Overview for Army Medical Specialist
The Army Medical Specialist Corps includes:
- Occupational Therapists (OT)
- Registered Dietitians (RD)
- Physician Assistants (PA)
Interested in the US Army - Baylor University Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy?
- Check out the program description below for more information.
Interested in the US Army - Baylor University Graduate Program in Nutrition?
- Check out the program description below for more information.
Do you have student loans?
- Check out the Active-Duty Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (ADHPLRP) below for more information.
Are you a Physician Assistant?
- The Army is offering you multiple incentives to join either on Active Duty (full time) or Reserves (part time) status. Look for more details below.
Active-Duty Medical Specialist Corps Programs and Incentives
US Army — Baylor University Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy
Provides a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, which is an entry-level degree. All applicants should be directed to apply through Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) to be considered. Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree or be in their last semester of undergraduate school to apply to the 30-month training program. Active-Duty Obligation (ADO) is 54 months, upon completion of the program. Other prerequisites: a minimum cumulative and a prerequisite grade point average (GPA) of 3.25, a minimum cumulative graduate record examination (GRE) score of 300 (Quantitative + Verbal) with the GRE Quantitative score of 148 or above and GRE Verbal of 152 or above. GRE Analytical Writing score must be 3.5 or above.
U. S. Army-Baylor University Graduate Program in Nutrition
Provides a Master of Science degree in Nutrition from Baylor University. The program consists of 9 months of graduate education with an emphasis in clinical and humanitarian nutrition, food service, performance nutrition, research, and leadership at the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Center and School; and a 12-month dietetic internship and research at 1 of 3 Army Medical Centers. Applicants must have completed or be in their last semester of dietetics academic work to apply. Applicants must complete the D & D Digital Computer Match Process. Applicants must complete a bachelor’s degree and a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) prior to beginning the Graduate Program in Nutrition. Active-Duty Obligation is 48 months, upon completion of the program. Other prerequisites include: a minimum cumulative and Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) GPA of 3.0, a minimum cumulative GRE score of 297 (149 min Quantitative + 148 min Verbal) with the GRE Analytical Writing score of 3.5.
Note: Fully qualified Dietitians (65C) interested in pursuing their master's degree are eligible to apply. Will only complete didactic portion and complete research at first duty assignment.
Active-Duty Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (ADHPLRP)
This program will repay up to $40,000 of qualified loans to lending institutions annually for a maximum of 3 years. Active-Duty Obligation is 1 year-for-year receiving loan repayment with a minimum period of 2 years on Active Duty. Taxable income.
Accession Bonus
All qualified Physical Therapists, Dieticians and Physician Assistants who do not currently hold a commission in any Uniformed Service or has 24 month break in service and no longer holds an appointment if a former Health Profession Officer (HPO) may be eligible to receive a bonus. Physician Assistants may opt for a three- or four-year obligation. Physical Therapists and Dietitians will incur a four-year obligation. This incentive cannot combine with any other incentive. Physician Assistants interested in a three-year obligation may be eligible for up to $37,500 or up to $60,000 for a four-year obligation. Physical Therapists and Dieticians may be eligible for $30,000 for a four-year obligation.
Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP)
Applicants must be Regular Army, Army Reserves or Army National Guard (ARNG) service members who have completed a minimum of 60 semester hours of prerequisite undergraduate work. For more information visit https://recruiting.army.mil/armypa
Army Reserve Medical Specialist Corps Programs/Incentives
Accession Bonus for Physician Assistants
This incentive provides up to $25,000 of special pay a year for 2, 3 or 4 years for Area of Concentration (AOC) Physician Assistant (65D) who do not currently hold a commission in any Uniformed Service or has a 24 month break in service and no longer holds an appointment, if a former HPO. The Soldier must serve in the Select Reserves. Individuals may be eligible, if qualified, to participate in another Army Reserve incentive program. Applicant must possess a current, valid, active and unrestricted state license to apply. The applicant may continue to reapply for special pay if Area of Concentration is on the Critical Wartime Specialty List.
Health Professional Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP)
This program provides up to $60,000 for repayment of qualified education loans for Physician Assistant. For each year of satisfactory service in an Army Reserve Troop Program Unit (TPU), AMEDD Professional Medical Command (APMC) or in the Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) Program, any DOD authorized student loan will be considered eligible for repayment. Payment is made over 3 years in increments of $20,000, $20,000 and $20,000 per year not to exceed $60,000. Applicant may be eligible, if qualified, to participate in another Army Reserve incentive program. Applicant must possess a current, valid, active and unrestricted state license to apply. Taxable income.
Some Requirements for Eligibility:
- Applicants must be a US Citizen or Naturalized Citizen for Regular Army (RA) or a Permanent Resident for Army Reserve (AR).
- Occupational Therapists (OT) applicants must have National Registration from the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapists (NBCOT) and a state license.
- Registered Dietitians (RD) applicants must have a Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
- Physical Therapists (PT) must have an unrestricted state license.
- Physician Assistants (PA) must be graduates of a U.S. accredited school and fully qualified to include certification by the National Commission for Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
- Students who will graduate within 6 months with their qualifying degree from a US accredited school may apply for Active Duty (AD) and United States Army Reserve (USAR). This applies to Registered Dietitians, Occupational Therapists, Physicians Assistants and Physical Therapist only going Active Duty. Physical Therapists going Reserve must have at least 6 months of relevant work experience at the time of board. All must provide an official transcript with their degree awarded and appropriate registration/certification and/or license before being allowed to access.