Submitted by: David Bye, PharmD, BCGP
USPHS Commissioned Corps Junior (JR) and Senior (SR) Commissioned Officer Student Training Extern Program’s (COSTEP) annual open application period is opening soon.
COSTEPs are highly competitive, active-duty uniformed service programs for full-time students pursuing their qualifying degrees. Please visit Officer & Student Training Programs for further information on COSTEP.
JRCOSTEP
Junior COSTEPs serve on active duty for 31-120 days during school breaks. Within three months after the date of completion of the JRCOSTEP assignment, applicants must be scheduled to return to college or university as a full-time student; or enter a postgraduate degree program.
Application acceptance period is June 1 – July 31, 2023.
JRCOSTEP applications will be accepted now for active-duty assignments the following year. Please refer applicants to the following resources before they apply: JRCOSTEP policy, CCMIS JRCOSTEP FAQs, and JRCOSTEP FAQs.
SRCOSTEP
Senior COSTEPs serve on active duty while attending their final year of academic study and incur a service obligation equal to twice the time sponsored upon graduation. Please refer applicants to the following resources before they apply: SRCOSTEP policy, CCMIS SRCOSTEP FAQs, and SRCOSTEP FAQs.
SRCOSTEP applications will be accepted for students who are graduating in 2025 or early 2026 with a degree in the following disciplines: medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, psychology, veterinary medicine, environmental health, engineering, speech-language pathology, audiology, research science, or occupational, physical, or respiratory therapy..
Application acceptance period is June 1 – September 30, 2023.
As of June 1, 2022, SRCOSTEP participants are also subject to the Commissioned Service Obligation upon graduation. Please review the CSO CCMIS FAQs.
Any additional questions regarding the current COSTEP open application period can be submitted to PHSCostep@hhs.gov.