Commissioned Corps Management Information Site

What is SRCOSTEP?

SRCOSTEP is the Senior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program. The U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps created SRCOSTEP to encourage qualified students to consider a career in the USPHS Commissioned Corps. SRCOSTEP enables students in accredited programs that lead to a degree (in specific recruiting fields) to become officers in the Ready Reserve Corps (and be paid) while completing their final year of education. SRCOSTEP enables students to gain experience and training in a professional environment while furthering their professional education.

What does the student gain by being in SRCOSTEP?

Students in SRCOSTEP receive full pay and allowances as Ensigns (pay grade O 1 or O-1E if they have prior active duty enlisted uniformed service of at least four years and a day). Their entitlements while in SRCOSTEP are the same as for other Corps officers serving on active duty – including health care benefits (TRICARE), Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), annual leave, base/post exchange and commissary privileges, and Common Access Cards (CAC).

SRCOSTEP officers are not eligible for disability retirement, special pays, or severance pay provisions while on active duty for training.

Who can apply to SRCOSTEP?

An applicant must:

Be a citizen of the United States.

Meet the medical standards prescribed for appointment to active duty as a career officer.

Meet the age requirement and other appointment standards found in General Appointment Standards (CCI 231.01) except for requirements that would not apply to a current student.

Be enrolled in good standing in a postsecondary school in an accredited program leading to a degree that qualifies for the USPHS Commissioned Corps as delineated in the Category Specific Appointment Standards (CCI 231.03). The student must be in the final year of a graduate or undergraduate program.

Be free of any obligation or commitment that would conflict with active duty as a commissioned officer in the USPHS Commissioned Corps.

Note that an applicant does not have to have to be a former member of JRCOSTEP to apply for SRCOSTEP. The two programs are completely separate.

How are students selected for SRCOSTEP?

Agency and/or program officials sponsoring SRCOSTEP officers will select applicants on the basis of their qualifications and the expected needs of the USPHS Commissioned Corps. The competitive selection process reviews the applicant’s transcripts, GPA, resume, references, security check, and medical status.

How long can a student stay in SRCOSTEP?

The SRCOSTEP training must last a minimum of eight months of schooling, and must not last longer than 18 months of schooling. If the student has met all the requirements and submitted all necessary paperwork on time, but could not start SRCOSTEP until less than eight months before graduation due to delays on the part of the USPHS Commissioned Corps, the program/Agency, the school, or other government organizations, then the student can choose between starting SRCOSTEP late (with less than eight months before the end of schooling) or applying the SRCOSTEP paperwork to an application to join the Regular Corps after graduation and licensing.

What are the obligations of SRCOSTEP officers?

As officers in the USPHS Commissioned Corps, SRCOSTEP officers must follow the policies and rules of the USPHS Commissioned Corps, except for those that do not apply to SRCOSTEP officers and/or members of the Ready Reserve Corps. They do not have to wear the uniform unless otherwise specified by the Director, CCHQ. Prior to being appointed to the USPHS Commissioned Corps, the applicant must sign an extramural training agreement (form PHS-6373) that sets forth his/her active duty obligation (ADO)

SRCOSTEP officers are full-time students whose assignment is their studies. SRCOSTEP officers need approval from their supervisor for any outside paid employment while school is in session and cannot accept any other paid government position while in SRCOSTEP. If the Agency supervisor of a SRCOSTEP officer determines that the officer’s non‑academic activities are interfering with his/her academic success in class, the supervisor can order the officer to suspend those activities until the officer demonstrates satisfactory academic work.

What happens after a SRCOSTEP officer graduates?

Before graduation, SRCOSTEP officers will undergo a category appointment review board when they are ready to be called to duty to the Regular Corps after they obtain their qualifying degree. Then, after graduation, SRCOSTEP graduates immediately assimilate into the Regular Corps and begin serving their Active Duty Obligation of twice the time in SRCOSTEP or six months, whichever is greater, to the Corps and the OPDIV/Agency/Program that sponsored them.

Officers who are required to have a license remain in the Ready Reserve at the temporary grade of O-1 during the first 12 months after graduation until licensure is obtained. While in this status, graduates must report directly to their Agency/program to participate in training, prepare for their licensing exam, and work under supervision. This time counts toward retirement, training, and education, and fulfillment of the ADO. If the officer achieves licensure during this time and is fully qualified, he/she assimilates to the Regular Corps retroactively, effective as of the date of the Conversion to General Duty.

Graduates of medical schools will need a license waiver if they cannot obtain a license within 12 months or if they have to complete Post-Graduate Year 1 first. If the officer remains unlicensed or not qualified at the end of this 12-month period (or 12 months from the time the officer is eligible, under the state’s rules, to take the final test for licensure), the USPHS Commissioned Corps will terminate his/her commission and CCHQ will initiate debt collection unless CCHQ agrees to an extension of this deadline.

After a SRCOSTEP graduates, can the deadline to obtain licensure be extended?

Yes. A SRCOSTEP has one year to obtain licensure after graduating; however, the Director, CCHQ may extend this deadline. The extension cannot be longer than two years.

After completing training, how long must a SRCOSTEP officer wait before he/she can pursue additional graduate education or residency?

A. Unless the Surgeon General determines that this requirement should be waived in the best interest of the Corps, an officer must serve in an assignment (other than training) for a minimum of two years before the Corps permits him or her to pursue any additional graduate education or residency.

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