U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

What is the Commissioned Corps?

The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is an elite team of more than 6,000 full-time, well-trained, highly qualified public health professionals dedicated to delivering the Nation's public 

health promotion and disease prevention programs and advancing public health science. Driven by a passion for public service, these men and women serve on the frontlines in the Nation's fight against disease and poor health conditions.

As one of America's seven uniformed services, the Commissioned Corps fills essential public health leadership and service roles within the Nation's Federal Government agencies and programs. The Corps has officers in many professions, including:

• Physician
• Dentist
• Nurse
• Pharmacist
• Dietitian
• Engineer
• Environmental health officer
• Mental health specialist, including clinical psychologist and clinical social worker
• Health services officer
• Scientist/researcher
• Therapist (includes occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and audiology)
• Veterinarian

What are the Benefits?

Commissioned Corps benefits are generous. They include:

• Competitive starting pay that increases with promotions and years of service
• Health care and dental care at no cost
• Tax-free housing and meal allowances
• Thirty days of paid vacation per year—beginning the first year
• Paid sick leave
• Paid maternity leave
• Paid Federal holidays
• Malpractice insurance coverage
• A retirement plan with benefits eligibility beginning after 20 years of service
• Thrift Savings Plan [retirement savings and investment plan similar to a 401(k)]
• Low-cost life insurance
• Low-cost health care for your family

Additional Benefits

The Corps offers you and your family many other benefits that often exceed those found in the private sector or through the civil service, including:

• Paid moving expenses when you join the Corps and relocation expenses if and when you change jobs
• Paid expenses for travel related to your job
• Access to military base lodging, recreational facilities, and space-available flights on military aircraft
• Shopping privileges at military base grocery and department stores
• Veterans Affairs benefits, such as survivor and disability benefits, home loans, and burial allowances

Officers in the Commissioned Corps have opportunities for mobility among government agencies and career advancement in diverse work settings. Officers gain varied experiences and have promotion opportunities. The Commissioned Corps encourages you to expand your knowledge base and grow professionally so that you can effectively deal with the challenges of improving public health. Tuition and long-term training opportunities may be available.

What are the Requirements?

Put your health-related training into practice with the Commissioned Corps. To qualify for the Commissioned Corps, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be less than 44 years of age
• Be medically qualified
• Have a current, unrestricted professional license (if applicable)
• Have a qualifying degree or a higher degree from an accredited institution (varies depending on occupation)

Click on the links below to see additional requirements for your profession.

• Physician
• Nurse
• Pharmacist
• Dentist
• Dietitian
• Engineer
• Environmental health officer
• Health services officer
• Scientist
• Therapist
• Veterinarian

We are an active-duty uniformed service looking for qualified individuals to seek commission as full-time officers.

How Do I Join?

Join America's Public Health Team!

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.