MEDICAL CORPS BOARD CERTIFICATION PAY, INCENTIVE PAY (IP) and RETENTION BONUS (RB) FY 2026

Effective October 1, 2025

DoD FMR Volume 7A Chapter 5

The following amounts are the maximum allowed by the Department of Defense.
For service specific amounts consult with your service personnel office.

Bolded information reflects changes.
 

Board Certification Pay (prorated monthly) in US $ 8,000
MEDICAL CORPS IP 1-YEAR RATE (PRORATED MONTHLY) IN US $
General Medical Officer (GMO) 20,000
GMO with Aerospace Medicine or Undersea Medical Officer Training (Note 1 and 2) 25,000
Initial Residency (Post-Graduate Year 2) 8,000
Internship (First Year of Graduate Medical Education) 1,200
POST RESIDENT or
GRADUATE FELLOW
(initial residency is the first residency completed)
Fully Qualified IP Rate (prorated monthly) in US $ RB (Paid Annually) IN US $
2-Year Rate 3-Year Rate 4-Year Rate 6-Year Rate
Anesthesiology 66,000 40,000 55,000 105,000 125,000
Cardiology – Adult/Peds 69,000 26,000 39,000 76,000 95,000
Dermatology 48,000 17,000 25,000 43,000 60,000
Emergency Medicine 54,000 26,000 39,000 76,000 95,000
Family Medicine 43,000 20,000 28,000 48,000 60,000
Flight Surgery/Aerospace Medicine Primary Course (AMP), Other Residency Trained Note 3 Note 3 Note 3 Note 3 Note 3
Gastroenterology – Adult/Peds 54,000 25,000 36,000 58,000 68,000
General - Internal Medicine 43,000 20,000 28,000 48,000 60,000
General Surgery 66,000 50,000 65,000 105,000 125,000
Gynecological Surgery and Obstetrics 60,000 20,000 30,000 46,000 58,000
Neonatology 50,000 24,000 34,000 63,000 78,000
Neurology – Adult/Peds 48,000 13,000 19,000 30,000 40,000
Neurosurgery (Note 4) 75,000 75,000 100,000 150,000 150,000
Ophthalmology 54,000 20,000 25,000 37,000 50,000
Orthopedics 66,000 50,000 65,000 105,000 125,000
Otolaryngology 60,000 25,000 35,000 48,000 65,000
Pathology 48,000 15,000 20,000 35,000 40,000
Pediatrics 43,000 15,000 25,000 35,000 40,000
Physiatrist/Physical Medicine 43,000 15,000 20,000 30,000 N/A
Preventive/Occupational Medicine 43,000 15,000 30,000 35,000 40,000
Psychiatry – Adult/Peds 48,000 19,000 31,000 65,000 85,000
Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine 60,000 27,000 37,000 63,000 78,000
Radiology – Diagnostic/Therapeutic 66,000 34,000 49,000 76,000 N/A
Residency in Aerospace Medicine (RAM) 43,000 20,000 30,000 45,000 N/A
RAM (other residency trained) Note 5 Note 5 Note 5 Note 5 Note 5
Subspecialty Category 1 (Note 6) 72,000 50,000 65,000 110,000 130,000
Subspecialty Category II (Note 7) 51,000 12,000 18,000 32,000 N/A
Subspecialty Category III (Note 8) 46,000 20,000 28,000 48,000 60,000
Subspecialty Category IV (Note 9) 46,000 20,000 28,000 48,000 60,000
Subspecialty Category V (Note 10) 66,000 26,000 36,000 55,000 70,000
Urology 60,000 20,000 30,000 55,000 65,000
NOTES:
 
1.   GMO Aerospace Medicine Training: Physicians who have completed the Aerospace Medicine Primary courses.
2.   GMO Undersea Medicine Training: Physicians who have completed the Undersea Medicine Officer courses.
3.   Physicians who are trained in a primary specialty and have completed the Aerospace Medicine Primary Course (AMP, USAF) or Undersea Medical Officer Training (USN) are eligible for a $3,000 increase in Incentive Pay and Retention Bonus above their primary specialty rates.
4.   The annual IP amounts for Neurosurgery are $102,000 for a four-year retention agreement and $120,000 for a six-year retention agreement.
5.   Physicians who are residency-trained in a specialty other than RAM, who have also completed the RAM, are eligible for a $5,000 increase in both IP and RB above their non-RAM specialty rates.
6.   Requires primary specialty in General Surgery or as listed:
      a.  Cardio Thoracic Surgery;
      b.  Colorectal Surgery;
      c.  Fellowship trained Orthopedic Surgeons;
      d.  Oncology Surgery;
      e.  Organ Transplant;
      f.  Pediatric Surgery;
      g.  Plastic Surgery;
      h.  Trauma/Critical Care Surgery; or
      i.  Vascular Surgery.
7.   Internal Medicine and Nuclear medicine physicians only.
8.   All Internal Medicine/Pediatric fellowship-trained subspecialties not listed separately.
9.   All Family Medicine fellowship trained subspecialties.
10. Physicians who are trained in:
      a   Ophthalmology;
      b.  Otolaryngology;
      c.  Obstetrics/Gynecology; and
      d.  Urology.

NOTE: Bolded information reflects changes in current chart.

Page updated  September 25, 2025