Chapter 2: Eligibility, Ineligibility, and Appointment Guidelines
Table 2.5 Service Credit On Appointment Or Designation As A Biomedical Sciences Corps (BSC), Medical Service Corps (MSC), Or Nurse Corps (NC) Officer.
| Rule | If appointing or designating an individual as a | and they have completed | then the amount of service credit awarded is (see note 1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | nurse | a masters degree (MS) in nursing | 24 months. |
| 2 | nurse | a doctorate (doctor of philosophy (Ph.D)) degree in nursing | 48 months (see note 2). |
| 3 | nurse | a MS program for nurse anesthesia | 24 months (see note 3). |
| 4 | nurse | a MS program for nurse midwifery | 24 months. |
| 5 | nurse | a MS program for women’s health care nurse practitioner, or obstetrics, gynecology (OBGYN) nurse practitioner | 24 months (see note 3). |
| 6 | nurse | a MS program for pediatric nurse practitioner | 24 months (see note 3). |
| 7 | nurse | a MS program for family nurse practitioner | 24 months (see note 3). |
| 8 | bioenvironmental engineer | a MS degree in engineering or industrial hygiene | 12 to 24 months (see note 4) |
| 9 | bioenvironmental engineer | a Ph.D. degree in engineering | 48 months (see note 2). |
| 10 | medical entomologist | a MS degree in entomology | 24 months. |
| 11 | medical entomologist | a Ph.D. degree in entomology | 48 months (see note 2). |
| 12 | biomedical laboratory officer | a MS degree in a field listed in paragraph 8.4.1.2 | 24 months. |
| 13 | biomedical laboratory officer | a Ph.D. degree in a field listed in paragraph 8.4.1.2 | 48 months (see note 2). |
| 14 | biomedical laboratory officer | a clinical laboratory certification program | 12 months (see note 5). |
| 15 | aerospace physiologist | a MS degree in physiology, zoology, or related degree acceptable to HQ USAF/SG | 24 months. |
| 16 | aerospace physiologist | a Ph.D. degree in physiology, zoology, or related degree acceptable to HQ USAF/SG | 48 months (see note 2). |
| 17 | health physicist | a MS degree in health physics, radiobiology, radiological physics, or related degree acceptable to HQ USAF/SG | 24 months. |
| 18 | health physicist | a Ph.D. degree in health physics, radiobiology, radiological physics, or related degree acceptable to HQ USAF/SG | 48 months (see note 2). |
| 19 | clinical psychologist | a Ph.D. in psychology | 48 months (see note 6). |
| 20 | clinical psychologist | a clinical psychology internship | 12 months (see notes 6 and 7). |
| 21 | clinical social worker | a Master of Social Work degree | 24 months. |
| 22 | clinical social worker | a Doctor of Social Work degree | 48 months (see note 2). |
| 23 | dietitian | a dietetic internship | 9 months. |
| 24 | occupational therapist | occupational therapy field work level II after receiving a baccalaureate degree and/or career mobility plan | 6 months (see note 8). |
| 25 | physical therapist | physical therapy clinical education | 12 months (see note 8). |
| 26 | pharmacist | a BS degree in pharmacy from an accredited 5-year program | 12 months. |
| 27 | pharmacist | a Master of Pharmacy degree | 1 year for each school year, not to exceed 24 months. |
| 28 | pharmacist | a Ph.D. degree in pharmacy or a Doctor of Pharmacy degree | 48 months (see note 2). |
| 29 | pharmacist | a pharmacy residency accredited by the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists | 12 months (see note 9). |
| 30 | optometrist | a Doctor of Optometry degree | 48 months. |
| 31 | biomedical specialist | a MS degree in audiology, speech therapy, or speech pathology | 24 months. |
| 32 | biomedical specialist | a Ph.D. degree in audiology, speech therapy, or speech pathology | 48 months (see note 2). |
| 33 | podiatrist | a Doctor of Podiatry degree | 48 months. |
| 34 | podiatrist | a podiatry residency accredited by the American Podiatry Association and the Council on Podiatric Medicine Education | 12 months. |
| 35 | physical assistant(PA) | a post baccalaureate PA specialist training program acceptable to HQ USAF/SG | 12 to 24 months (see note 4) |
| 36 | environmental health officer | a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree | 48 months. |
| 37 | environmental health officer | a MS in public health | 12 to 24 months (see note 4) |
| 38 | chiropractor | a doctoral degree from a chiropractic college approved by the Council on Chiropractic Education and acceptable to HQ USAF/SG | 48 months. |
| 39 | health services administrator | a master’s or Ph.D degree in health business or public administration, computer science, engineering, planning, or related degree as determined by HQ AFPC/DPAMF or HQ ARPC/DAO | 1 year for each school year, not to exceed 24 months for masters degree or 48 months for a doctorate degree (see note 10). |
| 40 | officer in all specialties | a master’s or doctorate degree in a field listed in Table 2.7 | 1 year for each school year, not to exceed 24 months for masters degree or 48 months for a doctorate degree (see note 10). |
| 41 | officer in all specialties | full time professional experience in the specialty in which appointed when the experience is accrued after obtaining the qualifying degree or license | ½ year for each year of experience up to a maximum of 3 years (see notes 11 and 14). |
| 42 | officer in all specialties | full time special professional experience in the specialty in which appointed when the experience is accrued after obtaining the qualifying degree or license | 1 year for each year (see notes 12 and 14). |
| 43 | officer in all specialties | service on active duty or in an active status as a commissioned officer in any of the uniformed services, in the corps or professional specialty in which being appointed | 1 year for each year served. |
| 44 | officer in all specialties | service as a commissioned officer in an active status while participating in an education or training program that would qualify for credit in the specialty under rules 1 through 38 | 1 year for each year (or school year). |
| 45 | officer in all specialties | service on active duty or in an active status as a commissioned officer in any of the uniformed services, but not in the corps or professional specialty in which being appointed | ½ year for each year (see note 13). |
| 46 | officer in all specialties | commissioned service on active duty or in an active status while participating in an educational program leading to appointment in the BSC/MSC/NC corps | 1 year for each year(see note 1). |
NOTE:
In computing service, count a period of time or qualification only once. Proportionately credit, to the nearest day, qualifying periods of less than 1 year. Limit total service credit awarded to 14 years unless granted a waiver according to paragraph 2.18.2Do not award graduates of the USMA, USNA, or USAFA any credit for education, training, service, or experience they gained before graduating from the academy.
No additional credit is authorized for a master's level degree in the same or related field.
Must also be nationally certified by the applicable specialty board.
Depending on the official length of the program, award an applicant 12 to 24 months credit for a master’s degree. EXAMPLE: 1 year for each school year not to exceed 24 months. HQ AFPC/DPAM, ANG/MPP, or HQ ARPC/DAO, as appropriate, determines the amount of credit awarded.
Do not grant credit under rule 13 if credit has been granted under rule 11 or 12, or if certification is required for award of the baccalaureate degree.
If the applicant's Ph.D program required the applicant to complete a 1-year clinical psychology internship for award of the doctorate, do not award credit for completing the internship. The maximum credit this applicant may receive is 48 months.
Award 48 months service credit to an individual accepted for the USAF Clinical Psychology Internship Program who has not received a Ph.D. in psychology.
Do not award any credit to individuals who complete clinical internship affiliation or residency training as part of their baccalaureate program.
Do not award any credit for completing the residency to an applicant whose master's of pharmacy or PharmD degree program required the 1-year residency for award of the degree. The maximum credit this applicant may receive is 24 months.10. HQ AFPC/DPAM, ANG/MPP, or HQ ARPC/DAO, as appropriate, approves any credit awarded under this rule on an individual basis. Credit may not include time spent in attainment of baccalaureate or lower degrees. No additional credit may be given for more than one advanced degree in a single, or closely related field. The total credit for having both a master’s and doctorate degree may not exceed the maximum allowed for a doctorate.
Credit under this rule applies to individuals appointed as BSC, MSC, or NC officers on or after 4 December 1987. Do not award credit for experience of 1/2 year or less or for periods of unemployment of more than 30 days. For those individuals that require a license, award experience credit from time of licensure.
Credit under this rule applies to individuals appointed as BSC, MSC, or NC officers on or after 4 December 1987. Award credit under this rule only when HQ USAF/SG determines that a specialty is critical or urgent. HQ USAF/SG, ANGRC/SG, or HQ USAF/REM, as appropriate, determines (on a fiscal year basis) which skills may get credit under this rule and sets the limits on the amount of credit awarded. According to DoDD 1312.2, by 1 July of each year, the Services provide to ASD(HA) their plan for granting additional credit for special experience to certain critically short specialties. HQ AFPC/DPAM, ANG/MPP, and HQ ARPC/DAO award credit for special experience accordingly. Do not award credit under this rule unless the maximum credit under rule 40 has been awarded. Do not award credit for periods of unemployment of more than 30 days. For those individuals who require a license, award experience credit from time of licensure.
For competitive category transfers to the BSC, MSC, or NC, award 1 year for each year of prior service if constructive service credit under Title 10, U.S.C., Section 12207 is not going to be awarded (see paragraph 3.8.4).
An individual achieves full time professional experience by being employed 40 hours per week in one or more places of employment. EXCEPTION: Individuals employed for 32-39 hours per week and considered full time employees must submit a letter from their employer verifying they are full time employees