Navy
MEDICAL
Subspecialty

Officer Subspecialty

SCIENTIST

Healthcare Scientist

An officer subspecialty earned alongside a primary designator, marking advanced education or experience in this field.

Description

Healthcare Scientists apply biological, laboratory, and analytical science to medical research, diagnosis, and patient care. They may work in clinical laboratories, research programs, public health, or healthcare quality operations.

Core Skills

  • clinical research methods
  • laboratory testing
  • biomedical data analysis
  • experimental design
  • quality control procedures
  • scientific literature review
  • statistical interpretation
  • technical report writing
  • healthcare team communication

Common Certifications

  • ASCP Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)
  • ASCP Specialist in Molecular Biology (SMB)
  • Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP)
  • Certified Clinical Research Associate (CCRA)
  • Certified in Public Health (CPH)
  • American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics Certification

Civilian Career Paths

  • MEDICAL LABORATORY
  • PUBLIC HEALTH
  • CLINICAL TECHNICIAN
  • BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Training & Development

Getting Started

  • ASCP Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)
  • Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP)
  • Good Clinical Practice training
  • Certified in Public Health (CPH)

Career Growth

  • ASCP Specialist in Molecular Biology (SMB)
  • Certified Clinical Research Associate (CCRA)
  • American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics Certification
  • Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)

Data sourced from official Navy publications and public military occupational references. Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.