to submit a resume, transcript, and other supporting documents.

Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities

CDC offers opportunities for individuals with disabilities through a Title 5 non-competitive hiring authority. No vacancy announcement is required, and there is no grade limitation on appointment. Individuals may have a probationary period for up to two years and could be converted to the competitive service after the probationary period is completed.

Opportunities for Veterans

Veterans who are qualified for the positions must have retired from active military service with a disability rating of 30% or more, OR be rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs within the last year as having a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more.

Volunteer Opportunities

A wide variety of volunteer opportunities are available at CDC, from administrative and program support to research-related projects. Students can earn academic credit for work assignments (at the school’s discretion). Generally speaking, federal agencies are prohibited by law from accepting volunteer service. No person may provide unpaid service to the Government or provide service with the understanding that he or she will waive pay.

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