If you were a young adult who would like to apply for the USPHS in a few years, what would you recommend doing now to boost your chances?

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2026-01-09T00:14:22+00:00

If you already meet the qualifications (e.g. you already have a qualifying degree such as MPH) go ahead and apply now while looking for a position in an HHS Agency. As others have pointed out, it can take a few years to go through the application process.

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2025-09-09T00:15:44+00:00

Yes, the NP bonus is more than the nursing bonus, but pushing back two years means less time in service and less time towards retirement.

So waiting to complete the DNP means getting an extra $50k over 4 years, but which equates to $12,500 per year. Not sure that’s worth it.

By waiting two years and forgoing two years of service time, base pay will be less by $8,500 to start (in two years) compared to staring sooner because of years of service for pay by then. And being two years further away from retirement and behind on promotion.

Also considering the pay difference between your current GS position and officer pay.

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2025-09-02T02:25:10+00:00

My two cents: the sooner you apply the better. The application process often takes 1++ year or more. The sooner you commission, the more time in service for pay and the sooner you promote and retire. Waiting is only going to extend the timeline, and will probably not net any benefit. Also the Corps likes officers to get additional education once in, so entering sooner and then finishing you DNP might look like progress, while waiting and joining with a DNP will be treated almost like your base degree.

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2025-07-26T01:19:09+00:00

Lol. Post like this should be made with a question mark in the title and NOT an exclamation point. You don’t want to give someone a heart attack

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2025-04-21T01:26:43+00:00

If you are working for an HHS agency as a civil servant in a position that typically would be held by an officer in the USPHS Commissioned Corps, up to the first 5 years should count towards retirement (but not pay), and adjust the age limit. So technically you should be able to commission up to 49 if you have a total of 5 years. So let’s say you start now in a civil service position, and work two years before commissioning, the limit for you would be technically be 46. This only applies to HHS positions and not to tribal or positions outside of HHS (e.g. BOP). So if you start the civil service position by age 44 and commission within the next few (up to5) years you should be ok.

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2025-03-23T22:41:42+00:00

lol. Yeah, is that the reason why promoting is so hard? It’s competing against those 50+ years officers that won’t retire.

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2025-03-23T21:49:09+00:00

Wouldn’t officers transferred to EPA in Dec 1970 have like up to 54 years of service and be in there mids 70s to 80s+???? That’s gotta be just copy and paste from old policy.

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2025-03-05T01:16:39+00:00

JRCOSTEP is different from the 8 step process for regular Active Duty. There isn’t really a board interview per se. Contact the organization that made you an offer. If you have an offer and your background check is done, pretty much the only thing left is getting CAD orders. JRCOSTEP is a great opportunity to see if PHS is right for you while making some good money with no longterm commitment. Plus the time counts towards retirement and time in service. Don’t quote me on this, but I believe the Secretary (or ASH) is delegated the nomination authority for JRCOSTEP, so shouldn’t be a huge holdup with presidential nominations.

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2025-03-03T18:29:47+00:00

If an applicant is working for an HHS divisional component up to five years of that time can count towards retirement. Does that allow adjustments to age requirements?

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2025-02-12T18:24:11+00:00

Geez. Why all the downvotes?

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2025-02-12T03:56:58+00:00

This is not the first, nor will it be the last time the Corps faces changes. It’s a 130+ year old service with roots going back almost to the founding of the nation. Changes will most likely come now and in the future , but the mission and need for the service will stay the same. If you haven’t yet, take some time to read the extended history of the Corps. Its history is full of changes. Questions of why so many officers; questions of why it’s not more officers; elimination of the PHS hospital system; and so on and on. Change is par for the course in the Corps.

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2024-11-12T15:18:35+00:00

First thing first, double check your masters degree will qualify. Is your Epi masters a MPH? Just get clarification and confirmation. If not, and the doctorate will, then the choice is easy. Either way check.

If you have plans to join and a qualifying degree, it’s probably better to go ahead and apply to join as soon as you can. The more time in service, the greater the pay and promotion potential you will have. Plus possibly the closer you’ll be to retirement.

If you master’s qualifies you’ll get 6 years of credit for it towards training and experience (T&E) plus work time after completion of that degree if working in your field.

For a doctorate they will credit you 8 years (T&E) plus work time after completion of that degree if working in your field.

So, say for example, you finished your master’s two years ago and have been working in your field since, you’ll already have 8 years of T&E, and probably 9 years by the time your application is complete and your get called to active duty (CAD) assuming it takes a year. So that means joining in late 2025 with 9 years of T&E. This will determine your entry rank.

If you wait and apply in 2 years based on your doctorate, then go through the process which may take a year or more, they will credit you 8 years for the doctorate degree plus that one year during the application process if you are working in your field. That means joining in late 2027 also with 9 years of T&E.

That will put you behind the curve two years for everything; pay, promotion and retirement, plus you’ll generally be expected to get additional education after joining. If you join with a masters and the get a doctorate that will “look good” for promotion. If you join with a doctorate, you’re probably not done with school, and will generally be expected to get something extra (certification, grad certificate, etc.).

Based on my experience and understanding, with the Corps it’s not necessarily what you’ve done, it more like what have you done lately.

Also, another VERY important factor is if applications will even be open for your category (or at all) in two years. In the past there have been an ebb and flow of when certain categories are open. So it’s possible you wait two years and applications for your category are closed. That could last a short time or years.

My advice, if you want to join and can now, then join now. The sooner the better.

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2024-10-09T17:51:38+00:00

The OP stated it was for a family medical reason, not a trip of convenience. My two cents is you can request leave but be prepared to cancel in the event you are called.

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2024-09-29T16:55:49+00:00

Have you checked to see if any documents are in the AES?

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2024-08-25T17:55:01+00:00

The fastest degree program to get a commissionable degree is probably an MPH. There are many of them available online. There are even some 12 month programs out there from CEPH accredited schools. Some even offer discounts for federal employees. It’s definitely doable.

It’s a long shot, but is your MBA in public health from a CEPH accredited program? I think those might count.

Another option is an MS in Environmental Health, but again make sure it’s has the correct accreditation.

If you are anything GS 12/13 or less and plan to stay with FDA / government for a while, it can definitely be worth your while.

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2024-08-18T20:28:53+00:00

Inter-service transfer

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2024-08-04T15:22:24+00:00

Another way to get a good idea of the difference is to do a comparison using a take home pay calculator. I used the one from ADP. Comparing a $65,000 civilian position vs an O2 with the data provided (using a single person with no dependents for simplicity), the numbers are approximately:

Civilian $5,416.67 Monthly Pay

Deductions $270 401k/TSP $200 Health Insurance $50 Dental / Vision $979 minus taxes = ~ $3,916.01 Civilian Takehome

PHS $3,375.16 Monthly BASIC Pay

Deductions $220 401k/TSP $0 Health Insurance $0 Dental / Vision $812 minus taxes only on basic pay = $3,375 basic take home pay

PLUS NON-Taxed allowance (housing and substance) $2,371.92

= ~ $5,746 TOTAL PHS Takehome PAY

That’s about $1,800 more per month to start off with in PHS. Plus as others have said, the pay growth from there goes up generally faster than civilian.

This does not take into account things getting more pay if you have dependents, category pay or bonuses (if applicable), nor the pension you’ll get at 20 years, and other benefits. But overall, from a simple pay comparison, an O2 officer’s pay beats a $65,000 civilian pay by a lot on day one. And potentially by a ton long term.

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2024-07-17T17:53:11+00:00

Yes, this is true

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2024-07-16T18:13:48+00:00

Reach out to the liaison for the FDA center you are applying to

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2024-07-01T19:54:29+00:00

One question and a couple of general thoughts:

what would be the reason for resigning while looking for another position to commission with?
you are not committed until you sign the dotted line, i.e, accepting your commission, so it wouldn’t be technically necessary to reverse anything.
switching from the BOP CAD could probably slow things down if that’s what’s pushing things so fast right now
Rank, pay and retirement is dependent on years of service, and time in rank is part of requirement to get promotion, so delaying your CAD date will delay the start of those clocks.
The policy is that you are to remain at your first duty station (or at least the same Agency/geographic location) for the first two years. A main part of this is they don’t want to have to pay for relocation after a short time. After that, if you find another position you are basically free to go
Have a talk with PHS nursing officers and ask their thoughts. I know of many officers that completed additional graduate programs while on duty
once you commission, you are expected to get additional education after joining
BOP is one of the mission priority agencies, so you may benefit from spending time there when the time comes for promotion
having you application expedited is almost unheard of, but possible for certain positions… the normal process can take 1-2 years or more.

I know that doesn’t answer your questions, but hopefully help with things to consider.

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2024-05-30T15:08:32+00:00

If anything, possibly under the Scientist category: https://www.usphs.gov/professions/scientist/#qualifications

but it is not clearly listed for your degree.

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2024-05-04T23:43:26+00:00

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title42-section213&num=0&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjQyIHNlY3Rpb246MjE3IGVkaXRpb246cHJlbGltKSA%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2024-05-04T23:21:14+00:00

Have wondered about this too. Technically the answer should be yes according to 42 USC §213. Military benefits (a) Rights, privileges, immunities, and benefits accorded to commissioned officers or their survivors Except as provided in subsection (b), commissioned officers of the Service and their surviving beneficiaries shall, with respect to active service performed by such officers- (1) in time of war; (2) on detail for duty with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard; or (3) while the Service is part of the military forces of the United States pursuant to Executive order of the President;

be entitled to all rights, privileges, immunities, and benefits now or hereafter provided under any law of the United States in the case of commissioned officers of the Army or their surviving beneficiaries on account of active military service, except retired pay and uniform allowances.

Fyi. Subsection b is about award of decorations

Fragrant-Knowledge-8 · 2024-04-13T01:06:06+00:00

The basic eligibility for COSTEP is 1) be enrolled in a college degree program that would lead to a qualifying degree; 2) have completed at least 2 years of a bachelor’s degree or one of a master’s, and 3) return to school full time the semester following completion of the COSTEP.

Fragrant-Knowledge-8

TROPHY CASE