At a glance
Your second-to-none medical knowledge is a given. You’ll need much more than that, adapting your skills in wide-ranging environments, from conflict zones to tri-service hospitals. It's a career like no other.
Profession
Healthcare & Medical Officer
Lead a medical team with extensive medical skills in a wide range of contexts, in the UK or overseas.
- Undergraduate Degree
- Medical
- Officer level
£72,900
Minimum salary from day one
6 weeks
Of paid holiday every year
Degree
You need a full medical degree (MBChB)
Pension
Non-contributory pension scheme
Free
Medical and dental care
Travel
All around the world
I get to work alongside colleagues in the NHS, helping those in Britain most in need. But even better, the Royal Navy allows me to help people all over the world who often don’t have access to the care we take for granted.
Profession details
What you could do
Joining the Royal Navy as a Healthcare and Medical Officer means bringing your extensive medical knowledge to any challenging environment, at sea or on land. You might provide care in a conflict zone or during humanitarian operations. You could also take on leadership at a Joint Hospital Group Unit (Plymouth, Portsmouth, or Birmingham) and care for both NHS and military patients from all defence services. Specialist areas include dentistry, nursing, environmental health, or clinical care in the Submarine Service.
Your role
- Join at a rank that reflects your experience and be part of a world-class medical service that’s respected far beyond the Armed Forces
- You will start your career as a General Duties Medical Officer. This means you can be deployed on a ship, submarine or with the Royal Marines anywhere in the world taking charge of all personnel's medical needs, whether that be day to day medical issues or emergency situations.
- Gain knowledge and experience in tropical and diving medicine as well as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear medicine to understand the broad skill set you need to do your job in a variety of challenging and unique environments
Pay & benefits
- A salary of at least £72,900 from day one
- Good pay and promotion prospects throughout your career
- An excellent pension scheme
- Six weeks of paid holiday every year
- Free medical and dental care
- Sports and adventurous training opportunities
Skills for life
Qualifications you'll gain
- Funding opportunities to continue personal and professional education
- After spending time as a General Duties Medical Officer, the Royal Navy will offer to fund selected specialisms and wider qualifications for both personal and professional development
- Civilian recognised Leadership and management qualifications
Skills you'll develop
- How to be a leader and apply your medical knowledge in challenging environments
- Opportunities to specialise in clinical areas such as general practice, surgery, trauma and orthopedics, anesthetics, intensive care or emergency medicine
Eligibility
- You must be between 20 and 39 years old, and under 39 if you still need professional training
- 5 grades A*-C (9-4) Including grade 6 (B) or above in English Language and Maths
- You need a medical degree, full General Medical Council registration, plus four months’ foundation training in Emergency Medical and General Practice
- You must be a British or Irish national, a Commonwealth citizen or a Dual National
- Minimum height of 145cm
- A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
Skills & Interests
- An ambitious, passionate medical professional
- A confident leader
- Always calm under pressure
- Have a spirit of adventure
Joining Process
From picking your profession to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as an officer.
Step 1
Submit an application
Once you’ve registered your interest in a Profession, and have satisfied some basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form.
Step 2
Interview
A formal Selection Interview assessment will be conducted , and discussion of the role you are qualified for. It will also cover the initial stages of the Security application. This is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform.
Step 3
Qualified Mental Health Nurse Assessment Board
This is a 1-day Assessment board where you will be asked to deliver a 10-minute presentation on a clinically related subject, participate in a Group exercise and sit a competency-based interview led by Nurse Education Advisor and Medical Specialist Recruitment Team. Assessment Boards are conducted subject to requirement.
Step 4
Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)
This is a four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy, including assessments of your Fitness and your Medical eligibility , it is a pass or fail course.
Step 5
Start training
Once you’ve passed all eligibility criteria, including a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh to commence your initial training.
Got a question?
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