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Navy Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)

What is HPSP?
The Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program is a program that will enable you to obtain a fully funded education in the fields of Medicine, Dentistry, Podiatry, Physician Assistance or Optometry and a commission in the Navy. In this program, 100% of your tuition, required school fees (excluding housing and meals), required books and equipment are paid. A $1,907 per month stipend is paid when not on Active Duty, and 45 days of Active Duty pay and benefits (as an Ensign/O-1) are given per year. The amount of Active Duty pay varies based on your marital status and prior military experience, but is generally in excess of $4500 for the period.

In addition to these benefits, a $20,000 signing bonus is paid to individuals signing up for the medical or dental HPSP programs! In return for these benefits, participants agree to serve on Active Duty not in a training status one year for every year of participation, with a minimum service obligation of 4 years on Active duty if the signing bonus is taken and 3 years if not.

What does it take to qualify for this program?
To qualify for this program you must: 1) Be accepted to or enrolled in an accredited school of Medicine, Dentistry, Podiatry, Optometry or a Masters Program in Physician Assistant Studies in the United States or Canada. You can apply to the HPSP program at the same time you apply for school (and we encourage you to do this), but final selection will occur upon acceptance to school. 2) Be a U. S. citizen. 3) Be physically qualified for commission as an Officer in the Navy.

What are Clerkships?
While in school, you must apply each year for a temporary active duty Navy clerkship. One of your clerkships will be Officer Development School (ODS, formerly Officer Indoctrination School) at Newport, RI, where you will get basic information on being a Naval Officer. Clinical clerkships last about 45 days, during which time you will receive full Navy pay and allowances. During clerkships you learn about Navy Health Care, and travel at Navy expense. If your school curriculum will not permit you to spend all 45 days at a Navy medical facility, you may take part of your clerkship at your school. You will still receive your full pay and allowances.

Graduate Medical/Dental Education (Internship and Residency). Medical school scholarship students are required to apply for graduate medical education at a military training hospital in the fall of the year prior to graduation from school. If selected, you’ll be called to active duty and assigned to an internship at a Navy hospital. Students may also apply for a deferment to perform residency training in civilian programs. You’ll serve your active duty obligation after you complete your internship and/or residency. If not selected for a residency immediately following internship, you may be assigned to work in the Fleet as a General Medical Officer, performing submarine or aerospace medicine, or duty aboard a Navy ship, with the Fleet Marine Force, or in a Navy hospital. Dental students may apply for an ADA accredited Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD), General Practice Residency (GPR) program or be assigned directly to a dental treatment facility. A few dental students will be given the opportunity to get straight through residency training based on Dental Corps needs for the specialty.

How can you apply or learn more?
The HPSP website

You can also contact a local recruiter – LT Stacy L. Henderson, MSC, USN – stacy.l.henderson@navy.mil or
(224) 374–5870.