Job Requirements

Basic Requirements

U.S. native or naturalized citizen
Less than 44 years of age (this may be adjusted upward for current/prior active duty service)
Licensed clinical social workers and psychologists must be under the age of 44 at the time of their commission, although age waivers may be given based on consideration of advanced training, certain duty assignments, and specialty requirements.
Psychiatrists must be under the age of 51 at the time of their commission if they are currently board certified in psychiatry and psychology, respectively. Additionally, age waivers may be given to those without current board certification based on consideration of advanced training, certain duty assignments, and specialty requirements.
Meet current medical and security requirements

Degrees and Licensure

Profession	Degrees	Licensure/Certification
Licensed Clinical Social Work	Master’s or doctorate level degree from an accredited program, usually approved in American Universities and Colleges (published by the American Council on Education)	Hold a current professional license that allows for independent clinical social work practice
Psychiatrist	One of the following degrees: M.D. from a U.S. program that is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association (AMA) D.O. degree from a program that is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Candidates who are graduates of medical schools that are not located within a U.S. State or territory or other jurisdiction, or a Province or Territory of Canada, must be certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. You must also have: Successful completion of one year of postgraduate medical education (internship or first year of residency training) in a program which, at the time the training was undertaken, was accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education of the American Medical Assocation	N/A
Psychologist	Must have a qualifying doctoral degree in clinical psychology from an American Psychological Association accredited university or professional psychology program. An APA accredited pre-doctoral internship may be required for assignments in some agencies, but it is not required for all PHS assignments.	A current, unrestricted, and valid license in any of the 50 states; Washington, DC; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; the U.S. Virgin Islands; or Guam

Profession

Degrees

Licensure/Certification

Licensed Clinical Social Work

Master’s or doctorate level degree from an accredited program, usually approved in American Universities and Colleges (published by the American Council on Education)

Hold a current professional license that allows for independent clinical social work practice

Psychiatrist

One of the following degrees:

M.D. from a U.S. program that is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association (AMA)
D.O. degree from a program that is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
Candidates who are graduates of medical schools that are not located within a U.S. State or territory or other jurisdiction, or a Province or Territory of Canada, must be certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.

You must also have:

Successful completion of one year of postgraduate medical education (internship or first year of residency training) in a program which, at the time the training was undertaken, was accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education of the American Medical Assocation

N/A

Psychologist

Must have a qualifying doctoral degree in clinical psychology from an American Psychological Association accredited university or professional psychology program.
An APA accredited pre-doctoral internship may be required for assignments in some agencies, but it is not required for all PHS assignments.

A current, unrestricted, and valid license in any of the 50 states; Washington, DC; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; the U.S. Virgin Islands; or Guam

Page Last Modified on 7/11/2012

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Job Requirements