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Overview for Army Dentists

Are you a Prospective Dental Student? Here's a list of Programs/Incentives that may apply to you!

  • Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP): Active Duty (Full Time Army Job)
    • Health Professions Scholarship Program Accessions Bonus (HPSP AB): Active Duty

       

  • Medical/Dental School Stipend Program (MDSSP): Reserves (Part Time Army Job)

Are you a Dental Resident? Here's a list of Programs/Incentives that may apply to you!

  • Financial Assistance Program (FAP): Active Duty (Full Time Army Job)

     

  • Specialized Training Assistance Program (STRAP): Reserves (Part Time Army Job)
  • Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP): Reserves  
    • Certain Specialties apply

       

      **HPLRP and STRAP may be applied together**

Are you a Practicing Dentist? Here's a list of Programs/Incentives that may apply to you!

  • Critical Wartime Skills Accession Bonus (CWSAB): Active Duty (Full Time Army Job)
    • Certain Specialties apply to the CWSAB
  • Active Duty Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (ADHPLRP): Active Duty

     

  • Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP): Reserves (Part Time Army Job)
    • Can be applied to both Practicing Dentist and Residents
    • Certain Specialties apply

       

  • Health Professions Special Pay: Reserves
    • Applies to Certain Specialties  
             

       

      **Note Pay is based on Rank, Time in Service, Incentive Pay (specific to your specialty), Specialty Pay and Board Certification Pay**

       

Active Duty Dental Corps Programs/Incentives:

 

Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)

This program provides 3 and 4 year scholarships for students enrolled in an American Dental Assoication accredited D.D.S. or D.M.D. program. Applicant must be a US citizen. The program provides full tuition, monthly stipend over $2,300.00 for 10 and one-half months and reimbursement of certain academic fees. For the additional 45 days out of the year, the applicant will receive Active Duty pay of a Second Lieutenant. Appointed and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant branch unassigned while participating in the HPSP program. Soldier is commissioned as a Dental Corps Captain upon graduation from dental school. Active Duty Obligation is year for year for each year receiving the scholarship with a minimum obligation of 3 years. Want more information on HPSP? Click on "HPSP" to learn more.

 

 

 

Health Professions Scholarship Program Accession Bonus (HPSP AB)

Medical Corps and Dental Corps HPSP applicants, regardless of scholarship length, are eligible to receive the HPSP AB. Applicants must meet the HPSP eligibility requirement. Provides up to a $20,000 bonus (taxable) paid in three increments between first and second HPSP monthly stipend phase. Amount will be disbursed in $9,000, $9,000 and last payment of $2,000. Active Duty Obligation in conjunction with HPSP is 4 years, regardless of length of HPSP participation. The HPSP AB obligation is served concurrently with the HPSP Active Duty Obligation.


 

 

Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) 1-Year Program

 Dental Corps Officers matriculating to Active Duty via the HPSP scholarship program must apply to this program during their senior year. There are forty-eight slots among six training sites: Joint Base Lewis-McCord, WA; Ft. Campbell, KY; Ft. Carson, CO; Ft. Benning, GA; Ft. Jackson, SC; and Ft. Sill, OK. 


 

 

Financial Assistance Program (FAP)

Open to Dentists at any point during their residency training; however, only open to Dental Corps Area of Concentration (AOC) where inventory is low. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis by the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG). FAP provides an annual grant of up to $45,000 plus a monthly stipend over $2,300.00. Active Duty Obligation is 2 years for the first year of FAP participation plus one-half year for each additional year (or portions thereof) of participation with a minimum period of 3 years on Active Duty for Dentists participating in FAP. Individuals must be US citizens and be fully-qualified for appointment as a DC officer, to include having a current, valid, active and unrestricted state dental license. 


 

 

Active Duty Accession Bonus

Dentists that 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 Health Professions Officer (HPO), may be eligible to receive a bonus. Individuals incur a 4 year Active Duty Obligation. Bonus is paid in a lump sum at first duty station. Individuals may be eligible, if qualified, to participate in the Active Duty Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (ADHPLRP). Direct accession applicants are eligible, and dental students in their last year of dental school may apply. Individuals who have held an appointment as a Dental Corps officer with any branch of service or component within 24 months at time of application are not eligible. Individuals are not eligible if they received any financial assistance from DoD to pursue their dental degree or specialty including Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) and Financial Assistance Program (FAP), even if the obligation for this assistance has been served. Active Duty Accession Bonus is taxable.


 

 

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. When special pay is taken in conjunction with ADHPLRP the obligation is 7 years. ADHPLRP service obligation is CONSECUTIVE to any other service obligation incurred for education and training (GDE, etc.). Taxable income.


 

Critical Wartime Skills Accession Bonus (CWSAB)

Bonus provides up to a $300,000 accession bonus for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Endodontics and Prosthodontics and $150,000 for General Dentists who sign a written agreement to serve on Active Duty for not less than 4 consecutive years in exchange for receiving the CWSAB. The bonus will be paid in 4 annual payments. The first payment will be requested upon completion of Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) and arrival at the first duty station. Applicants must meet all requirements for appointment as a Dental Corps officer. Individuals who have held an appointment as a Dental Corps officer with any branch of service or component within 24 months at time of application are not eligible. Individuals are not eligible if they received any financial assistance from DoD to pursue their dental degree or specialty training including Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) and Financial Assistance Program (FAP), even if the obligation for this assistance has been served.

 

 

Army Reserves Dental Corps Programs/Incentives:

 

Incentive Pay

 Incentive pay provides up to $30,000 per year, participants must choose 2, 3 or 4 years of affiliation for General Dentists, Endodontists, Prosthodontists, Public Health Dentists and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Pay is based on the applicants specialty. Soldier must serve in an Army Reserves Troop Program Unit (TPU), Army Medical Department Professional Management Command (APMC) or Individual Mobilization Augmentation (IMA) Program while receiving the incentive pay. Individuals may be eligible, if qualified, to participate in one other Army Reserves incentive program. Incentive pay may not be offered concurrently with Specialized Training Assistance Program (STRAP). Residents in their last year of their residency may apply. Applicant must possess a current, valid, active and unrestricted state dental license to apply. Applicant may continue to reapply for incentive pay if Area of Concentration is on the critical wartime specialty list. 


 

 

Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP)

Program provides up to $250,000 for repayment of qualified education loans for General Dentists, Endodontist, Prosthodontists, Public Health Dentist and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. For each year of satisfactory service in an Army Reserves Troop Program Unit (TPU), Army Medical Department Professional Management Command (APMC) or Individual Mobilization Augmentation (IMA) Program, any Department of Defense authorized student loan will be considered eligible for repayment. Payment is up to $40,000 per year not to exceed $250,000. Applicant may be eligible, if qualified, to participate in another Army Reserves incentive program. HPLRP and STRAP may be offered at the same time. Applicant must possess a current, valid, active and unrestricted state dental license to apply. Taxable income.

 

 

 

Specialized Training Assistance Program (STRAP)

Stipend Program of over $2,300.00 per month for Endodontists, Prosthodontists, Public Health Dentists and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons currently enrolled in an accredited residency program. Applicants must be a US citizen. Incurs a 1 year obligation in the Army Reserves for each 6 months (or partial 6 month period) of financial assistance. Upon completion of residency training must serve in an Army Reserves Troop Program Unit (TPU), Army Medical Department Professional Management Command (APMC) or Individual Mobilization Augmentation (IMA) Program. Applicant can participate in the HPLRP program while under STRAP and in the STRAP stipend phase. Applicant must possess a current, valid, active and unrestricted state license dental to apply. 


 

 

Medical/Dental School Stipend Program (MDSSP)

Provides a monthly stipend over $2,300.00 to individuals accepted into an accredited dental program. Participants are assigned the primary Area of Concentration of 00E67 and branched into the Medical Service (MS) Corps at appropriate rank. Must be a US citizen. Incurs a 1 year obligation in the Army Reserves for each 6 months (or partial 6 month period) of financial assistance. Upon completion of residency training the applicant must serve in an Army Reserves Troop Program (TPU), Army Medical Department Professional Management Command (APMC) or Individual Mobilization Augmentation (IMA) Program.

 

 

Some Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a US citizen for Regular Army (RA) or a permanent resident for Army Reserve (AR)
  • RA applicants may apply during last 6 months of dental school
  • Working dentists must be licensed to practice dentistry and be a graduate of an ADA-accredited dental school in the US, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or Canada
  • New graduates applying for RA must show proof of sitting for license within 90 days of graduation or proof of license after 90 days of graduation prior to accession.
  • Working dentists must show proof of Federal DEA License

 

Videos:

Watch how the U.S. Army provided the opportunity and newest technologies for this Soldier to become a dental officer. 


 

Watch Dr. Jose Cangas, D.D.S, a Major in the Army Reserves discuss life as an Army Dentists.  

 

Watch this video of Dr. Jenna Godwin, D.M.D, a Captain in the Army discuss life as an Army Dentist and how the Army paid for her schooling.

Factsheets:

Want to learn more about becoming an Army Dentist? Click on "Army Dentist" which will provide information like eligibility, benefits and financial assistance.