FAQs – Texas Public Health Fellowship

Available fellowships will not be posted on our website. Instead, you will be able to explore and select fellowship topics and host site locations in the application. 

• You will be able to share your preferences for host site location and fellowship topics in the application.
• The application will have descriptions of fellowships.

• Fellowship Host Sites will be located in the following Texas cities: Austin, Arlington, Harlingen, Lubbock, San Antonio, and Temple. 
• Host Sites will be programs or regional offices at the Texas Department of State Health Services. 

Most Host Sites will require that the Fellow be available to be in person at the Host Site location. Host Sites may have remote or telework policy. Please review the Fellowship Descriptions for in-person expectations and location. All fellows will need to reside in Texas during the Fellowship year (June 1, 2025-May 31, 2026).

Some Fellows may have responsibilities or activities at their Host Site that require travel. This could be something like driving to various locations in a program's regional jurisdiction to do outreach in the community or driving to clinics to perform certain tasks. Fellows may also have opportunities to travel to conferences or other professional development activities.

There is no requirement that you relocate for the Fellowship, however, fellows will be expected to be available to be in person at the Fellowship Host Site location. Please review the Fellowship Descriptions carefully and only apply to Fellowships located where you can live and work.

No. Unfortunately, a moving stipend will not be available.

• Each Fellowship position has a specified salary based on the cost of living of Host Site location, and Host’s preferred level of education. See the Fellowship Descriptions for salary information.
• Fellows will be compensated with a competitive, full-time salary between $43,000-$63,000.
• Salaries are non-negotiable

• Yes. All fellows will be full-time, benefits-eligible employees of the Texas Department of State Health Services.
• See the Benefits of Becoming a DSHS Employee.
• There is a standard six-month waiting period before new hires can access health benefits and vacation or annual leave.

• Fellows will have standard state holidays off and have access to vacation or annual leave benefits.
• Fellows hosted at DSHS will not have access to vacation or annual leave until after the first six months of employment. 

• Fellows will be integrated into the workforce at a DSHS Program, or DSHS Regional Office. Fellows will work side by side with colleagues and be supervised by a Host Site staff member.
• Host Sites will have a set of activities, job responsibilities, and deliverables for the Fellow.
• Fellows will participate in various professional development activities provided by DSHS.

• Attend an information session!
• Review our website and FAQs for details about the Fellowship.
• Prepare your one-page resume.
• Detailed instructions, essay questions, and information about submitting references are in the Eligibility and How to Apply section of our website. 

Early Spring 2025.

One month after the application opens. Keep an eye out on our website for more information about deadlines.

• Some applicants will be selected for interview.
• Interviews will be virtual on Teams. 
• Host Site staff and DSHS Office of Practice and Learning staff will ask the candidates a standard set of questions.
• Interviews will be conducted in mid Spring 2025.

• Candidates will be selected from all applicants and will be invited to interview for a Fellowship position.
• If you are selected to interview for a Fellowship position, you will be contacted by our team. We will schedule a time for you to be interviewed by the Host Site and Fellowship staff.

Fellows will be announced late Spring of 2025.

You can email TxPHFellowship@dshs.texas.gov to ask about your application and confirm completion.

No. All applications will be reviewed and equally considered for the Fellowship.

• Yes! You are eligible to apply, however, this Fellowship is a full-time, 40-hour per week, paid position. We do not recommend applying if you plan to be in another full-time job.
• Fellows will not be able to work for another State of Texas agency or state university in Texas, while they are a Texas Public Health Fellow. 

• This Fellowship is for early career public health professionals or people interested in starting a career in public health.
• Fellows could come from any level of education and any background. Previous public health education or work experience is not required.
• If you’ve already worked for two or more years full-time in the field of public health, this Fellowship may not be the right fit for you. We recommend applying your background and experience to positions at the Texas Department of State Health Services.

• Yes! If you are planning to graduate by Spring 2025, we would consider you an ideal candidate.
• If you plan to be a full-time student during the 2025-26 academic year, this may not be the best time to do this Fellowship. Because this Fellowship is a full-time, 40-hour per week, paid position, it may not be feasible to do the Fellowship and fulfill your responsibilities as a full-time student.
• If you plan to be a part-time student during the 2025-26 academic year, we recommend applying. Previous fellows have been able to balance part-time school and the full-time Fellowship.

Yes! International students are welcome to apply, however; all fellows will be required to provide proof of authorization to work in the United States.

Unfortunately, no. For this Fellowship, Fellows must be prepared to provide proof of authorization to work in the United States.

Fellows will need to speak and communicate in writing in English well enough so that they can participate in most conversations. Native speakers may notice some errors in your speech or your understanding, but your errors rarely cause misunderstanding.

• Being able to speak Spanish is not required to be eligible to apply for the Fellowship.
• Spanish language skills will be required or highly valuable for a select few of the Fellowship positions.

If you have questions about your specific eligibility, please email TxPHFellowship@dshs.texas.gov