Officer and Student Training Programs

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Further an education. Jump start a career.

Elite paid fellowships, residencies, and training programs for Public Health Service officers and graduate and undergraduate students on America's front lines.

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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

JR COSTEP Policy

8 Steps to Become a U.S. Public Health Service
Commissioned Corps JRCOSTEP Officer

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

SR COSTEP Policy

8 Steps to Become a U.S. Public Health Service
Commissioned Corps SRCOSTEP Officer

Learn More by Contacting USPHS COSTEP
for student opportunities

PHSCostep@hhs.gov

USUHS

Tuition-free medical school education as a Public Health Service officer.

Only the School of Medicine at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) can claim the title, “America’s Medical School.” The F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine was established in 1972 to assure the Armed Forces and U.S. Public Health Service would have a steady supply of physician-leaders to provide the backbone for their medical corps and serve the nation. Established by Congress in 1972, the university’s close proximity to the National Institutes of Health, the National Library of Medicine, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center make it a unique location for medical education and research. With over 8,000 USU School of Medicine alumni, graduates are not simply doctors, researchers, and scholars; they are leaders, innovators, and public servants committed to a mission far greater than themselves.

U.S. citizen
Mandatory ten-year commissioned service obligation:
At least 18 years old at the time of matriculation, but no older than 36 as of June 30th in the year of matriculation.
Awarded a baccalaureate degree from an accredited academic institution in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or Canada by June 1st of the year of desired matriculation and must have completed the coursework listed in the recruitment and admissions booklet.
Meet professional, medical, and security requirements
Qualifying degree from an accredited institution
Current, unrestricted, and valid license to practice in one of the 50 States, U.S. territories, or Washington, DC
Must have a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale or equivalent system
Must have approval from their government agencies or sponsoring components as part of their application
Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores within three (3) years of desired matriculation

Tuition-free medical education.
Financial assistance. Paid as an Ensign (ENS) while completing your medical school (potentially more for those with prior service).
Job upon graduation. A full-time Public Health Service officer position while completing medical school.
Housing. A tax-free allowance for your rent or mortgage is calculated based on your ENS rank, duty station, and dependent status.
Free health care. Coverage through TRICARE for officers and dependents.

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

USU Medical Student FAQ

USU – What You Need to Know document

USPHS Commissioned Corps USUHS Factsheet

Please visit https://medschool.usuhs.edu/ for more information or email

PHSOS-CADQuestions@hhs.gov

Pharmacy Residents

Pharmacy residency as a Public Health Service officer.

The Indian Health Service (IHS) pharmacy residencies offer an excellent opportunity to learn and improve the healthcare of Native Americans. Each of the IHS pharmacy residency programs offers unique and rewarding experiences. In addition to learning in a progressive practice setting, you can experience cultural diversity and recreational opportunities. While most programs are conducted over one year, several IHS pharmacy residency programs are conducted as two-year, non-traditional programs. Enjoy learning in a multidisciplinary and friendly team environment!

U.S. citizen
Mandatory eight-year commissioned service obligation
Less than 44 years of age for Active Duty
- Can be offset by up to 8 years of prior uniformed service
- Some officers may qualify for an age waiver
Meet professional, medical, and security requirements
Qualifying degree from an accredited institution
Current, unrestricted, and valid license to practice in one of the 50 States, U.S. territories, or Washington, DC
Must have a GPA of 2.8 or above on a 4.0 scale or equivalent system

Financial assistance. Paid as a Lieutenant (LT), O-3, with <2 years of service while completing your pharmacy residency (potentially more for those with prior service).
Job/Training upon graduation. A full-time Public Health Service officer position while completing the residency.
Housing. A tax-free allowance for your rent or mortgage is calculated based on your O-3 rank, duty station, and dependent status.

Free health care. Coverage through TRICARE for officers and dependents.

IHS Pharmacy Resident FAQ

USPHS Commissioned Corps Pharmacy Resident PreScreen Tool Factsheet

Please visit https://www.ihs.gov/pharmacy/resident/ for more information or email

IHSPharmacyResidencyInquiries@ihs.gov

EIS/LLS Program

Complete a globally-recognized fellowship program as a Public Health Service officer.

Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS)/Laboratory Leadership Service (LLS) Program

EIS is a long-standing, globally-recognized fellowship program renowned for its investigative and emergency response efforts. EIS officers serve on the front lines of public health, protecting Americans and the global community while training under the guidance of seasoned mentors. When disease outbreaks or other public health threats emerge, EIS officers investigate, identify the cause, rapidly implement control measures, and collect evidence to recommend preventive actions.

CDC’s Laboratory Leadership Service (LLS) was launched in 2015 to develop future public health laboratory leaders. LLS is a service-learning, multidimensional program that encompasses the competencies of applied public health laboratory research, laboratory operations and quality management, the science of biosafety, bioinformatics, advanced communications, and leadership training. A LLS fellow’s training helps bridge applied laboratory science with public health, allowing fellows to provide daily mission-critical technical expertise and service to federal, state, and local public health laboratories and support public health investigations.

U.S. citizen
Mandatory eight-year commissioned service obligation if EIS/LLS officer remains in the USPHS after the program completion
Less than 44 years of age for Active Duty
- Can be offset by up to 8 years of prior uniformed service
- Some officers may qualify for an age waiver
Less than 40 years of age for Ready Reserve (may be adjusted based on eligible federal PHS civil service and uniform service active-duty time)
Meet professional, medical, and security requirements
Qualifying degree from an accredited institution
Current, unrestricted, and valid license to practice in one of the 50 States, U.S. territories, or Washington, DC
Must have a GPA of 2.8 or above on a 4.0 scale or equivalent system

Financial assistance. Paid as a Lieutenant (LT) while completing your CDC fellowship (potentially more for those with prior service).
Job/Training upon graduation. A full-time Public Health Service officer position while completing the fellowship with a competitive salary and benefits.
Housing. A tax-free allowance for your rent or mortgage calculated based on your O-3 rank, duty station, and dependent status.
Free health care. Coverage through TRICARE for officers and dependents.
Mentorship. Mentored and supervised by experienced, dedicated, and enthusiastic expert epidemiologists.

Domestic and Global Impact. Directly impact population health and well-being.

CDC EIS FAQ

CDC LLS FAQ

USPHS Commissioned Corps EIS Factsheet

USPHS Commissioned Corps LLS Factsheet

Please visit https://www.cdc.gov/eis/index.html for more information,

call 800-CDC-INFO or email using

https://wwwn.cdc.gov/DCS/ContactUs/Form

Scholarships and loan repayments

Indian Health Service (IHS) Loan Repayment Program (LRP)

The Indian Health Service (IHS) awards up to $40,000 in loan repayment to health professionals in exchange for at least two years of service in health facilities serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Learn more

CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Program

The CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Program provides federal loan repayment in exchange for two years of service practicing epidemiology in CDC or state/local health departments. The repayment amount is based on availability of funds. Learn more