Health Professions Scholarship Program

The Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) offers prospective military physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, optometrists, and other specialists, a paid medical education in exchange for service as a commissioned medical officer. Programs are available in the United States Army, the United States Navy, and the United States Air Force (AFHPSP).

Created under authority of the Uniformed Services Health Professions Revitalization Act of 1972, the HPSP is the primary source of trained healthcare professionals entering the United States Armed Forces. [The other sources are the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) and direct commissions.] Subject to eligibility for a commission (such as US citizenship, physical and academic qualifications, etc.), scholarship winners ("selectees") are commissioned as second lieutenants in the US Army Reserve or the US Air Force Reserve, or ensigns in the US Navy Reserve. The selectees are then placed on inactive reserve status during their medical training.

Prospective students compete for scholarships that cover some or all of the medical school years. The Air Force offers three- and four-year scholarships, and the Army offers one- to four-year scholarships. While on scholarship, the financial expenses of tuition, fees, health insurance, and mandatory books and equipment are paid by the student's sponsoring service, estimated to be up to $250,000.

As inactive reserve officers, the students are required by law to serve 45 days of active duty each fiscal year. While on active duty, they receive the same rights, privileges, and pay, and are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, as any other active-duty officer. For the first two years of training, this duty is usually spent attending an officer basic course/school ( [http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/obc/ Army] , [https://otcn.netc.navy.mil/ois/index.cfm Navy] , [http://ots.afoats.af.mil/ Air Force] ) or executing "School Orders" at the student's university. For the 3rd and 4th years, the student is expected to carry out elective clinical rotations at a military hospital.

Upon graduation, the student is promoted to the rank of captain in the Army and Air Force, or lieutenant in the Navy, and is placed on active duty for residency in a military or civilian hospital. In general, Army and Air Force medical residents are allowed to complete their residencies before proceeding to their first assignments, while Navy personnel complete an internship and then serve as a general medical officer (GMO), with the option of completing a residency following their GMO tour.

The incurred service obligation is generally one-for-one for every service-paid year of schooling, with a minimum of two years. Additional time required for certain postgraduate programs, such as lengthy residencies, can result in longer service obligations. Fulfillment of the obligation begins only "after" postgraduate training is completed. For Navy officers, time spent as a GMO is credited towards the service obligation.

HPSP opportunities are not offered by the United States Marine Corps, since it receives its medical services from the Navy.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.airforce.com/education/healthcare/moneyForSchool.php Air Force]
* [http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/medical/corps_benefits.jsp Army]
* [http://navmedmpte.med.navy.mil/accessions/index.cfm Navy]
* [http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=72 Forum discussing HPSP]
* [http://navyhpsp.net/wiki Navy Wiki]