OPTIMAL CARE FOR THE SERIOUSLY ILLWhen Airmen or their families are suffering from severe medical conditions or injuries, it’s imperative they get comprehensive care. Responsible for executing complex, intensive nursing care, Critical Care Nurses provide the immediate treatment needed in severe situations. An important position wherever they’re located, the quick and expert actions of these skilled nurses can make the difference when it comes to saving a person’s life.REQUIREMENTSYou must meet several requirements before joining the Air Force. These concern your background, overall health and other standards set by the Air Force, Department of Defense and federal law.Minimum EducationBachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing from a school accredited by the NLN or CCNE QualificationsKnowledge of principles and practices of nursing is mandatoryMinimum of 12 months full-time nursing practiceEncouraged to use six of those months practicing the Critical Care Nurse specialtyCompletion of Officer Training School courseMust be between the ages of 18 and have not reached your 47thbirthday

MANAGING PAIN AND SURGICAL CARESurgeries are performed every day in first-class Air Force medical facilities around the world. As privileged healthcare providers, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists perform specialized and critical nursing duties for surgical patients before, during and after surgery. An indispensable member of any surgical team, patients rely on their expertise and care every day all around the world.REQUIREMENTSYou must meet several requirements before joining the Air Force. These concern your background, overall health and other standards set by the Air Force, Department of Defense and federal law.Minimum EducationMaster’s degree awarded from a graduate nurse anesthesia programSuccessfully passed the national certifying examination within one year of completion of required didactic and clinical requirements QualificationsMinimum six months full-time nursing practice in the APRN specialty is required.At least 12 months experience as a registered nurseCompletion of Officer Training School courseMust be between the ages of 18 and have not reached your 47thbirthday

KEEPING OUR FORCES HEALTHYCaring for the health of our Airmen also means helping preclude illness before it can affect our community. Public Health Officers apply public health, preventive medicine, and medical entomology knowledge, techniques, and skills to promote health and reduce the incidence of communicable/zoonotic/vector-borne diseases, occupational and environmental illnesses and injuries, food-borne diseases, and disease and non-battle injuries while in-garrison and deployed. Public Health Officers constantly monitor conditions and potential health threats. These specialists promote public health through epidemiological surveillance of health and disease trends in populations, as well as monitoring food safety practices, and sanitation levels in public and food service facilities.REQUIREMENTSYou must meet several requirements before joining the Air Force. These concern your background, overall health and other standards set by the Air Force, Department of Defense and federal law.Minimum EducationDoctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD)Master of Public Health degree (MPH/MSPH) Note: all applicable degrees must be from accredited institutions and programs and applicants must have/maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale for all applicable degrees. QualificationsFor Public Health Officers, knowledge of basic epidemiology, microbiology, food technology and hygiene, communicable diseases, occupational and environmental health,and medical entomology. Completion of the basic Public Health Officer (PHO) course and the Contingency Preventive Medicine (CPM) courseCompletion of Officer Training SchoolMust be between the ages of 18 and have not reached your 42ndbirthday For Medical Entomologists, knowledge of medical entomology, arthropod biology, vertebrate and invertebrate hazards, and Integrated Pest Management principles. Completion of the basic Public Health Officer (PHO) course and the Contingency Preventive Medicine (CPM) courseCompletion of the Operational Entomology CourseCertification as a DoD Pesticide Applicator through a DoD-approved courseCompletion of Officer Training SchoolMust be between the ages of 18 and have not reached your 42ndbirthday

Essential Medicine ExpertsAir Force Pharmacy Officers work in direct support of the Air Force’s mission to enhance health, readiness, and resilience. The responsibilities are dynamic, with a unique blend of clinical expertise, leadership, and operational requirements. Through mentorship, they inspire the next generation and foster an environment of excellence and innovation. Air Force Pharmacy Officers ensure medical readiness and exceptional care to ensure the resiliency of our Airmen and their families.REQUIREMENTSYou must meet several requirements before joining the Air Force. These concern your background, overall health and other standards set by the Air Force, Department of Defense and federal law.Minimum EducationDoctor of Pharmacy degree or Bachelor of Pharmacy from an accredited institution.QualificationsMust have and maintain a valid pharmacist license and be in good standingNew graduates must obtain a license issued by a board of pharmacy to practice medicine within 12 months of commissioningNormal color visionCompletion of Officer Training School courseMust be between the ages of 18 and 42

HELP RESTORING LOST SKILLSWhen Airmen or their families experience physical limitations, we do everything we can to help them regain their compromised functions. Working to help people with disabilities, injury or illness, Occupational Therapists work with patients to build or restore their abilities through the use of everyday tasks. Whether working with mental, physical, developmental or emotional conditions, these experts assist their patients in developing and maintaining daily living and work skills.REQUIREMENTSYou must meet several requirements before joining the Air Force. These concern your background, overall health and other standards set by the Air Force, Department of Defense and federal law.Minimum EducationCompletion of an accredited program in occupational therapy. Minimum requirement is an entry level master’s degree, however a doctorate is preferredQualificationsMinimum of six months of experience in occupational therapy assignments, including planning, managing and administering occupational therapy treatments and activitiesState license and registration to practice occupational therapyMinimum of 24 months of supervised clinical experience in an occupational therapy assignmentCompletion of Officer Training School courseMust be between the ages of 18 and have not reached your 42ndbirthday

Helping tackle life's challengesSometimes the stresses our Airmen and their families face may feel overwhelming or difficult to overcome. Concentrating on the social aspects of health, Clinical Social Workers help individuals improve the quality of their lives. From diagnosing various issues to offering guidance and counseling, these professionals offer services their clients can rely on during their hardest times.REQUIREMENTSYou must meet several requirements before joining the Air Force. These concern your background, overall health and other standards set by the Air Force, Department of Defense and federal law.Minimum EducationFor entry into this specialty, a Master's in Social Work from a graduate school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is mandatory. QualificationsKnowledge of social work theories, principles, techniques and resourcesEntry-level state licenseMust possess a valid and current license by a U.S. jurisdiction at a level allowing independent clinical social work practiceCompletion of Officer Training School courseMust be between the ages of 18 and have not reached your 42ndbirthday

Caring for Mental Well-BeingProviding our Airmen with proper healthcare doesn’t stop once they leave the doctor’s office. Primarily responsible for dispensing prescribed medications and helping patients understand proper usage and side effects, Pharmacists are an integral part of patient care. These medication experts help maximize positive health outcomes and improve the quality of their patients’ lives through patient counseling and careful quality control.REQUIREMENTSYou must meet several requirements before joining the Air Force. These concern your background, overall health and other standards set by the Air Force, Department of Defense and federal law.Minimum EducationA current unrestricted licenseA doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in clinical psychology or counseling psychologyCompletion of a clinical internshipPossible additional requirements for specialties QualificationsKnowledge of psychological theories, principles and techniques is mandatory.Clinical internshipValid unrestricted state-issued license to practice clinical or counseling psychologyCompletion of Officer Training School courseMust be between the ages of 18 and have not reached your 42ndbirthday

conducting tests. supplying answers.Biological tests are an essential part in determining the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Responsible for directing the services and integrity of their lab, Biomedical Laboratory Officers are essential to helping physicians accurately treat their patients. In addition to their scientific duties, these experts institute new methods, techniques and procedures to help their lab more accurately pinpoint the cause and appropriate care for a wide range of diseases.REQUIREMENTSYou must meet several requirements before joining the Air Force. These concern your background, overall health and other standards set by the Air Force, Department of Defense and federal law.Minimum EducationDegree in Medical Technology or equivalent from an accredited institutionQualificationsCertification as a Medical Technologist or Medical Laboratory Scientist from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)Completion of Officer Training School courseMust be between the ages of 18 and have not reached your 42ndbirthday

protecting ears and hearingAs one of our core senses, hearing can cause complex medical, physical, social and employment implications, especially for Airmen who are constantly exposed to noise that goes beyond what is safe for human ears. Providing the full spectrum of hearing and balance-related issues, Air Force Audiologists utilize the latest equipment and techniques to treat and safeguard Airmen and their families.REQUIREMENTSYou must meet several requirements before joining the Air Force. These concern your background, overall health and other standards set by the Air Force, Department of Defense and federal law.Minimum EducationDoctoral degree in audiology (AuD or PhD)The certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) and/or board certification in audiology from the American Board of Audiology (ABA) QualificationsA current unrestricted state licenseCompletion of Officer Training School courseMust be between the ages of 18 and have not reached your 42ndbirthday