The Federal Bureau of Prisons is hiring Physicians under a Direct Hire announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice. These Physician (Medical Officer) Jobs are available at Bureau of Prisons facilities in different parts of the United States.
The job announcement opened on August 2, 2026, and applications are being accepted until September 30, 2026. The positions are full-time and permanent. The listed grades are GP-13, GP-14, and GP-15, with salaries ranging from $124,308 to $315,000 per year.
Job Details and Salary
The hiring agency is the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System. The position is part of job series 0602, Medical Officer, and has promotion potential up to GP-15.
These Physician (Medical Officer) Jobs are full-time and permanent. The announcement also lists occasional travel as part of the job. A drug test is required, and the security clearance is shown as “Other.” Financial disclosure is not required.
The announcement number is DHA-2026-0029. The USAJOBS control number is 878927200.
The job is open to the public, including U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and people who owe allegiance to the United States.
The salary range is $124,308 to $315,000 a year. Special Salary Rates are also mentioned in the announcement. Applicants are told to check the current locality pay tables for the area connected with the position.
There is no application fee listed in the PDF.
What Does a Medical Officer Do?
The main part of the job is providing medical care to patients at Bureau of Prisons facilities. At institutions with an inpatient mission, the Medical Officer also provides care to inpatients.
The work includes physical exams, medical and social histories, physical assessments, diagnostic tests, treatment, and medication.
The position also involves work outside direct patient care. A Medical Officer gives recommendations about policies, procedures, training, personnel, and equipment in the assigned area.
Correctional security is also part of the position. The announcement lists institutional correctional duties before the other duties of the job.
Medical Officers need knowledge of medicines used to treat diseases and illnesses. This includes dosage, frequency, side effects, toxic effects, drug interactions, and situations where a medicine should not be used.
The job also involves checking a patient’s condition and starting suitable treatment. Medical Officers work with other physicians, supervisors, coworkers, and staff. They also prepare written reports using medical records and technical information.
Education and License Requirements for Physician (Medical Officer) Jobs
Applicants need a Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), or equivalent degree from an accredited medical school in the United States or Canada.
If the medical degree was earned outside the United States or Canada, the education needs to be shown as equivalent to an accredited U.S. medical school education. The announcement lists permanent certification from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, a qualifying fifth pathway certificate for eligible Americans, or successful completion of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination as ways to show this equivalency.
A current, active, full, and unrestricted physician license or registration is required. The license needs to be from a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory.
Proof of the current unrestricted license must be uploaded with the application. Applicants also need proof of successful completion of an accredited internship, fellowship, or residency program.
At least one year of supervised direct clinical service after the medical degree is required. Approved internship, residency, and fellowship training in the United States or Canada counts as qualifying graduate training.
Graduate Training Requirements for GP-13, GP-14 and GP-15
The amount of graduate training depends on the grade.
- GP-13: 3 years of graduate training in the specialty or equivalent experience and training.
- GP-14: 4 years of graduate training in the specialty or equivalent experience and training.
- GP-15: 5 years of graduate training in the specialty or equivalent experience and training.
The announcement also gives examples of experience for each grade.
For GP-13, examples include clinical decision-making, patient care evaluation, quality assurance work, and clinical oversight of advanced practice providers, nurses, and other clinical staff.
For GP-14, the examples include examining patients, ordering diagnostic tests, providing treatment and medication, diagnosing ambulatory patients, and arranging hospital transfers when needed.
At GP-15, examples include inpatient and outpatient medical care, physical examinations, physical assessments, emergency medical or surgical services, treatment of severe trauma cases, rehabilitation, diagnostic services, and prescribing medication.
Both paid and unpaid experience receives credit when properly documented. Applicants need to show the actual time spent doing qualifying work, including the number of hours worked each week.
Documents Needed for the Application
The resume has a 2-page limit. It needs to include the applicant’s name, contact information, relevant experience, start and end dates in month/year format, and the number of hours worked each week.
Applicants using education to qualify need to submit legible transcripts. The transcript needs to show the school name, student name, degree, and date awarded when applicable.
Official transcripts are required before the first day of duty if an applicant is selected based on education.
Professional certification or license documents also need to be submitted.
CTAP or ICTAP documents are required when applicable. Veterans claiming preference need to provide the required supporting paperwork. Depending on the situation, this includes a DD-214, SF-15, Department of Veterans Affairs documents, or other military documents listed in the announcement.
Applicants also need to provide proof of their physician license and required graduate medical training.
If required documents are missing or the application does not follow the instructions, the applicant could be removed from consideration.
Where Are These Physician (Medical Officer) Jobs Available?
The announcement lists Bureau of Prisons facilities across many states and Puerto Rico. Applicants need to choose at least one preferred duty location and no more than three.
The locations listed in the PDF are:
Alabama: FCI Aliceville, FPC Montgomery at Maxwell AFB, and FCI Talladega.
Arizona: FCI Phoenix, FCI Safford, and FCC Tucson.
California: USP Atwater, FCI Herlong, FCC Lompoc, MDC Los Angeles, FCI Mendota, MCC San Diego, and FCC Victorville.
Colorado: FCC Florence and FCI Englewood.
Connecticut: FCI Danbury.
Florida: FCC Coleman, FCI Marianna, FCI Miami, FDC Miami, and FCI Tallahassee.
Georgia: FCI Atlanta and FCI Jesup.
Hawaii: FDC Honolulu.
Illinois: MCC Chicago, FCI Greenville, FCI Marion, FCI Pekin, and FCI Thomson.
Indiana: FCC Terre Haute.
Kansas: FCI Leavenworth.
Kentucky: FCI Ashland, USP Big Sandy, FMC Lexington, FCI Manchester, and USP McCreary.
Louisiana: FCC Oakdale and FCC Pollock.
Massachusetts: FMC Devens.
Maryland: FCI Cumberland.
Michigan: FCI Milan.
Minnesota: FSL Duluth, FMC Rochester, FCI Sandstone, and FCI Waseca.
Missouri: USMCFP Springfield.
Mississippi: FCC Yazoo City.
North Carolina: FCC Butner.
New Hampshire: FCI Berlin.
New Jersey: FCI Fairton and FCI Fort Dix.
New York: MDC Brooklyn, FCI Otisville, and FCI Ray Brook.
Ohio: FCI Elkton.
Oklahoma: FCI El Reno and FTC Oklahoma City.
Oregon: FCI Sheridan.
Pennsylvania: FCC Allenwood, FCI Lewisburg, FCI McKean, FCI Loretto, FCI Schuylkill, FDC Philadelphia, and USP Canaan.
Puerto Rico: MDC Guaynabo.
South Carolina: FCI Bennettsville, FCI Edgefield, FCI Estill, and FCI Williamsburg.
South Dakota: FPC Yankton.
Tennessee: FCI Memphis.
Texas: FCI Bastrop, FCC Beaumont, FPC Bryan, FMC Carswell, FMC Fort Worth, FDC Houston, FCI Seagoville, FCI Texarkana, and FCI Three Rivers.
Virginia: USP Lee and FCC Petersburg.
Washington: FDC SeaTac.
Wisconsin: FCI Oxford.
West Virginia: FPC Alderson, FCI Beckley, FCC Hazelton, FCI Gilmer, FSL Morgantown, and FCI McDowell.
One thing to keep in mind is that choosing a location does not guarantee placement there. The final assignment depends on Bureau staffing needs, available positions, and funding. A selected applicant could receive an offer for a location outside the choices listed in the application.
What Is the Screening Process?
There are several checks before an appointment is made.
Applicants go through a pre-employment interview and panel interview. The process also includes urinalysis, a physical examination, and a background investigation.
There are also checks through the National Crime Information Center and a credit check.
Applicants who are not currently working in an institution need to complete a qualification inquiry concerning misdemeanor domestic violence convictions for firearm authorization.
After selection, employees need to complete the Introduction to Correctional Techniques course. This is a three-week course held in Glynco, Georgia.
The PDF does not mention a separate written test, computer test, running test, chest measurement, height requirement, or endurance time.
No minimum or maximum age is listed either. Because the announcement does not provide an age limit, no age calculation or age relaxation rule is included here.
Benefits and Application Review
The announcement includes federal employee benefits. Eligibility depends on the type of position and other employment factors.
Two nonforeign area Cost-of-Living Allowances are listed in the announcement. FDC Honolulu has an 8.64% COLA based on basic pay. MDC Guaynabo has a 2.49% COLA.
The recruitment is an open continuous public notice because the Bureau has an ongoing need for Medical Officers. Applications are reviewed and referred during the recruitment period.
Qualified applications are sent to selecting officials at preferred locations for further consideration. The selecting official handles the remaining hiring steps.
Applications under this Direct Hire public notice are not rated or ranked. Veteran’s Preference does not apply.
An application also does not guarantee referral or selection.
How to Apply for Physician (Medical Officer) Jobs
The regular way to apply is through USAJOBS.gov. Applicants need to register, answer the required questions, and upload the resume and supporting documents listed in the announcement.
The resume must stay within the 2-page limit. A resume by itself is not enough when the announcement asks for additional documents.
All required supporting documents must reach the Consolidated Staffing Unit by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on September 30, 2026. The vacancy announcement number needs to be included on the supporting documents.
If an applicant cannot apply online, the announcement says to contact the Consolidated Staffing Unit before the closing date for information about an alternate application procedure.
There is a different process for current Public Health Service Commissioned Officers. PHS applicants should not apply online. They need to send a complete resume or curriculum vitae, supporting documents, and other requested information directly to BOP-HRM-HRSC-Consolidatedstaffingunit-s@bop.gov.
PHS applicants also need to include the last four digits of their Social Security number and the vacancy announcement number with their application materials.
Application Deadline and Contact Details
The deadline is September 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Eligible applicants stay in the recruitment inventory until the announcement closes. The announcement follows a yearly cycle. Anyone who wants consideration during the next cycle needs to apply again under the new vacancy announcement.
For questions, applicants can contact the Consolidated Staffing Unit at 972-352-4200.
The email address listed in the announcement is bop-hrm-hrsc-consolidatedstaffingunit-s@bop.gov.
After an online application and the required documents are submitted, applicants receive an acknowledgment email confirming the submission.
After the evaluation process, applicants receive status or referral information. If an interview or another evaluation is needed, the Human Resources Department of the requesting location contacts the applicant.
Important Things to Know Before Applying
Before applying for these Physician (Medical Officer) Jobs, I would first check the medical degree, license, graduate training, experience, resume, and supporting-document requirements listed in the announcement.
The job PDF does not list an application fee, age limit, specific duty schedule, height requirement, chest measurement, running requirement, TA/DA rule, or separate test-center selection process. These details are not included here because they are not part of the information provided in the announcement.
The application period ends on September 30, 2026. Applicants need to follow the USAJOBS instructions and send all required documents before the deadline.
The Physician (Medical Officer) Jobs listed in this announcement are offered at GP-13 through GP-15 grades. The salary range is $124,308 to $315,000 per year, and the available duty locations cover Bureau of Prisons facilities in many parts of the United States and Puerto Rico.
If you looking for other Federal Bureau of Prisons opportunities can also read our FCC Pollock Career Fair 2026
