Were you aware you could graduate from optometry school debt-free by being a recipient of the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)? HPSP is a military scholarship available through the Army, Air Force, and Navy that covers the tuition and fees of its recipients. Scholarships are available in 2-year, 3-year, or 4-year options depending on the branch.1
Upon graduation, recipients of the scholarship serve full-time on active duty in their respective branch. Active duty is the military equivalent of a 9-to-5 job. The duration of active-duty service repaid depends on the length of the scholarship received.
Recipients of the 4-year scholarship serve 4 years active-duty to their respective branch. Recipients of the 2-year and 3-year scholarships serve 3 years active-duty to their respective branch.
My personal experience with HPSP
Upon beginning optometry school I was enlisted in the Air Force Reserve as an aircraft mechanic. I heard about HPSP through other service members who had the ultimate goal of becoming military doctors. I decided to apply because I have always intended on having a long career in the military; I knew becoming a military doctor would help me fulfill this goal.
I began gathering materials for my application during my first year of optometry school, including:
- Undergraduate transcript
- Optometry Admission Test (OAT) scores
- Three letters of recommendation
- Military records
I was open to both Air Force HPSP and Army HPSP since I had ties to both branches; my father was in the Army for over 20 years, and I was in the Air Force at the time. I received the 3-year Army HPSP scholarship during the first semester of my second year of optometry school.
Graduating debt free: Unlocking the financial benefits
HPSP offers its recipients a huge range of financial benefits, including reimbursement for required materials and monthly stipends. Students can be reimbursed for materials purchased after receiving the scholarship as long as those items are required by their school (i.e., trial lens kits and BIOs). The National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) costs are also eligible for reimbursement!
Scholarship recipients also receive monthly stipends while they are in school. Although tuition payments are made directly to the school, monthly stipends are sent directly to the student’s bank account. Students receive a housing stipend every month on the 1st and 15th. As of 2024, the monthly stipend is $2,870 per month (before taxes) for scholarship recipients in each branch of the military.2
This stipend can be used towards housing, food, or any other expenses students may have—or savings! Scholarship recipients who pursue a residency after optometry school earn significantly more than their civilian colleagues. This is because pay in the military is based on rank and time in service.
Upon graduation, HPSP recipients start with the rank of Captain in the Army and Air Force or Lieutenant in the Navy (the name of ranks differs by branch). There is a direct, positive correlation between time in service, rank, and financial rewards. In other words, you earn more as you grow.
Reaping the rewards of military life
Military optometry is a very niche yet very rewarding field. As a military eyecare provider, you serve as a part of a team and play a key role in ensuring that service members are mission-ready.
There are several benefits to consider, including:3,4
- Free healthcare: As a service member, you receive free healthcare through the military known as Tricare.
- BAH: Service members also receive Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), a tax-free monthly payment that covers rent or mortgage costs based on your location.
- VA home loan: Service members are eligible for a VA loan, which allows members to purchase a home with no down payment and typically has lower loan rates than other types of mortgage loans.
- Travel: Joining the military also offers its members the opportunity to travel! There are positions for military optometrists in Italy, South Korea, Japan, and Hawaii, just to name a few.
- Mentorship: Recipients in every branch are assigned to advisors who ensure yearly paperwork is submitted, and that progress through optometry school is on track. Students can ask their advisors for mentors, usually doctors who are alumni of HPSP. Receiving insight from a military doctor who has traversed through the same journey is invaluable.
- AFOS: HPSP recipients can take advantage of Armed Forces Optometric Society (AFOS) conferences. At these conferences, students are granted the opportunity to network with military doctors of all branches as well as other HPSP recipients.
Making yourself a competitive candidate for the HPSP
All scholarships come with some competition and HPSP is no exception. Nonetheless, there are factors that will make candidates stand out. If applying for the 4-year scholarship, having an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2 boosts competitiveness.
If applying for a 3-year or 2-year scholarship while already in optometry school, having an optometry school GPA of at least a 3.0 and being in good academic standing makes applicants more competitive. The HPSP board also takes OAT scores into consideration.
Prior military experience, whether through active-duty service, Reserve Officer Training Course (ROTC), or even volunteering in the Civil Air Patrol, will strengthen a candidate’s application. For branches that require interviews as a part of the application process, interviewers want to ensure that applicants are well-rounded individuals with a drive to serve in the military.
HPSP application process: From interest to acceptance
If you’re considering applying for the HPSP scholarship, reach out to a recruiter to determine eligibility.
To be eligible for an HPSP scholarship, you must be:
- A US citizen (dual citizenship is not permitted).
- Accepted to an American Optometric Association (AOA) school of medicine in the US or Puerto Rico.
- Accepted to or enrolled in an accredited optometry or physician assistant master's program in the US or Puerto Rico.
- Physically qualified for commission in the branch to which you are applying.
- Under the age of 42 upon entering active duty following completion of your optometry degree/residency.
The application process consists of submitting transcripts, resumes, letters of recommendation, and specific military forms. Alongside paperwork, applicants are also required to complete a physical at a military facility. The number of applicants selected varies each year depending on the needs of each branch.
To learn how to craft a winning resume/CV, check out the Optometry Student's Guide to Crafting a Winning Resume/CV.
Life as an HPSP recipient
Upon receiving the scholarship, students are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the Air Force or Army and Lieutenants in the Navy. Students are not required to complete any formal military training or duties while in school. Every year, recipients must complete a health assessment that may be on the phone or in person.
Recipients also need to meet a yearly requirement called active-duty training. This is not physical training. It is a way to ensure they accumulate enough active-duty time to meet the military's "good year" standard. During this period, recipients receive extra pay, including BAH. The amount of BAH received is based on the location of their school or externship as well as their rank.
My experience upon commissioning has been incredible. The monthly stipend, along with reimbursements for board exams and materials, has allowed me to focus on my studies without financial stress. Other than the financial benefits I receive, my experience as an optometry student is similar to my peers.
I suggest that recipients of the scholarship network with as many military doctors as they can. This can be accomplished by pursuing externships at military bases such as Walter Reed Military Medical Center and attending AFOS conferences.
Is an HPSP scholarship right for you?
If you consider yourself a natural leader and have a drive to serve, this scholarship is for you. As a military doctor, you will ensure that your patients are in the best condition possible for their families and their mission.
You will serve as a leader and mentor for many while developing teamwork and decision-making skills that are critical both in and out of uniform. With HPSP, you will have the ability to do what many have found impossible, become a debt-free doctor.
