Students and Prospective Applicants

Who are we?

The U.S. Public Health Service is the major health arm of the Federal government and the world’s foremost health service. Composed of approximately 6,000 Commissioned Corps officers and 45,000 Civil Service employees, we are a principle component of the Department of Health and Human Services.

What is our mission?

• Promoting the public health of the United States.
• Providing pharmaceutical care to American Indians/Alaska Natives, federal inmates, and members of the Coast Guard.
• Expanding knowledge through biomedical, behavioral, and health services research leading to the prevention and treatment of disease.
• Controlling and preventing disease.
• Improving the health care system, including development of innovations in health care.
• Assuring safe and effective use of drugs and medical devices.
• Expanding national health resources.
• Responding to natural disasters, technological emergencies and biological & chemical terrorism.
• Shaping health work force, medical knowledge, technology, and other resources.

How do I join?

Put your health-related training into practice with the Commissioned Corps. With the Corps, you can:

• Advance your career with varied experiences in diverse agencies and programs
• Expand your knowledge base and enhance your professional training with tuition assistance and long-term training opportunities in some cases
• Have time for family and friends with 30 days of paid vacation plus paid holidays
• Enjoy generous benefits and retirement payments that begin immediately when you retire, regardless of age
• Take advantage of opportunities to pursue life in hundreds of geographic locations

The Commissioned Corps has full-time jobs for highly skilled men and women who seek professional fulfillment, enjoy challenges, and want to improve the quality of public health for the Nation's communities that are most in need. For information about how you can make a difference through the Commissioned Corps, call us at 800–279–1605.