Tenure conferred or approved by earlier NIH-wide review bodies is considered equivalent. Resources may be adjusted up or down by the Institute, based on productivity and the quality of their work, as determined by these and other reviews. The granting of tenure at the NIH will continue to be a vote of confidence in the achievements and potential of the Senior Investigator, and it is the policy of the NIH that such scientists will be renewed in one or another of the five personnel mechanisms available, and that long, stable, productive careers will continue to be the rule. Use of Title 38 for physicians involved in direct patient care provides for higher salaries dependent on the medical speciality. The Corps has for decades been a mechanism of choice for physician scientist researchers, for reasons including physician and dentist special pays and tax advantages of the system.
Higher pay is possible through longevity, promotions, bonuses, tax advantages, and other benefits.
Promotions are restricted, the system is generally not flexible, and advantages are greatest for physicians and dentists. This is a personnel system authorized by Congress in 1990 to provide flexible salaries of up to Executive Level I for outstanding researchers. There is no distinction between physicians and Ph.D. scientists, but the number of positions is limited. This system was once the normal progression for outstanding scientists in General Schedule. Salaries are set and adjusted in a flexible fashion.