Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) & Financial Assistance Program (FAP) If you are already in or plan to attend school to be a physician, dentist, optometrist, physician assistant or clinical psychologist, the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) will pay your educationally based tuition and fees for up to four years of school and provide a monthly stipend paid directly to you. In addition, all professional school required books and equipment are reimbursed by the Navy. The value of this program could be well over $300,000 during the course of a four-year professional school program. After graduation, you’ll join the Navy’s active duty team as a commissioned officer. In return, you agree to serve a minimum of 2 years on active duty or year for year of scholarship, whichever is longer.
If you are a physician or dentist in residency training for critical medical or dental specialties, the Financial Assistance Program (FAP) will pay your required educationally based tuition, a monthly stipend, reimbursement for required books and equipment, and an annual grant of $45,000.
I. Scholarship Eligibility
To be eligible for an HPSP scholarship, you must be:
● Accepted to or enrolled in an AMA or AOA school of medicine in the US or Puerto Rico.
● Accepted to or enrolled in an ADA school of dentistry in the US or Puerto Rico. ● Accepted to or enrolled in an accredited optometry or physician assistant masters' program in the US or Puerto Rico.
● In your first year of didactic education for a Ph.D. or PsyD degree in clinical psychology from an APA accredited school in the US or Puerto Rico. (Deadline for submitting an application varies, but is not earlier than February of the first year of the didactic portion of the Ph.D/PsyD.)
● A U.S. citizen (dual citizenship is not permitted).
● Physically qualified for commission as a Navy officer.
● Must not have reached the age of 42 at the time of entry on to active duty following completion of your education.
To be eligible for a FAP scholarship, you must be:
● A U.S. Citizen (dual citizenship not permitted).
● Physically qualified for a commission in the U.S. Navy.
● Accepted into an accredited residency training program in an area needed by the Navy. II. Benefits The HPSP/FAP scholarship program has the following benefit:
● Reimbursement for required books, supplies and equipment
● Annual training for HPSP (45 days) and FAP (14 days)
● Tuition payment
● A stipend of $2,999.00/month
● HPSP signing bonus for medical and dental students of $20,000
● FAP grant of $45,000 per year
● Medical and dental health insurance
● Graduate medical and dental education
III. Military Obligation HPSP: Scholarship recipients incur an Active Duty Obligation (ADO) of one year for each year in the program. For periods less than a year, the ADO is six months for each additional six months of participation in the program. Periods of 15 days or more are counted as a 6-month period. The obligation is served in addition to any existing active duty obligation. Appointees who incur an active duty obligation of less than three years will be required to serve a three-year minimum term of service on active duty.
FAP: Scholarship recipients incur a minimum Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) of two (2) years or one-half year for each half year (or portion thereof) of AFHPFAP sponsorship, whichever is greater. Examples:
● For 1-year of AFHPFAP sponsorship, you will incur a 2-year educational ADSO.
● For 2-years of AFHPFAP sponsorship, you will incur a 2-year educational ADSO.
● For 2-years and 3-months of AFHPFAP sponsorship, you will incur a 2-year and 6-month educational ADSO.
● For 2-years and 9-months of AFHPFAP sponsorship, you will incur a 3-year educational ADSO.
● For 3-years of AFHPFAP sponsorship, you will incur a 3-year educational ADSO.
You will not be relieved of any educational ADSO while attending Navy-sponsored post-graduate specialty training. IV. Applying for an HPSP/FAP Scholarship The best time to apply for a four-year scholarship is the Fall before the year you plan to attend professional school. Students already in medical, dental, or optometry school should apply as soon as possible for available scholarships. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis. The application takes about 12–16 weeks to complete. Applications are accepted throughout the year at any time. You can apply before receiving a letter of acceptance to medical or dental school, but you must have your letter of acceptance before you can begin receiving scholarship benefits
America’s Navy is approximately 450,000 Sailors, 300 ships and submarines, and 3,700 aircraft strong. Water and salt flow through our veins in the same proportion as the sea. That mighty force is the lifeblood of the greatest Navy ever to sail unstoppably upon it, slip stealthily beneath it or fly unchallenged above it. And we defend with honor, courage, and commitment every hour of every day. We are America’s Navy. We are forged by the sea.