Professionally Qualified Officer

People who want to serve in the Army as officers, using specialist skills and qualifications.

Should be between 21 and 54 years of age (varies by role)

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WHO ARE PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED OFFICERS?

The Army needs doctors, dentists, nurses, lawyers, pharmacists, physiotherapists, veterinary surgeons, environmental health officers, operating department practitioners and chaplains with the relevant degrees and experience.

Still studying?

If you're working towards your qualification, but hope to bring your skills to the Army once you've finished, you could qualify for a bursary to help fund your study.

You could get up to three lump sum payments (in each of your last 3 years of study), followed by another payment when you finish your initial officer training at Sandhurst.

Already qualified?

Once you join, you'll be sent on a ten weeks course to become an officer, before heading off to join your Corps.

Professionally Qualified Officers (PQOs) can expect to be commissioned in a higher rank, and will start on a higher pay grade.

ROLES AVAILABLE

Doctors & medical students: Join when you're at medical school, after your foundation year 2 or as a qualified GP or consultant

Medical students can apply for a bursary of £10,000 per year for the last 3 years of study, plus a £45,000 lump sum after completing the PQO course at Sandhurst
Qualified GPs are offered a Golden Hello of £50,000 when they join

Nurses & student nurses:

Student nurses are offered a bursary of £5,000 per year for 3 years, plus a lump sum after completing the PQO course at Sandhurst
Qualified specialist nurses in certain disciplines could also get a Golden Hello of £20,000

Dentists & Dental Students:

Dental students can access a bursary of £10,000 per year for the last 3 years of study, plus a £45,000 lump sum after completing the PQO course at Sandhurst.

Vets & Veterinary Students:

Student vets can access a bursary of £5,000 per year for the last 3 years of study, plus a lump sum of £45,000 when they complete the PQO training at Sandhurst.

Lawyers:

You must already be a qualified solicitor or barrister, and have undertaken your 2 year training contract or 1 year pupillage in order to join.

Phyisotherapists, Pharmacists & Clinical Psychologist:

You must be qualified, have at least 12 months' experience and registered with HCPC to join.

HOW TO APPLY

You need to apply online to join as a Professionally Qualified Officer. If you're above 26, you can still join, but you'll need to call us on 0345 600 8080 so that we can arrange for your application to go through.

What happens next?

You'll need to sit through an extra Selection Board as part of your officer selection, this will be your chance to prove your specialist skills. As a Professionally Qualified Officer, you'll spend less time at Sandhurst in officer training than a regular officer - as you will be enrolled on the short course. The short course is 10 weeks long and designed to give you a military training, while teaching you core military skills such as drill, field training, officership and command. Chaplains are not required to complete the weapons handling module.

DID YOU KNOW?

As a Professionally Qualified Officer, not only will you be bringing your expertise to the Army, but you'll be surprised how many skills you'll pick up that your civilian counterparts won't have the opportunity to learn.