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.
Health Services in the USPHS include the following professional disciplines;
Clinical Psychology
To be a clinical psychologist officer you must meet these professional and academic training requirements.
A current, unrestricted, and valid license as a doctoral-level clinical psychologist from a U.S. State; the District of Columbia; Commonwealth, Territory or other Jurisdiction. Clinical Psychologist encompasses psychologists in clinical, counseling, community, rehabilitation and related practice specialties where practice is an expectation during the officer’s Corps career.
A clinical psychologist candidate must possess a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited university or professional psychology program that did not require the candidate to successfully complete independent scientific, data-driven original research in clinical psychology in order to obtain the degree. If a candidate’s doctoral degree did require independent scientific, data-driven original research please see scientist category.
If you are a clinical psychology student or psychologist 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.
Information Systems
[At this time the USPHS is critically evaluating Computer Science/Information Systems utilization with regards to our current and projected mission needs, therefore we are not processing applications for this discipline until further notice]
An information systems candidate must possess one of the following to be considered for a commission as a health services officer in the USPHS
- A bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems or an information technology related discipline
- A master’s degree in computer science, information systems or an information technology related discipline
A business degree in computer science, information systems or an information technology related discipline is not considered eligible for the USPHS.
If you are a information systems student or professional 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.
Dental Hygiene
To be a dental hygienist officer you must meet these professional and academic training requirements.
A current, unrestricted, and valid license as a dental hygienist from a U.S. State; the District of Columbia; Commonwealth, Territory or other Jurisdiction.
A dental hygienist candidate must possess an accredited bachelor's degree and have successfully completed a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association (ADA) accredited curriculum in dental hygiene to be considered for a commission as a health services officer in the USPHS.
If you are a dental hygiene student or a dental hygienist 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.
Medical Health Record Administration
To be a medical health record administration officer you must meet these professional and academic training requirements.
A current valid certification as a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) with the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) from a U.S. State; the District of Columbia; Commonwealth, Territory or other Jurisdiction.
A medical health record administration candidate must possess one of the following to be considered for a commission as a health services officer in the USPHS
- A bachelor’s degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM)
- An accredited bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a certificate of completion in health information and administration from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM)
If you are a medical health record administration student or professional 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.
Medical Technology / Clinical Laboratory Science
To be a medical technologist officer you must meet these professional and academic training requirements.
A current, unrestricted, and valid ertification as a Medical Technologist or Clinical Laboratory Scientist by the American Medical Technologist (AMT), American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), or the National Credentialing Agency (NCA).
A medical technology candidate must possess an accredited bachelor's degree (related to clinical laboratory science or another human biology discipline, including microbiology, virology and organic-based chemistry) and must have completed an accredited training program from either the National Accrediting Association for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS - either MT/CLS or MLT/CLT program).
If you are a student or medical technologist 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.
Optometry
To be an optometry officer you must meet these professional and academic training requirements.
A current, unrestricted, and valid license as a professional optometrist from a U.S. State; the District of Columbia; Commonwealth, Territory or other Jurisdiction.
An optometry candidate must possess a qualifying Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association (AOA) to be considered for a commission as a health services officer in the USPHS
If you are a student or an optometrist 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.
Physician Assistant
To be a physician assistant officer you must meet these professional and academic training requirements.
A current, unrestricted, and valid certification as a physician assistant by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
A physician assistant candidate must possess one of the following to be considered for a commission as a health services officer in the USPHS.
- An accredited bachelor's degree and must have completed a physician assistant training program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) or one of the predecessor organizations.
- An accredited master's degree and must have completed a physician assistant training program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) or one of the predecessor organizations.
If you are a student or physician assistant 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.
Podiatry
To be a podiatry officer you must meet these professional and academic training requirements.
A current, unrestricted, and valid podiatry license from a U.S. State; the District of Columbia; Commonwealth, Territory or other Jurisdiction.
A podiatry candidate must possess a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) degree accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME) of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and must have completed a 12-month podiatric residency program approved by the Council on Podiatry Education of the American Podiatric Medical Association.
If you are a student or podiatrist 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.
Licensed Clinical Social Work
To be a social work officer you must meet these professional and academic training requirements.
A current, unrestricted, and valid registration or certification that allows for independent clinical social work practice in a U.S. State; the District of Columbia; Commonwealth, Territory or other Jurisdiction.
A social work candidate must possess a qualifying master's degree in social work that has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)to be considered for a commission as a [CATEGORY] officer in the USPHS.
If you are a student or social worker 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.
Healthcare Administration
To be a healthcare administration officer you must possess a master’s degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).
If you are a student or healthcare administrator 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.
Public Health
To be a public health officer you must possess a master’s degree from a program accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Candidates with degrees in environmental health, occupational health, or industrial hygiene from a school of public health accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) qualify for commissioning under the Environmental Health category and cannot be assigned to the Health Services category.
If you are a student or public health professional interested in the Commissioned Corps, take the next step! Call us at 800-279-1605 or e-mail us your questions. Call us at 800-279-1605 or e-mail us your questions. For additional information about USPHS student programs click here.