Students

JRCOSTEP

Intern over your school break

Students in health-related undergraduate, masters and doctoral programs can train alongside active duty officers during their school breaks as part of the Junior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program. Participants are paid, and receive health benefits, housing and travel allowances. Programs last between 30 and 120 days. Participants become inactive Public Health Service officers upon completing the program and can activate upon graduation. There is no obligation to join the USPHS Commissioned Corps.

Undergrads with at least two years of study toward a baccalaureate degree in environmental health, engineering, nursing, pharmacy, physician assistant, dental hygiene, dietetics, medical laboratory technology, medical record administration, or occupational, physical, or respiratory therapy.
Master's students who have completed at least one year of graduate study in nursing, a physician assistant program, environmental health, engineering, social work, public health, dietetics, healthcare administration, audiology, speech pathology, or occupational, physical, or respiratory therapy.
Doctoral students who have completed at least one year of study in a doctoral program for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, psychology, veterinary medicine, speech-language pathology, audiology, research science, or occupational, physical, or respiratory therapy.

Pay. Participants receive the pay and allowances of an Ensign (or more for those with prior service).
Housing. A tax-free allowance for your rent or mortgage calculated based on your duty station and dependent status.
Health care for emergencies and space-available care at military medical treatment facilities.
Travel costs are covered between your home and program location.

JR COSTEP FAQs

USPHS Factsheet JR COSTEP

Learn More by Contacting USPHS COSTEP
for student opportunities

PHSCostep@hhs.gov

SRCOSTEP

Become an officer upon graduation

In the Senior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program, students entering their final year of graduate school or professional training get paid while in school in exchange for committing to enroll in the USPHS Commissioned Corps upon graduation. Students receive the basic pay and allowances of an Ensign while in the program and are guaranteed a spot in the USPHS Commissioned Corps upon graduation. The service obligation is equal to twice the time sponsored.

Students within one year of receiving a degree in medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, psychology, veterinary medicine, environmental health, engineering, speech-language pathology, audiology, research science, or occupational, physical, or respiratory therapy.

Financial assistance. Up to 12 months of pay equivalent to an Ensign while you finish your coursework (more for those with prior service).
Job upon graduation. A full-time position as a Public Health Service officer immediately upon graduation.
Housing. A tax-free allowance for your rent or mortgage calculated based on your rank, duty station, and dependent status.
Free health care. Coverage through TRICARE.

The same privileges and benefits given to Public Health Service officers.

SR COSTEP FAQs

USPHS Factsheet SR COSTEP

Learn More by Contacting USPHS COSTEP
for student opportunities

PHSCostep@hhs.gov