Overview of SRCOSTEP Program
Each year the various Operating Division (OPDIVs) of HHS and non-HHS agencies determine how many students and what disciplines they can sponsor.
Agencies must consider the funding to support a SRCOSTEP. At times, limited funding may result in the inability of an agency to sponsor a SRCOSTEP.
Agencies also must have a need for the discipline they wish to sponsor. In recent years the needs have been for nurses, pharmacists, and physician assistants.
Agency needs may change from year to year and impact the disciplines they wish to sponsor.
Where can SRCOSTEP participants work?
Participants work in the following operating divisions (OPDIVs) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):
Participants also work in non-HHS organizations, including:
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What are the SRCOSTEP entry requirements?
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be younger than 44 years of age by the time of graduation
- Meet the medical requirements
- Pass an initial suitability investigation
- Be enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited program leading to a commissionable degree with at least 8 months of educational training remaining in their final year. Applications should arrive no later than 12 months prior to graduation. Pharmacy students should consider sending their applications 15 months before graduation to facilitate maximum sponsorship (see Application Chart here).
- Be free of any obligation or commitment that would conflict with extended active duty as a commissioned officer in the Corps. Conflicts include membership in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps or any other military reserve program or your receipt of other educational financial assistance (i.e., stipend or scholarship), public or private, that may have terms that could result in a conflict. (Contact the Office of Commissioned Corps Operations, Division of Commissioned Corps Recruitment at 800-279-1605 if you have questions.)
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How much will I earn?
SRCOSTEP participants receive the basic pay and allowances of an Ensign (pay grade O-1) during each month they are enrolled in the program (for 2009, this
was approximately $2,655/month). In addition, SRCOSTEPs receive a housing and food allowance each month. You also may receive additional payment for
tuition and fees, depending upon fund availability from your sponsoring organization. Upon graduation, you will be promoted in rank, dependent upon your level
of education and professional experience and licensure status. Please note that nurse officers must pass the National Council Licensure Examination
(NCLEX) and obtain a license before promotion.
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What benefits will I have?
SRCOSTEP participants are entitled to all of the rights, benefits, and privileges accorded to Corps officers serving on extended active duty.
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How do I apply?
Both JRCOSTEP and SRCOSTEP applicants will start the application process with the prescreen which will provide you access to the application if eligible. You may also call and request application materials from the Office of Commissioned Corps Operations, Division of Commissioned Corps Recruitment, at 800–279–1605. Standard business hours are Monday—through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). The office is not open on Federal holidays. If you call outside of standard business hours, leave a message. Your call will be returned as soon as possible.
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When is the SRCOSTEP application deadline?
An applicant must be a full-time
student in a commissionable degree with at least 8 months of educational
training remaining in their final year. Applications should arrive no later than 12
months prior to graduation. Pharmacy students should consider sending their
applications 15 months before graduation to facilitate maximum sponsorship.
Ideally a SRCOSTEP application should be postmarked by December 31 of the year before you begin your final year of school. See Application Chart here.
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How does the selection process work?
After the application deadline, there is a short period of time during which the Division of Commissioned Corps Recruitment processes and organizes files, collects documents, and takes other steps to prepare complete files for review. Next, a selection panel consisting of representatives from the agencies that wish to select SRCOSTEP participants meets to review application files and make selections. Individual agencies will contact the students they selected to offer them a SRCOSTEP assignment. The student may decline the offered assignment, but there is NO GUARANTEE that another agency will subsequently make the student an offer. Once a student declines an offer, the agency has the right to extend the offer to another student and has no obligation to make any further accommodation for the declining student.
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