Health Professions Officer Pays

Start Here If You Are New to HPO Pays

The Marine Corps does not have an organic medical or dental corps. Navy Health Professions Officers (Medical Corps, Dental Corps, Nurse Corps, Medical Service Corps, Veterinary, Optometry, Allied Health) provide medical and dental support to the Marine Corps. This page covers the HPO Special and Incentive Pay framework so Marines understand the pay structure for the medical and dental personnel attached to their units, and so Marine commanders, leaders, and admin staff can interact with HPO pay questions when they surface.

This page walks you through HPO pays from your seat as a General Marine. By the end you will know.

• The Consolidated Special Pays (CSP) framework
• The four HPO bonus categories (Accession Bonus, CSWSAB, BCP, Retention Bonus)
• Incentive Pay (IP) structure for HPOs
• The single-specialty rule for IP and RB
• The applicability to Marines (Navy HPOs attached to Marine units)

Every fact on this page comes from DoD 7000.14-R Volume 7ADoD 7000.14-R Volume 7A Chapter 5 (January 2025), DoDI 6000.13DoDI 6000.13, and Title 37 U.S.C.Title 37 U.S.C. sections 332, 335, and 353.

What HPO Pays Are

Per Chapter 5 paragraph 1.1, the chapter establishes policy for Health Professions Special and Incentive (HPS&I) Pay.

Per paragraph 2.0, each HPS&I pay is in addition to any other pay or allowance to which an HPO is eligible, except as specified in sections 3.0 through 8.0 of the chapter.

The Consolidated Special Pays Framework

Per Chapter 5 paragraph 2.1, HPOs are paid special pay at the rate for the specialty for which they are fully qualified. The specialty or subspecialty must be the same for all pays received.

The HPO receives Incentive Pay (IP) and a Retention Bonus (RB) for one specialty only, even if the HPO holds qualifications in two or more specialties. The IP and RB take effect on the same date.

Eligibility (CSP General Eligibility)

Per Chapter 5 paragraph 2.3, to participate in the CSP an HPO must.

• Not have reached the mandatory retirement or removal date due to age or years of service.
• Complete any additional service obligation incurred before the mandatory retirement or removal date, unless granted a waiver.
• Have a current, valid, and unrestricted license or approved waiver.
• Maintain all licensing, credentialing, and specialty qualifications.
• Meet privileging requirements.

The HPO Bonus Categories

Chapter 5 sections 3.0 through 8.0 describe several distinct bonus and incentive pays for HPOs.

Accession Bonus (AB)

Per Chapter 5 paragraph 3.1 and Title 37 U.S.C. section 332Title 37 U.S.C. section 332. A bonus for individuals accepting an appointment as an HPO of the Army, Navy, or Air Force. Amounts in Table 5-1 of Chapter 5 vary by specialty. Current rates are published on the DFAS HPO AB table.

Critically Short Wartime Skills Accession Bonus (CSWSAB)

Per Chapter 5 paragraph 4.1. A bonus for HPOs accessing into a critically short wartime specialty. Amounts in Table 5-2 vary by specialty. Current rates are published on the DFAS CSWSAB table.

Board Certification Pay (BCP)

Per Chapter 5 paragraph 5.0. An annual pay of $8,000 (prorated monthly) for board-certified HPOs in a designated clinical specialty. All ranks including O-7 and above are eligible.

Incentive Pay (IP)

Per Chapter 5 paragraph 6.0. Annual pay for HPOs in a designated health professional specialty. IP agreements run at least 1 year and do not prorate. The effective date is the date the HPO completes qualifying training plus 3 months.

If during the IP agreement the HPO becomes eligible for a higher IP, the HPO terminates and renegotiates at that higher rate, obligating for at least 1 additional year from the date of renegotiation.

Retention Bonus (RB)

Per Chapter 5 paragraph 7.0. A bonus for HPOs in critical specialties to retain the officer in active service. The HPO RB is for a single specialty even if the HPO holds qualifications in multiple specialties.

Annual Special Pay

Per Chapter 5 paragraph 8.0. Various annual pays under the CSP framework as specified for designated specialties.

Restrictions

Per Chapter 5 paragraph 2.2.

• The amount of HPS&I pay does not enter into the computation of any increase in pay or in computing retired, separation, severance, or readjustment pays.
• An officer receiving a health profession bonus is not eligible for a payment under Title 37 U.S.C. section 332Title 37 U.S.C. section 332 for the same period of obligated service.
• An officer receiving HPO IP is not eligible for a payment under Title 37 U.S.C. section 353Title 37 U.S.C. section 353 (Critical Skill Incentive Pay) for the same skill and period of service.
• An officer receiving BCP is not eligible for a payment under Title 37 U.S.C. section 353Title 37 U.S.C. section 353(b) for the same skill and period of service covered by the certification.

Marine Corps Applicability

The Marine Corps does not have an organic medical or dental corps. Marine Corps medical and dental support comes from the Navy. Navy HPOs in the Medical Corps, Dental Corps, Nurse Corps, Medical Service Corps, Veterinary Corps, and other allied health specialties are routinely attached to Marine Corps units to provide.

• Battalion Aid Station coverage at infantry battalions.
• Field Medical Service Technicians (FMST-trained Navy Hospital Corpsmen) at Marine units.
• Medical and Dental Officers at the Marine Air-Ground Task Force level.
• Specialty providers (orthopedic, optometry, allied health) at the Naval Medical Center treating Marines.

For attached Navy HPOs, the HPS&I pay framework applies through Navy administrative channels (BUMED). The Marine Corps unit S-1 supports the attached Navy HPO's pay processing through coordination with the parent Navy command.

Marine Officers in Health Professional Specialties

The Marine Corps does not commission officers in medical, dental, nurse, veterinary, or other clinical health professions. Marines who pursue medical or dental careers separate from the Marine Corps and commission as Navy HPOs through the Health Professions Scholarship Program (Volume 7A Chapter 60) or direct accession.

Active Duty Marines interested in health profession transitions coordinate with the Navy Health Professions Recruiter and the Marine Corps detailer.

Verifying HPO Pays on the LES (For Attached Navy HPOs)

For attached Navy HPOs at Marine units, the LES line items follow the Navy framework.

Step 1. Pull the LES

The Navy HPO pulls the LES through MyPay.

Step 2. Verify the HPS&I Lines

The LES shows BCP, IP, RB installments, and AB installments as separate line items under Entitlements per the HPS&I pay plan.

Step 3. Resolve Discrepancies

The Navy HPO routes corrections through the parent Navy command and BUMED, not the Marine Corps S-1. The Marine Corps unit S-1 supports through coordination.

Common Questions Marines Ask

I am a Marine officer interested in pursuing a medical degree. Do I get HPO pays?

The Marine Corps does not have an organic medical corps. To pursue a medical career, you separate from the Marine Corps and accession into the Navy or another Service medical corps. The Navy HPO pay framework applies to Navy HPOs. Coordinate with your Marine Corps detailer and the Navy Health Professions Recruiter.

I am a Marine commander with attached Navy medical personnel. Are they covered under my Marine Corps S-1 for pay?

No. Attached Navy personnel route pay actions through their parent Navy command and BUMED administrative channels. The Marine Corps S-1 supports through coordination but does not process the Navy HPO's pay directly.

I am a Marine. Why is this page on a Marine Corps wiki?

Marine Corps units routinely have attached Navy HPOs (Medical Corps, Dental Corps, Hospital Corpsmen). Marines and Marine Corps admin staff need awareness of the HPO pay framework when interacting with attached medical and dental personnel on pay questions. The page is reference context, not a Marine entitlement.

What is the difference between HPS&I pay and other special pays?

HPS&I pay is the consolidated framework specifically for Health Professions Officers. Other special pays (HDIP, FLPB, SDAP, etc.) are open to all military personnel meeting the eligibility criteria. HPS&I pay is restricted to HPOs in designated health profession specialties.

Are Marine Corps Hospital Corpsmen covered under HPO pays?

No. Hospital Corpsmen are Navy enlisted personnel, not officers. HPO pays apply only to commissioned officers in designated health profession specialties. Hospital Corpsmen receive Navy enlisted special pays (Critical Skill Incentive Pay, SDAP, etc.) per the standard frameworks.

Where to Go for Help

Routing by Issue

• HPO pay questions for attached Navy personnel. Coordinate with the Navy parent command and BUMED, not the Marine Corps S-1.
• Marine officer transition to a Navy HPO commission. Coordinate with the Marine Corps detailer and the Navy Health Professions Recruiter.
• HPO bonus rates and CSP rate tables. The DFAS HPS&I pay tables at https://www.dfas.mil/.
• Marine Corps unit administrative coordination for attached HPOs. The Marine Corps S-1 supports through Navy parent command coordination.

Where to Go Next on This Site

• Pay and Entitlements landing page lists all the pay topics.
• Officer Bonuses cover the broader officer bonus framework for non-HPO Marine officers.
• Pay Problems and Fixes covers the recoupment framework.

Related Roles

• Leaders interact with attached Navy HPOs and surface pay questions to the appropriate parent Navy command.
• Admin at S-1 supports attached HPO pay processing through Navy BUMED coordination.
• Commanders endorse the operational integration of attached HPOs and route HPO-specific pay matters through Navy administrative channels.

HPO pays are Navy and other Service entitlements. Marine Corps units interact with HPO pay through attached Navy personnel. Coordinate through Navy parent command and BUMED for HPO pay matters.