The agencies and programs where commissioned officers are assigned support both short-term and long-term training.

Short-term training must be approved by the agency or program where the officer works and includes:

• Full-time training that does not exceed 30 consecutive days or a total of 90 calendar days in a fiscal year (October 1 – September 30)
• Part-time training that does not exceed 70 hours in attendance in a 30-day period or a total of 210 hours in attendance in a fiscal year

Long-term training must be approved by the agency or program and the Office of Commissioned Corps Operation. The principal reason for long-term training must be to benefit the U.S. Public Health Service. Long-term training includes:

• All units or courses in a planned educational program leading to an academic degree, whether taken full-time, part-time, continuously, or intermittently
• Training, including internships, residencies, or fellowships that exceeds the period that is specified as short-term training.

USPHS does not have a specific program to facilitate long-term training. Long-term training is approved on a case-by-case basis with the agency the officer is serving.