Army Occupational Therapis

The Army has a great education program for their healthcare specialists. If you meet the qualification requirements, you could go to school under a Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) at any accredited psychology program in the United States.

The scholarship pays 100% of your tuition, books, required equipment, most academic fees, plus gives you a $2,000 per month living stipend for 10 months a year. Because the Army is paying your way, you could go to the school of your choice instead of what you could afford. For six weeks out of the remaining two months a year, you would get paid officer pay to work as a U.S. Army Reserve second lieutenant at an Army medical facility.

As an Occupational Therapist, you would fall under the Medical Specialist Corp, which also includes Physical Therapists, Dietitians and Physician Assistants, among other specialties. However, Clinical Psychologists fall under the Medical Service Corp, which includes other healthcare specialists, such as Optometrist, Podiatrist, etc.

• Be a U.S. Citizen
• Hold a BA degree from an accredited school
• Enrolled, or have a letter of acceptance, at an accredited graduate program
• Maintain full-time student status while in the program
• Qualify for a commission in the Army Reserve as an officer.

You will want to ask your Recruiter about the best way to go - if you should sign up as an Occupational Therapist on your original enlistment, and then switch, or sign up to be a Clinical psychologist right away when you enlist. Here is why you should ask.

The Army has a $20,000 signing bonus, but I don't think you would get it if you sign up as an Occupational Therapist and maybe not if you were already in and switched to be a Clinical Psychologist. It might be only a benefit available if you sign up from the beginning to be a Clinical Psychologist, so ask a Healthcare Recruiter first before signing up. I would hate to see you miss out on $20,000.