All Commissioned Corps officers in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) must meet basic qualifications: you must be a U.S. citizen, be less than 44 years, 00 months, 00 days of age, and pass a physical examination and extensive background check. For professionals in this discipline an age waiver may be considered if the candidate is willing to serve in a high need area. To be a physician officer you must meet these professional and academic training requirements.
A current, unrestricted, and valid medical license from a U.S. State; the District of Columbia; Commonwealth, Territory or other Jurisdiction. Applicants who are graduates of accredited medical schools in U.S. or Canadian allopathic medical schools must pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Graduates of osteopathic medical schools must pass the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA). Foreign medical graduates must possess certification from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
A physician candidate must possess one of the following to be considered for a commission as a physician officer in the USPHS.
- Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from a medical school accredited by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association or Bureau of Professional Education, Committee on Colleges.
- Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from a medical school accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
A Candidate must also have successfully completed of 1 year of postgraduate medical education (internship or first year of residency training) in a program which, at the time the training was undertaken, was accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) of the American Medical Association or the Department of Education of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
If you are a medical student or physician interested in the Commissioned Corps, take the next step! Call us at 800-279-1605 or e-mail us your questions. For additional information about USPHS student programs click here.