WHO ARE PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED SOLDIERS (PQS)?
There are some roles in the Army that we need to fill with people who already have civilian qualifications in their chosen field. We also recuit people who don't have the qualifications yet, but would like to train through the Army.
Many specialist roles are on a higher payscale than other soldiers.
If you're already qualified, or would like to train in one of the following areas join the Army as a PQS:
- Musician
- Nurses or Student Nurse
- Dental Nurses
- Pharmacy Technician
- Environmental Health Technician
- Biomedical Scientist
- Operating Department Practitioner
- Radiographer
If you're already qualified, you could also join as a Mental Health Nurse or a Veterinary Technician.
HOW DO I JOIN?
If you are applying for a professionally qualified role, you'll need to go through an Army Selection Board before to your initial training. This lets us see whether your skills are suitable for use in the Army.
Some roles will need you to pass a specialist board, for example musicians will have to pass an audition if they want to join the Corps of Army Music.
You'll need to be over 16 to join as a professionally qualified soldier. If you're over 33, you may still be able to join, but you'll need to contact us to apply. You can find out whether you can join with our can I join quick check.
Ready to apply?
- Step 1: Register for an account
- Step 2: Fill out the online application form. This should only take a few minutes.
NEXT STEPS

WAYS TO JOIN
Find out quickly which types of Army job are open to you, based on your age, education and experience, with our entry options search.
ARMY RECRUITING PROCESS
Learn about the recruitment process and how to prepare for the Army assessment.