More Information
Responsibilities
As an Officer and Clinical Care Provider, you will focus on preventing injuries, as well as helping people recover and recuperate from:
- Wartime, work-related or leisure-activity injuries
- Musculoskeletal disorders or impairments
You’ll partner with first-rate health-care providers, such as physicians and occupational therapists. You’ll also assume a critical role in a multidisciplinary health-care team.
You will have unique opportunities to:
- Specialize in orthopedics, sports, electromyography and manual therapy
- Earn specialty certification and additional pay
- Take on clinical and management positions throughout the world
- Pursue advanced degrees in physical therapy or related fields,
As an Officer and Clinical Care Provider, you will focus on preventing injuries, as well as helping people recover and recuperate from:
- Wartime, work-related or leisure-activity injuries
- Musculoskeletal disorders or impairments
You’ll partner with first-rate health-care providers, such as physicians and occupational therapists. And you’ll assume a critical role in a multidisciplinary health-care team.
You will have unique opportunities to:
- Specialize in orthopedics, sports, electromyography and manual therapy
- Earn specialty certification and additional pay
- Take on clinical and management positions throughout the world
- Pursue advanced degrees in physical therapy or related fields, on a limited basis
Work Environment
Navy Physical Therapists can practice physical therapy as they serve at one of more than 250 Navy and medical facilities around the world - from Hawaii to Japan, Germany to Guam, and Washington, D.C., to Washington state.
As a Physical Therapist, you could find yourself working at one of the highly acclaimed National Naval Medical Centers in Bethesda, Md.; Portsmouth, Va.; and San Diego, Calif. You could also provide PT support to Navy and Marine Corps Special Operations Units, aircraft carriers or aboard one of two dedicated hospital ships: the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy.
Serving part-time as a Reservist, your duties will be carried out during your scheduled drilling and training periods. During monthly drilling, Physical Therapists in the Navy Reserve typically work at a location close to their homes. This gives you the flexibility to expand your profession in the Navy without compromising your civilian practice at home.
For annual training, Physical Therapists may serve anywhere in the world, whether at sea, in hospitals stateside, or on bases in countries around the world.
Take a moment to learn more about the general roles and responsibilities of Reservists.
Training & Advancement
Upon completion of graduate school, those pursuing a Physical Therapist position are required to attend Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, R.I. ODS is a five-week program that provides a comprehensive and intense introduction to the responsibilities of Navy Staff Corps Officers. Here they learn about the military structure of the U.S. Navy, its rich history of traditions and customs, leadership development and military etiquette.
Promotion opportunities are regularly available but competitive and based on performance.
Most of what you do in the Navy Reserve is considered training. The basic Navy Reserve commitment involves training a minimum of one weekend a month (referred to as drilling) and two weeks a year (referred to as Annual Training) – or the equivalent of that.
Physical Therapists in the Navy Reserve serve in an Officer role. Before receiving the ongoing professional training that comes with this job, initial training requirements must first be met.
For current or former Navy Officers (NAVET): Prior experience satisfies the initial leadership training requirement – so you will not need to go through Officer training again.
For current or former Officers of military branches other than the Navy (OSVET), as well as for Officer candidates without prior military experience: You will need to meet the initial leadership training requirement by attending the twelve-day Direct Commission Officer (DCO) School in Newport, R.I. This will count as your first Annual Training.
With flexible training options, Medical Service Corps Officers in the Navy Reserve can comfortably balance civilian and military schedules. You can maintain your own life and your own career – enriching both with the rewarding work you do for others.
The Medical Service Corps in the Navy Reserve offers you a truly diverse variety of operational venues. In some cases, you can even work in the same civilian location you work in now. What’s more, you will enjoy an unrivaled sense of pride and fulfillment known only to those who serve.
Education Opportunities
Wherever you are in your professional career, the Navy can help ease your financial burdens and advance your career with generous scholarships, financial assistance and continuing education programs.
Practicing Professionals
Through the Navy Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP), you may be eligible to receive financial assistance to pay down the cost of your graduate education.
Practicing Professionals
As a Reservist in the Navy Medical Service Corps, you’ll receive your choice of any one of these three generous financial offers:*
- Up to $250,000 in graduate school loan repayment assistance
- Up to $50,000 per yearin specialty pay
- An immediate one-time sign-on bonus of up to $10,000
*Offers cannot be combined and depend on specialty.
Qualifications & Requirements
To qualify for Active Duty employment consideration as a Physical Therapist in the Navy Medical Service Corps, you must meet these basic requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen currently practicing in the U.S.
- Degree in physical therapy (entry-level) from an institution accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
- GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Be willing to serve a minimum of three years of Active Duty
- Be between the ages of 18 and 41
- Be in good physical condition and pass a full medical examination
You may also be expected to meet certain preferred requirements:
- Master of Science or doctoral degree in physical therapy (entry-level or advanced)
- Previous experience as a physical therapist (constructive credit for work experience now offered to physical therapists)
- Letter of recommendation from a physical therapist currently serving in the military
- Professional and personal recommendations (letter of reference from professor[s] for new graduates, or letter of reference from supervisors in physical therapy for workforce applicants)
- Current licensure required for workforce applicants (newly graduated therapists have one year to become licensed)
- Personal interview with an Active Duty Physical Therapist
General qualifications may vary depending upon whether you intend to serve Active Duty or Reserve Duty, and whether you are currently serving, have served before or have never served before.
To qualify for Active Duty employment consideration as a Physical Therapist in the Navy Medical Service Corps, you must meet these basic requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen currently practicing in the U.S.
- Degree in physical therapy (entry-level) from an institution accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
- GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Be willing to serve a minimum of three years of Active Duty
- Be between the ages of 18 and 41
- Be in good physical condition and pass a full medical examination
You may also be expected to meet certain preferred requirements:
- Master of Science or doctoral degree in physical therapy (entry-level or advanced)
- Previous experience as a physical therapist (constructive credit for work experience now offered to physical therapists)
- Letter of recommendation from a physical therapist currently serving in the military
- Professional and personal recommendations (letter of reference from professor[s] for new graduates, or letter of reference from supervisors in physical therapy for workforce applicants)
- Current licensure required for workforce applicants (newly graduated therapists have one year to become licensed)
- Personal interview with an Active Duty Physical Therapist
General qualifications may vary depending upon whether you intend to serve Active Duty or Reserve Duty, and whether you are currently serving, have served before or have never served before.