Join the military to become a physicians assistant?

Question

I am about to start nursing school. I was thinking after I was done about joining the army to become a PA. I am wondering how this works. Also I am wondering will they pay off my student loans from college before I join the military, then pay for me to go to school, and still give me the GI bill when I am done in the army, because I eventually want to become a doctor. If any one knows about all this, a little insight would be great. Thanks

Answer 1

Ok, i looked into it for you.

If you have a 4 year nursing degree, you can be commissioned in the Army as a nurse.

The Army will pay up to $20,000 in the CLRP college loan repayment program.

But in your first enlistment, you have to choose between the GI bill or CLRP.

But, if you reenlist, extend, then after 30 additional months, if you had origionally accepted CLRP, then you become eligible for the GI bill.

So it will take an additional 30 months after your first period of service, to qualify for both.

As to becoming a PA, the Army accepts PA applications from officers, enlisted or warrents.

But you must have 3 years active duty, reserve or national guard service, Before you can apply.

Link to the Army Pa program is below.

So, you would be looking at atleast 8 years in the Army to do what you want to do.

3 year initial commitment as a officer nurse.
2 years in PA school ( you will receive a masters degree)
3 year commitment after PA school.

Answer 2

They actually will pay off college loans. I had a roomate back when I was in flight school who got a $40,000 loan paid off for enlisting. If you get the college loan repayment, you can't get the mgi bill on top of that. Atleast thats the way it was, it may have changed. However to become a PA you'd have to join the nurse corps, which would make you an officer and inelligable for the loan repayment and the gi bill. They will send you to school however, and officers in the medical feild tend to get big bonuses, like 1-2 or more thousand dollars a month, on top of base pay. Plus when you get done school you'll be direcly commissioned as a captain. So you'll be making very good money right off the start. Its a very good deal in my opinion even though you don't get the loan repayment or gi bill.

Answer 3

Actually, yes, the military does pay for prior student loans, but they will only cover the amount before you enlist. After you enlist, that's it. PA school is at Ft. Sam Houston, TX if you ever wanted to research the requirements. If you do PA school as a soldier at AMEDD, then of course you are paid Active Duty plus whatever allowances you qualify for. If you qualify for the GI Bill, which usually requires a 6 yr enlistment, then yes, you will get the GI once you go through VA and fill out the application, but you won't get while in military school. You'll get if you go through civilian school. Once you are done with the Army you have 10 yrs from the date you are relieved from active to use your GI Bill. If you do decide to enlist and go after the GI Bill, you should aim for GI Bill kicker also (depending on if you're goin Active or National Guard). You get more information from a recruiter near you or go to 1800goguard.com or www.goarmy.com and speak to live recruiters.

Answer 4

You can join the military after nursing school as an officer or find a military recruiter that recruits for the Medical Department and perhaps the military can fund your studies to become a nurse and after a few years of active duty, Medical School.
The Military also has a PA school located at Ft Sam Houston, in San Antonio,TX
Good Luck!

Answer 5

A naval physician is really no different than any other physician as far as training requirements. I mean, it sounds like your implying that the Navy has some special school to become a doctor, not so. While the Navy can help finance his schooling it can't get him into medical school. That he has to qualify on his own merit. Usually require a BS/BA with a high GPA and good MCAT scores. You have to have all the prerequiste courses done before starting medical school. Things like a year of college level Biology, Physics, 1 yr of Chemistry, 1 yr of organic Chemistry etc. To sum up it's up to the Medical School where he chooses to apply that approves of his admission, not the Navy. First get accepted then there are plenty of financing options. Hope it helps.

Answer 6

My friend went deeply into debt for pre-med and med. school. She finished her internship and THEN joined the military. They paid-off her loan, and paid her officer's pay (O-3) (not enlisted pay), in addition she was in for only 4 years. She was a flight surgeon, (a doctor for pilots only). She has finished her obligation to the Navy and now is in her 3rd year of Residency in Anesthesiology in Baylor.

If you want to become a doctor, go for it full throttle. Don't be distracted and afraid of a little bit of debt. The military will pay it off for you. You will make plenty of money when you are done. The military offers plenty of very generous incentives designed to attract good doctors to active duty.

Answer 7

Military Pa School

Answer 8

Nope will not pay off your prier college loans. The GI bill will help while your in and after your tour of duty.


Vet-USAF 44MMS

Answer 9

You don't want much from them., do you.??
Try doing it the old fashioned way...,student loans.