Medical Service Corps In-Service Procurement Program (MSC-IPP)

Thinking about a career in the U.S. Navy Medical Service Corps. Take a close look at the Medical Service Corps (MSC) In-Service Procurement Program (IPP).

The U.S. Navy is committed to strong medical care for its people. To support that mission, the Navy offers programs that strengthen the medical team. One option is the Navy MSC-IPP. It lets enlisted personnel already serving finish school and become officers in the Navy Medical Service Corps.

MSC-IPP gives enlisted service members in paygrades E-5 to E-9 a path to become Medical Service Corps officers. The program is laid out in OPNAVINST 1420.1B.

It supports both undergraduate and graduate education. Approved fields include Health Care Administration, Physician Assistant, Environmental Health, Entomology, Radiation Health, Industrial Hygiene, Pharmacy, Occupational Therapy, and Social Work.

Through Duty Under Instruction (DUINS), qualified service members can earn a fully funded degree. Active-duty status continues during the training period.

The program sets clear standards for eligibility, funding, and academic performance. It also provides access to the benefits of an MSC officer career.

Qualified candidates may apply for direct commission or for training. Multiple medical disciplines are included, such as medical lab science and pharmacy.

Basic Program Requirements

Below are the basic requirements for applying for the MSC-IPP. The criteria below are current as of September 2023, per the Navy Personnel Command. No updates have been issued thus far.

MSC-IPP Education Requirements

Standardized Test Policy

This Navy program does not require standardized test results. The only exception is the Physician Assistant option. Before an acceptance letter is issued, degree-granting schools may still require test scores. That step depends on each school.

The requirements below match Navy Personnel Command criteria as of September 2023. No updates have been issued thus far.

Health Care Administrator

Direct Admission Degree Rules

Direct admission requires a baccalaureate or graduate degree that meets prerequisites. The Director, Medical Service Corps, may grant limited waivers for exceptional candidates. Those waivers apply to degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Acceptable Bachelor’s Degrees

Candidates who meet HCA training prerequisites ought to hold a baccalaureate degree.

Qualifying bachelor’s degrees include:

• Health care administration
• Management or administration of health services
• A relevant business or management discipline

These areas of study are also deemed acceptable:

• Public administration
• Accounting
• Information systems management
• Logistics
• Personnel (human resources)
• Materials management
• Finance

GPA Requirement

Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Acceptable Graduate Degrees

These graduate qualifications are acceptable:

• Health care administration
• Health services administration
• Hospital administration
• Public health administration with a concentration in health care administration
• Business administration with a concentration in health care administration

Accreditation and Exceptions

To qualify for entry-level credit, a degree must have accreditation. On a case-by-case basis, candidates without a qualifying degree may be considered for HCA training.

Graduate Training Acceptance Letter

Applicants seeking graduate level training must submit a letter of acceptance. The program must be full time and in-resident, when full-time out-of-service training is permitted.

The graduate program must hold accreditation by one of these bodies:

• Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
• Council on Education on Public Health (CEPH)
• National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration

Physician Assistant

Education Minimums and Transferable Credit

Applicants must have a high school diploma or an equivalency certificate.

A minimum of 60 semester hours of fully transferable college credit is required. The credits must be in:

• Physical sciences
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Biology
• Chemistry

These credits may be applied toward completing a qualifying degree.

GPA and SAT Requirements

• A cumulative minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale is mandatory.
• All science and biology courses must earn a 3.0.
• Applicants must submit SAT scores prior to acceptance.
• A minimum SAT math score of 500 is required.

Course Format Rules for Prerequisites

Prerequisites include 30 of the 60 semester hours. These prerequisite hours must be completed through residence (classroom) courses.

CLEP validation is not accepted for prerequisites. On joint service transcripts, only baccalaureate credits are admitted. These hours count as in-residence hours.

Required Coursework

The requirements include:

• Medical terminology: 2 semester hours minimum
• English composition: 6 semester hours
• Chemistry: 6 semester hours
• Anatomy and physiology (A&P): 6 semester hours
• Humanities and social sciences
• Psychology: 3 semester hours
• Algebra: 3 semester hours

Timing Rules

Prerequisite courses must be complete no later than the annual application deadline. Prerequisites must also fall within the last ten years.

Remaining 30 Semester Hours

The 30 semester hours that are left can be either distance learning or in-person general education credits. The fully transferable conditions must be met for all credits.

Distance learning courses require completion for credit with proctored examinations. The biological and chemical sciences section should have a minimum of 18 semester hours.

Substitutions and Credit Notes

The Hospital Corps Independent Duty Tech courses, when successfully completed, can be an equivalent of six semester hours of chemistry. Additionally, they meet the 30-hour requirement and the six semester hours of A&P prerequisites.

CLEP credit is acceptable but doesn’t apply to the required core courses.

Transcript Submission Requirements

Applicants must give NMLPDC a full list of every institution attended. Applicants must also state they plan to submit official transcripts for evaluation.

All official transcripts must be submitted to NMLPDC by the deadline listed in the annual IPP NAVADMIN.

The degree-granting institution will review transcripts to confirm academic eligibility. NMLPDC will notify applicants of eligibility after the transcript review.

Radiation Health Officer

Degree Completion Track Requirements

Applicants working toward baccalaureate degree completion must submit:

• A letter of acceptance from an accredited institution
• A degree completion plan
• 60 semester hours of fully transferable college credit

This credit must apply toward a qualifying degree in one of these fields:

• Radiation health
• Health physics
• Radiobiology
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Engineering
• Nuclear engineering
• Biology

Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Bachelor’s Degree Requirements

Applicants holding baccalaureate degrees must have a degree from an accredited university or college in one of these fields:

• Radiation health
• Health physics
• Radiobiology
• Radiological science
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Engineering
• Nuclear engineering
• Biology

Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Graduate Degree Preference and Acceptance Letter

Priority goes to applicants who plan to finish a qualifying graduate degree before commissioning.

Applicants must provide a letter of acceptance or a letter of tentative acceptance. The letter must be for a medical physics or health physics graduate program at an accredited institution.

Medical physics programs must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs.

Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Environmental Health Officer

Applicants need a baccalaureate degree in environmental health. A related degree may qualify with heavy science coursework.

Required coursework includes physical sciences, biology, chemistry, and physics. It also includes epidemiology, statistics, and life sciences.

Applicants must have 60 semester hours of fully transferable college credit. That credit must apply toward finishing the baccalaureate degree.

Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Preference is given to applicants with one of these:

• Registered Environmental Health Specialist or Registered Sanitarian credential
• Certified in Public Health credential
• Two or more years of full-time, paid environmental health experience

Eligible environmental health areas include:

• General environmental health, including contamination control
• Environmental microbiology
• Inspections
• Food protection
• Potable water
• Facility inspections
• Vector and pest control
• Occupational safety and health

Specific prerequisites and degrees are required for graduate-level training.

Applicants must have a Bachelor of Science degree in one of these areas:

• Epidemiology
• Statistics
• Life sciences
• Physical sciences, including biology, chemistry, and physics
• An environmental health-aligned engineering program
• Environmental sciences and statistics

The degree must be from a regionally accredited university or college.

Applicants must provide an acceptance letter or a tentative acceptance letter. The letter must be from a university accredited by CEPH or the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council.

The graduate program must be full-time and resident. It must be one of these:

• Master of Public Health with a concentration in environmental health
• Master of Science in environmental health

Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Industrial Hygiene Officer: Education and Degree Requirements

These education rules set a clear bar for entry. They focus on strong science work, steady grades, and fast degree completion. The same core science standards apply across applicant types.

Degree Completion Track: Applicants Finishing a Bachelor’s Degree

Required College Credit and School Documents

Applicants must present a letter of acceptance and a degree completion plan. The school must be a regionally accredited college or university.

Candidates must also hold 60 semester hours of fully transferable college credit. That credit must apply toward the completion of a Bachelor of Science degree.

Degree completion must be possible within 24 months.

Acceptable Majors for the Bachelor of Science

The Bachelor of Science major must be in one of the following areas:

• Industrial hygiene
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Physical sciences
• Physics
• Engineering with an industrial hygiene focus

Mandatory Science Coursework

All candidates must complete the coursework listed below:

• Chemistry: two academic years, including inorganic and organic, with lab work
• Biology: one year
• Calculus: one semester
• Physics: one semester
• Pure science: at least 40 semester hours

GPA Standard

Applicants must hold a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Applicants Who Already Hold a Baccalaureate Degree

Degree Field Requirement

Applicants must hold a degree from a reputable university or college. The degree must concentrate in one of these areas:

• Industrial hygiene
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Physical sciences
• Physics
• Engineering aligned with industrial hygiene

Mandatory Science Coursework

All applicants must meet the same baseline science preparation:

• Chemistry: two academic years, including inorganic and organic, with lab work
• Biology: one year
• Calculus: one semester
• Physics: one semester
• Pure science: at least 40 semester hours

GPA Standard

Applicants must hold a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Graduate-Level Applicants

Degree Requirement

Graduate-level applicants must hold a Bachelor of Science degree. The program must be from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

The degree concentration must align with industrial hygiene, including:

• Industrial hygiene-aligned engineering
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Physical sciences
• Physics

Mandatory Science Coursework

All candidates must meet the same science coursework minimums:

• Chemistry: two academic years, including inorganic and organic, with lab work
• Biology: one year
• Calculus: one semester
• Physics: one semester
• Pure science: at least 40 semester hours

GPA Standard

Applicants must hold a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Preferred Academic Backgrounds

Preference is given to candidates with academic backgrounds in:

• Environmental health
• Public health
• Occupational safety and health
• Industrial hygiene

Graduate Program Acceptance Requirement

Applicants must submit a letter of acceptance or a letter of provisional acceptance. The letter must come from an institution accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology in industrial hygiene (www.abet.org). The admission must be to a full-time graduate program in industrial hygiene.

Quick Reference Table

Occupational Therapist

Applicants pursuing a qualifying graduate degree must submit an acceptance letter. A tentative acceptance letter also meets the requirement.

The letter must be for a full-time occupational therapy graduate program. The university must hold occupational therapy accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.

Clinical Social Worker

Degree Requirement for Fellowship

Applicants for the 24-month post-graduate supervised social work fellowship must hold an MSW. The MSW must come from a Graduate School of Social Work accredited by the Council of Social Work Education.

The MSW must be completed before the annual application deadline. The deadline appears in the annual MSC-IPP NAVADMIN.

Preferred Background

Candidates with a clinical background receive preference. Strong candidates show solid MSW coursework and or practice experience in:

• Adult behavioral health disorder diagnosis
• Evaluation
• Evidence-based treatment

Licensing Requirement

In states that license post-MSW professionals, applicants must hold a post-graduate social worker license or an equivalent credential.

Entomologist

Applicants pursuing a qualifying graduate degree must provide an acceptance letter. A tentative acceptance letter also meets the requirement.

The letter must be for a full-time graduate entomology program at an approved university.

Applicants must hold a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Medical Laboratory Scientist

Certification and Degree Requirement

Applicants must hold a current Medical Laboratory Scientist certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

Applicants must also hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in one of these fields from an accredited university:

• Medical Technology (MT)
• Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS)
• Medical Laboratory Science (MLS)
• A natural science

Science Coursework and GPA Standards

Applicants must complete four college-level courses in the natural, chemical, or biological sciences. These courses must be completed after the Enlisted Medical Laboratory Technician program.

A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for those courses.

A minimum GPA of 3.0 is also required for the applicant’s core MT, CLS, or MLS science coursework.

Experience Requirement

Within the past six years, candidates must complete at least three years of experience. The experience must be direct and officer-supervised in a medical treatment facility.

Research and veterinary laboratory experience do not count toward this requirement.

Pharmacist

Applicants pursuing a qualifying degree before commissioning must submit a letter of acceptance. The acceptance must be to a Doctor of Pharmacy program.

The program must be accredited by a nationally recognized pharmacy accreditation agency.

Applicants must be able to complete the Doctor of Pharmacy degree within 48 consecutive months.

Applicants must hold a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

License or National Registry Certification Requirements

MSC specialties, pharmacists, occupational therapists, clinical social workers, and physician assistants must hold proper licensure or certification. This must happen before commissioning or within one year after commissioning.

Licensure or certification must come from the correct certifying body. It can also come from a state, territory, or the District of Columbia. The exact requirement follows the normal rules of the specialty.

Each person pays all costs for getting and keeping the license or certification. That includes renewals and any related fees.

Applicants must provide a written statement. The statement confirms they understand these requirements before appointment.

Who May Apply

This program is open to certain personnel at the time of application. Eligible applicants include:

• Active duty enlisted Sailors
• Active duty enlisted Marines
• Navy Training and Administration of the Reserve (TAR) personnel

Eligibility applies to any rating or military occupation specialty. It applies to paygrades E-5 through E-9.

Some groups cannot apply. Ineligible applicants include those in:

• Individual Ready Reserve
• Active duty for specific duties
• Active service for training
• One to three year recalls
• Active Reserve Marines

Upon Selection

Direct commissions and graduates of training programs will be commissioned in the U.S. Navy Staff Corps, designator 2300. The officer grade will match the member’s level of education.

Entry-level credit will be granted under DOD Instruction 6000.13 (December 30, 2015), Accession and Retention Policies, Programs, and Incentives for Military Health Professions Officers.

Officer Development School

All commissioned officers will attend the next available class at Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, Rhode Island.

ODS is a five-week program. It gives a focused and demanding introduction to the duties of Navy Staff Corps Officers. ODS is held at the Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center in Newport, Rhode Island.

After ODS, officers will be assigned to a Medical Service Corps (MSC) specialty. Officers will then attend the technical school for their MSC specialty.

Technical schools range from 6 weeks to 18 months, based on the specialty. After technical school, officers will be assigned to a Navy medical treatment facility or another command. Assignments follow the specialty and the needs of the Navy.

Service Obligation

Selectees who receive a direct commission will have an eight-year service requirement. At least three years must be on active duty. The remaining time will be in the Inactive Ready Reserve.

Those who enter a training program must serve active duty based on training time. They must serve a minimum of three years on active duty for the first year, or any part of the first year, of training. They must serve six months for each additional six months, or any part of six months, of training.

Selectees who start training must reenlist for six years from instructions to train. The reenlistment basis must be stated as: “Training (Health Care Administration IPP, MSC; Physician Assistant IPP, MSC)” or another appropriate program.

This statement should be inserted: “I understand that upon selection for the IPP (as appropriate), this agreement becomes binding and may not thereafter be canceled except as provided by the MILPERSMAN 1306-106,”

Before transfer, orders will be issued contingent on reenlistment. If an applicant who receives orders does not want to reenlist to qualify, the commanding officer and NMLPDC should be notified promptly.

Selectees will keep their enlisted status. They will remain eligible for rating advancement through the Navy advancement system. Payment of the selective reenlistment bonus is not permitted for selectees who reenlist to meet this required service condition.

Selectees who meet or complete degree requirements but do not commission will remain enlisted in the Navy or Navy Reserve. They will be made available for general assignment to serve the time left on their present duty.

If a selectee cannot fulfill the service requirement, the selectee must reimburse the United States for educational costs.

Commissioned officers must serve ten years of active commissioned service per Title 10 U.S. Code 8323 to be eligible to retire as an officer.

More Information

To get further guidance, current enlisted personnel interested in pursuing a commission through the MSC-IPP should visit the MSC-IPP website.

Below is the contact information for the MSC-IPP:

Naval Medical Leader & Professional Development Command ATTN – HMDT 16th Floor 8955 Wood Road Bethesda, MD 20889-5611 Phone: (301) 319-4520 (DSN 285-4520) 301-295-0925 (DSN 295-0925)

Those who already qualify for any Medical Service Corps specialty may contact a local naval officer recruiter for help with commissioning application.

Here are other Navy enlisted to officer programs that may interest you:

• Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program (MECP)
• Human Resources In-Service Procurement Program

Hope this helped you with your career planning.