Scholarship Snapshot
Amount: Varies
Target Country: The United States
Target Audience: Students who are pursuing healthcare professions
Deadline: Rolling
The Navy’s Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP) helps students who are pursuing healthcare professions by providing financial support so they can focus on their studies. The main goal is to prepare them for roles in the Navy Medical Corps (MC), Dental Corps (DC), or Medical Service Corps (MSC).
Unlike ROTC, you don’t need to wear a uniform to class, and it’s not a traditional scholarship; you can apply even if you already have a non-military scholarship.
HSCP is similar to the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) because both provide financial support to medical students with service obligations. However, there are differences:
- Navy Exclusive: HSCP is an exclusive Navy initiative and is unavailable to those aspiring to commissions in other military branches. The Department of the Navy funds HSCP, making it exclusive to individuals interested in Navy service. However, HPSP is a Department of Defense program, allowing participants to potentially explore opportunities in other military branches after completing their education.
- Financial Support: Under HPSP, students attend their designated schools as civilians and receive comprehensive coverage for tuition, fees, and a monthly stipend. In contrast, HSCP students do not receive full tuition and fee coverage but enjoy full military pay and benefits while pursuing their education. Despite this difference in structure, both programs offer a similar total monetary value, with benefits delivered through varying mechanisms.
In short, if you’re interested in a medical career in the Navy with financial support, the Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP) is an option to consider.
Service Obligation
The total commissioned obligation for all designators is 8 years, with at least three years of active duty from the date of commissioning. Medical Corps and Dental Corps selectees must match their active duty years year-for-year, with a minimum of 3 years. Certain programs, like medical internships and specific dental programs, are considered neutral and don’t count toward active duty payback. For Medical Service Corps selectees, the active duty obligation ranges from 3 to 4 years, depending on the program duration.
What are the Benefits of the Navy HSCP?
Upon selection for participation in the Navy HSCP, you will get to enjoy a comprehensive array of benefits, including:
- Monthly Pay and Allowances: You’ll receive a monthly salary and tax-free allowances, which can be over $3,000, depending on your marital status and where your school is located. As an active duty E-6, your monthly military salary will be between $3,280 and $5,610 while you’re in school.
- Healthcare Benefits: You and your immediate family get full medical and dental coverage through TRICARE.
- Competitive Pay: You’ll earn more than students with HPSP scholarships, receiving full military pay and benefits as an active duty E-6 while in school. This includes a housing allowance that can be worth a lot, up to $269,000 at the moment.
- Promotion Opportunities: You have a chance to be promoted to E-7, which means more monthly income.
- Military Retirement Credit: Your time in the program counts toward military retirement, so you start earning retirement benefits even before you serve in the Navy.
- Shopping Discounts: You can shop at military grocery stores and department stores for less.
- Paid Vacation: You get 30 days of paid vacation each year while you’re in the program.
- Free Travel: You can travel worldwide on military planes if there’s space available.
Just remember, you’ll have to cover your tuition, books, and other school expenses. The housing allowance you get depends on where your graduate school is located, with higher amounts in expensive areas.
Who Can Benefit from the Navy HSCP?
The Navy HSCP is designed to support students who are pursuing careers in various medical fields, including:
- Medicine
- Dentistry
- Healthcare Administration
- Environmental Health
- Industrial Hygiene
- Audiology
- Social Work
- Pharmacy
- Occupational Therapy
- Podiatry
- Entomology
- Physician Assistant
Navy HSCP Qualification Requirements
Because of the evident advantages offered by this program, the selection process can become highly competitive.
The Health Services Collegiate Program welcomes applications from both male and female candidates who are citizens of the United States. Enlisted applicants are required to provide a conditional release from active duty, a copy of their enlisted Performance Summary Record (PSR), and their most recent three years of evaluations. On the other hand, officer applicants must submit a conditional resignation from active duty, a copy of their Officer Summary Record (OSR), and their most recent three years of fitness reports.
It is crucial to maintain good academic standing at your medical school. Upon graduation, successful candidates will receive an appointment as an officer in the Medical Corps.
Here are the key eligibility criteria:
- Citizenship: HSCP applicants must be United States citizens with a demonstrated record of good moral character. No exceptions are made for this requirement.
- Age: Applicants must be at least 18 years old and eligible for commissioning by the age of 42. Completing your degree before turning 42 is a mandatory requirement. In some cases, age waivers may be considered for exceptionally qualified individuals. Consult your recruiter for further information.
- Physical Fitness: All applicants must meet the physical standards for appointment as specified in NAVMED P-117. This includes meeting the physical fitness weight and body fat percentage standards at both the time of application and commissioning.
- Education: To meet the education requirements, applicants should be enrolled in or accepted by a recognized college, university, or school specializing in a particular health profession, with online or distance learning degrees not considered.
The completion of degree or certification requirements should fall within specified timeframes of 12, 24, 36, or 48 months after enlisting. Before enlisting, selectees must establish an approved degree or course of study plan to determine their anticipated graduation date.
Maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is mandatory, and students at pass/fail schools must adhere to the academic standards outlined in their degree completion plan. Any changes in majors, schools, or study programs necessitate prior approval from the Officer Community Manager through the Navy Recruiting Command, as failure to obtain such approval may lead to disenrollment.
- Other points to note:
- HSCP is primarily for civilian direct procurement, and seats for active duty or training and administration (TAR) status individuals are limited.
- Medical and dental schools must be accredited by the relevant organizations (Liaison Committee for Medical Education, American Osteopathic Association, and the American Dental Association).
- For Medical Service Corps programs, the institution must meet subspecialty standards specified in Program Authorization 115.
- Participation in non-mandatory co-op or work-study programs that delay graduation may be denied.
- Extensions of expected graduation dates, cessation of classes, changes in majors, participation in exchange programs, or school transfers require prior approval, or disenrollment may occur.
Enlistment into the Navy HSCP
Civilians selected for the program will be enlisted through their local recruiting district and placed on active duty as an E-6, Officer Candidate First Class (OC1) in the Navy near their college.
Military officers who want to join must request a contingent resignation and will be enlisted as an E-7, Officer Candidate Chief Petty Officer (OCCPO) in the Navy.
Enlisted personnel at or below the rank of E-6 will be reenlisted as E-6, Officer Candidate First Class (OC1), while those at or above E-7 will be reenlisted as E-7, Officer Candidate Chief Petty Officer (OCCPO) in the Navy.
No Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders are allowed in this program.
As active duty Navy personnel, HSCP students must stay in touch with their assigned Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG). The NTAG will make sure students meet minimum physical fitness standards and help them understand military life. If a student fails the Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) or loses contact with the designated Officer Community Manager (OCM), the recruiting NTAG will report it to the Navy Recruiting Command (NRC).
Advancement: Program participants can’t take advancement exams. The highest pay grade allowed is E-7, and approval from N13 via NRC is needed. Earning an E-7 is possible for HSCP students who refer people to any medical department officer admission program, giving them a one-time promotion to Officer Candidate Chief Petty Officer (E-7).
Throughout their time in the program, Navy HSCP students must maintain good behavior. Any misconduct, whether civilian or military, during enrollment could lead to immediate removal from the program.
Participants can’t participate in advancement exams. The maximum authorized pay grade is E-7, and it requires approval from the Director of Military Personnel Plans and Policy (OPNAV N13) via COMNAVCRUITCOM. HSCP students who recommend people admitted to any medical department officer admission program can get a one-time promotion to OCCPO (E-7).
Conclusion
If the Navy HSCP interests you, you can continue by getting in touch with your local Navy Medical Officer recruiter. They possess the latest program information and can aid in determining if this opportunity suits your needs.
