This guide provides information that will help you in your decision to become a Navy Nurse Corps Officer during Fiscal Year 2025.
A Navy Nurse Corps Officer is a Staff Corps Officer in the United States Navy. They deliver exceptional nursing care wherever it is needed, from Navy medical treatment facilities and ships to humanitarian relief operations all over the world. The designator code for Navy Nurse Corps Officer is 2900.
Now, let us go into the details.
What Does A Navy Nurse Do?
Being a Navy Nurse changes you. The work is bigger than hospitals, bigger than routine care. You don’t just treat patients—you serve those who serve.
You take vitals, close wounds, run triage. You work with surgeons, cardiologists, and nurses who rely on you to make the right call. Some days, you’re in a clinic. Other days, you’re in the middle of a crisis, where every second matters.
You push through long hours, tough conditions, and situations most nurses will never face. Disaster zones, war zones, places where people need help fast. You don’t hesitate. You step up.
Training never stops. Specialty skills. Advanced certifications. You stay sharp because lives depend on it.
And when it’s time to leave the Navy? You won’t be looking for a job. The best jobs will be looking for you.
Responsibilities of Nurse Corps Officers
As a Nurse Corps Officer, your responsibilities may include:
- Provide general nursing care to Sailors, Marines, other service personnel, and their families in the best military nursing facilities on land, at ship, and in the field.
- Collaborate with physicians, surgeons, cardiologists, and other experts to develop and implement treatment regimens.
- Direct and train Hospital Corpsmen on how to offer great patient care.
- Use cutting-edge medical innovations in world-class facilities.
- Utilize some of the most modern technologies available, such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), which may lead to fewer paperwork and more exceptional patient care.
- Assist with worldwide relief activities such as the distribution of vaccinations or the provision of emergency treatment to victims of natural disasters.
Navy Nurse Corps Duty Stations
As a Navy Nurse, you will have many options for duty stations. You can serve at any of more than 250 Navy and medical treatment facilities throughout the world, in some of the most dynamic environments conceivable – from Hawaii to Japan, Germany to Guam, and Washington, D.C. to Washington state.
You may work in one of the highly regarded Medical Centers in Bethesda, Maryland; Portsmouth, Virginia; or San Diego, California.
Alternatively, you might give medical assistance to servicemembers aboard one of two hospital ships, the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy.
More healthcare jobs are available both at home and overseas in many situations, including onboard a surface ship, aviation squadron, or even the Fleet Marine Force.
Regardless of where you serve, you will contribute leadership and knowledge to your nation, the men and women who protect it, their families, and those in need.
Navy Nurse Specialties
The Navy Nurse Corps provides a diverse range of career choices, as well as the opportunity to develop and train junior team members.
Nurses can specialize in any of more than a dozen in-demand Navy Nurse jobs, including:
- Critical Care
- Medical/Surgical
- Emergency Trauma
- Perioperative
- Maternal/Infant
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Neonatal Intensive Care
- Nurse Midwife
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Manpower System Analysis
- Research
- Psychiatric
- Training Management
- Education
- Nurse Practitioner
- Family
- Pediatric
- Women’s Health
- Psychiatric (PMHNP)
Educational Opportunities
The Navy helps cover the costs. School. Loans. Training. Wherever you are in your career, there’s support.
Scholarships, sign-on bonuses, loan repayment. Real options. Whether you’re in school or already working, you don’t have to carry the financial load alone.
That could mean graduating from nursing school with zero debt. And with specialty training, you don’t just enter the field—you stand out.
If you’re still in school, you focus on learning. No military duties. No training obligations. Just your education.
When you’re done, you step in ready. Funded. Ahead.
High School or College Students
If you are a high school or college student who wants to join the Navy full-time, you may apply for a nursing scholarship via the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC).
The NROTC scholarship program may pay the whole cost of your nursing education – up to $180,000 – at some of the greatest schools and institutions in the country.
Nursing School Students
If you are a nursing student who wants to serve full-time in the Navy, you may be eligible for up to $34,000 in tuition assistance through the Nurse Candidate Program (NCP).
NCP benefit includes a $10,000 initial award, plus a $1,000 monthly stipend for up to 24 months.
Please note that these grants may change annually.
Graduate Level Nursing Students
If you are a graduate student enrolled in a postgraduate nursing school in specific nursing specializations and choose to serve as a Reservist part-time, you may be eligible for a $2,088 monthly stipend while finishing your education program and up to $50,000 in nursing school loan repayment assistance.
Please note that these are based on service commitments.
Current Practicing Nurses
If you are a practicing nurse who wishes to serve as a Reservist part-time, you may be eligible for an instant, one-time sign-on incentive of up to $30,000.
Depending on your specialization, you may be able to choose between a sign-on bonus, speciality pay, or nursing school loan repayment assistance.
Duty Under Instruction (Full-Time)
Officers may pursue a graduate degree on their own time using the tuition assistance program, or they may apply for Full Time Duty Under Instruction (DUINS).
DUINS provides the option to attend full-time school at no personal expense while obtaining all benefits and salary comparable with the officer’s compensation.
Please note that these in-service scholarships are competitive and have an associated payback service commitment.
Navy Nurse Corps Ranks
| Pay Grade | Navy Rank | Abbreviation |
| O-1 | Ensign | ENS |
| O-2 | Lieutenant Junior Grade | LTJG |
| O-3 | Lieutenant | LT |
| O-4 | Lieutenant Commander | LCDR |
| O-5 | Commander | CDR |
| O-6 | Captain | CAPT |
| O-7 | Rear Admiral (Lower Half) | RDML |
| O-8 | Rear Admiral (Upper Half) | RADM |
| O-9 | Vice Admiral | VADM |
| O-10 | Admiral | ADM |
How It Breaks Down:
- O-1 to O-3: Brand-new officers start at Ensign (O-1). By Lieutenant (O-3), they’re leading teams, running divisions.
- O-4 to O-6: Lieutenant Commanders (O-4) take on bigger roles. Commanders (O-5) lead departments. Captains (O-6) run ships, major shore units.
- O-7 to O-10: Rear Admirals (O-7, O-8) call the shots on strike groups and big operations. Vice Admirals (O-9) and full Admirals (O-10) run entire fleets.
This is Navy-specific. The other branches do it differently.
Salary and Benefits
2025 U.S. Navy Officer Pay Chart (First Six Years)
| Pay Grade | <2 Years | Over 2 Years | Over 3 Years | Over 4 Years | Over 6 Years |
| O-1 | $3,998.40 | $4,161.90 | $5,031.30 | $5,031.30 | $5,031.30 |
| O-2 | $4,606.80 | $5,246.70 | $6,042.90 | $6,247.20 | $6,375.30 |
| O-3 | $5,331.60 | $6,044.10 | $6,522.60 | $7,112.40 | $7,453.80 |
| O-4 | $6,064.20 | $7,019.70 | $7,488.90 | $7,592.40 | $8,027.10 |
| O-5 | $7,028.40 | $7,917.30 | $8,465.40 | $8,568.60 | $8,910.90 |
Notes:
- A 4.5% pay raise is effective January 1, 2025.
- Officers with 4+ years of prior enlisted or warrant officer service (O-1E, O-2E, O-3E) earn more. Example: O-1E (4+ years) makes $5,031.30 monthly.
- Future pay changes depend on legislation. Check DFAS.mil for updates.
Additional Pays and Allowances
- Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH): Covers housing costs for those living off-base. Amount depends on rank, location, and dependents.
- Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS): Helps cover meal costs. 2025 officer rate: $323.87/month.
- Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay (HDIP): Extra pay for dangerous jobs—flight decks, EOD, etc. $150–$250/month.
- Career Sea Pay: For shipboard or deployed sailors. $50–$750/month, based on rank and time at sea.
- Special & Incentive Pays: Extra cash for specific skills (e.g., air traffic control, language proficiency). Ranges from a few hundred to several thousand dollars annually.
- Overseas Cost of Living Allowance (COLA): Extra pay to offset higher living costs in foreign duty stations. Varies by location, rank, and dependents.
Benefits
- Healthcare: Free medical and dental for active duty. Low-cost TRICARE options for families.
- Housing: On-base housing or tax-free BAH for off-base living.
- Food: BAS provides a monthly food stipend.
- Blended Retirement System (BRS): Pension + Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contributions. Retirement pay kicks in at 20 years.
- Education: Tuition assistance, Post-9/11 GI Bill, and Navy College Program support higher education.
- Life Insurance: SGLI covers up to $500,000.
- Vacation: 30 days of paid leave per year, plus federal holidays.
All rates and benefits are subject to change with future legislation.
Navy Nurse Bonus
As a Navy Nurse Corps Officer, you may be eligible to receive some bonus pay incentives. Please note that this range of bonuses varies based on Fiscal Year budget constraints.
Sign-Up Bonus
You may be eligible to receive a $20K-$250K sign-up bonus if you opt to serve as an Active Duty Navy Nurse Corps Officer.
Retention Bonus (Critical Skills)
Nurses with critical wartime specialties may be eligible to receive a $8K-$60K annual retention bonus for extending your Naval service. This retention bonus is prorated monthly.
Does the Navy Need Nurses in 2025?
In Fiscal Year 2025, the answer is simple—YES. The Navy needs nurses. Always has. Always will.
The mission keeps evolving, and so does the demand for skilled medical professionals. Nurses are at the heart of it—on land, at sea, wherever they’re needed.
Their role isn’t shrinking. It’s growing. More responsibility. More opportunities. From hands-on patient care to leading medical units, Navy Nurses are a core part of the force. The mission doesn’t happen without them.
How To Become A Navy Nurse Corps Officer
To become a Navy Nurse Corps Officer, you must be an American citizen with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited college and a current nursing license from a US state or territory.
Navy Nurse Corps Requirements
Below are the basic eligibility requirements to become a Navy Nurse Corps Officer. Note that more specific specialties may require more credentials.
These requirements are current as of September 2023, per the Navy Personnel Command. No updates have been issued so far.
1) Citizenship
Navy Nurse Corps applicants must be United States citizens.
2) Age
Navy Nurse Corps applicants must be commissioned before their 42nd birthday. Waivers will be considered only on a case by case basis.
Age Waiver
A waiver may be approved in restricted numbers in circumstances when the candidate exceeds the statutory age for commissioning but otherwise has an extraordinary record or proven skill set required by the Navy.
When evaluating age waiver requests, a heavy emphasis will be placed on undermanned specialities and those with a history of unmet recruiting targets.
3) Education
- A nursing baccalaureate or advanced nursing degree from a nursing school accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. No waivers will be accepted.
- Nurse Practitioners (NP), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA), and Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) must hold a Master’s degree from a graduate educational program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Educational Programs and have passed a professional specialty organization’s certification examination.
- Foreign nursing school graduates with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing Degree from an institution outside the United States that is not authorized by the ACEN or CCNE are eligible for commissioning upon completion of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Nursing from an ACEN or CCNE-accredited institution and demonstration of oral and writing English language fluency.
4) Physical
Navy Nurse physical requirements are in accordance with the Navy Medical Department Manual, Chapter 15, and as specified in Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction in the Military Services, DoD Instruction 6130.03.
5) Work Experience
Active Duty: Applicants may be recently licensed baccalaureate degree graduates. Critical Care (1960) and Labor and Delivery (1920) require one year of full-time or two years of part-time direct patient care experience. All other specializations require a minimum of one year of direct patient care experience.
Reserves: The Medical-Surgical (1910) specialty requires a minimum of three months of direct patient care experience. For all other specialties, a one-year minimum of direct patient care experience is required.
6) Nursing License
- Must hold a current, unrestricted license to practice as a registered professional nurse from a State, territory, or commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia, obtained after passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
- Applicants who have a registered professional nursing license from a Board of Nursing that does not require successful completion of the NCLEX must produce verification of NCLEX completion.
- A policy exception may be requested, if necessary, to permit recent baccalaureate graduates who did not attend a Navy NC pipeline to be appointed prior to licensure and considered distributable inventory; however, they are required to immediately take the NCLEX in order to become registered professional nurses.
Here are the best NCLEX study resources that successful nurse candidates recommended:
7) Specialized Certification
Nurse Practitioners, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, and Certified Nurse Midwives must obtain and maintain certification by a nationally recognized professional organization.
8) Entry Rank Credit
Prior to commissioning, entry-grade credit will be granted in accordance with Accession and Retention Policies, Programs, and Incentives for Military Health Professions Officers, DoD Instruction 6000.13 and Appointment of Regular and Reserve Officers in the Navy Nurse Corps, OPNAVINST 1120.7B.
9) Service Obligation
Active Duty Commitment
Sign up as a Navy Nurse Corps officer? You’re in for at least three years. That’s active duty, starting the day you’re commissioned. After that, you serve the rest of your eight-year commitment in the Ready Reserve.
But here’s the thing—bonuses, special pay, and education benefits can stretch that time. If the Navy invests in you, they expect time in return.
Reserve Obligation
Going the Reserve route? You’re locked in for eight years. First three as a Selected Reserve, actively drilling. The rest in the Ready Reserve.
And just like active duty, if you take bonuses, special pay, or education benefits, your commitment could get longer. Nothing comes free.
Who May Apply
- All qualified civilians.
- Enlisted personnel of any branch of the armed forces (active or reserve) who are granted authorization for a suitable conditional release. Prior Navy enlisted personnel, in addition to the most recent three years of evaluations, are required to submit a copy of their enlisted performance summary record.
- Active and reserve commissioned personnel of any branch of the armed forces who do not meet the other eligibility requirements for inter-service transfer or superseding appointment may be granted contingent release (United States Navy/United States Navy Reserve only) or conditional release (other services only), subject to the approval of the member’s service component.
Waivers
No Waivers for Serious Offenses
If you’ve got serious misconduct on your record, don’t bother asking for a waiver. No exceptions for drug addiction, alcohol dependence, or hard drug use—LSD, ecstasy, anything beyond casual marijuana use.
DUI in the last five years? That’s a dealbreaker too.
Age Waivers: Rare, But Possible
Too old to commission? If your record is outstanding or you bring a skill the Navy needs, you might get a waiver.
Specialized roles that struggle with recruitment have some flexibility. If you’re between 42 and 57, you can apply—just be ready to justify why they should make an exception.
Over 58? Only a select few with critical skills, as defined by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, may qualify. But even then, you must complete your three-year service before turning 68.
Navy Nurse Training
Nurses who are new to the Navy are expected to attend Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, RI after commissioning. ODS is a five-week curriculum that will familiarize new nurses with Navy culture.
ODS provides Staff Corps Officers and some Restricted Line designators with the training required to function as a freshly commissioned Naval Officer.
It offers a basic introduction to essential characteristics of leadership as well as a working grasp of naval orders and references.
Nurses who have been commissioned via a school NROTC program may not be required to attend ODS.
Navy Nurse Service Commitment
Your initial commitment as a Navy Nurse could be as short as three years. But it depends on your specialty and other factors.
After that? You still owe time—eight years total, with the rest served in the Ready Reserve.
Take special pay, bonuses, or education benefits? Expect that commitment to stretch. The Navy invests in you, and they expect time in return.
Two Ways to Serve
- Active Duty: Full-time. Maximum career growth. Leadership opportunities. The most benefits. The biggest impact. And yes—travel, adventure, and everything that comes with it.
- Reserves: Part-time. Keep your civilian career while serving as little as two days a month and two weeks a year. There’s flexibility—more service, more pay if you choose. And you still get many of the same benefits as active duty.
More Information
If you want more information about becoming a Nurse Corps Officer, the next logical step is to contact a Naval Officer Recruiter.
Let us start figuring out how you can benefit from becoming a Navy Nurse – or if it is even the right career move for you.
More information is available about other closely related Navy Officer jobs, such as the:
Those who are currently serving as an enlisted Sailor or Marine, you may apply for the Navy Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program (MECP).
Hope you find this useful in your career planning.
