If you are interested in applying for the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, contact the Officer Recruiting Branch by calling 800-299-6622 or sending email to NOAACorps.Recruiting@noaa.gov. A NOAA Corps brochure and copy of the Recruiting Video will be mailed to you upon request.

To begin the application process, send a completed and signed Personal Data Resume (PDR) form to the Officer Recruiting Branch. Mail this, and all subsequent application materials to:

NOAA Corps Recruiting Unit
NOAA Commissioned Personnel Center
8403 Colesville Road, Suite 500
Silver Spring, MD 20910

If desired, applicants may include a professional resume and/or college transcripts with the PDR submission.

Upon review of the PDR, applicants who meet the minimum eligibility requirements for an appointment in the NOAA Corps will be notified to continue the application process. The full application process consists of the following steps:

• Complete and submit an Application for an Appointment in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Form 56-42) . Be certain to sign and date this form.
• Request three to five letters of recommendation. References should be completed on NOAA Form 56-42D and submitted directly to the Officer Recruiting Branch. If desired, a formal letter may be attached to this submission. At least three letters of recommendation are required for a complete application package.
• Submit official transcripts from each college or university attended, if not previously submitted with the PDR. Transcripts must show that a bachelor’s degree has been awarded.
  
  If an applicant will not graduate until after the application deadline, an official letter from the school’s Registrar that identifies courses in progress, major field of study, and projected graduation date may be submitted with official transcripts. If selected for appointment in the NOAA Corps, the candidate must provide official transcripts, showing that a bachelor’s degree has been awarded, prior to the start of Basic Officer Training Class (BOTC).
• If an applicant has prior enlisted or commissioned service, submit the following items:
  • A Member-4 Copy of the DD214, or service equivalent form, issued upon separation from the service.
  • Copies of prior evaluation reports covering the applicant’s most recent five years of service.
• Complete a personal interview with a NOAA Corps officer. Once the application materials listed above have been received and reviewed by the Officer Recruiting Branch, an interview will be scheduled with a mid- to senior-level NOAA Corps officer. The interviewing officer will submit an evaluation directly to the Officer Recruiting Branch.
  
  Note: NOAA Corps does not reimburse applicants for travel associated with the interview, but efforts are made to find an interviewer in close proximity to the applicant.

The deadline for submitting a complete application package is typically three months prior to the start of the next scheduled BOTC. Applications are subject to a final administrative screening to ensure that all eligibility requirements have been met. If, at any time, it is found that an applicant does not meet these requirements, they will not be considered for an appointment in the NOAA Corps.

NOAA Corps intends to hold two BOTC A-School (initial training) classes per year, one commencing in February and one beginning in August. Each class is expected to include 16-20 officer candidates. Application deadlines and BOTC start dates will be posted on the website once they are made firm.

Complete application packages will be forwarded to the Officer Personnel Board (OPB) for review. The OPB will then recommend Primary and Alternate officer candidates to the Director, NOAA Corps. Once the Director, NOAA Corps approves a Primary and Alternate candidate list, applicants will be notified of their status via a formal letter. Primary and Alternate candidates will be provided with further instructions regarding administrative processing and physical examinations at this time.

Note: Pre-commissioning physical examinations consist of standard procedures, and are funded by NOAA Corps. If, upon completion of the standard physical examination, further information is necessary to determine if a candidate is medically qualified, any expenses associated with additional medical procedures are the responsibility of the officer candidate. Failure to be determined medically qualified will result in withdrawal of the offer for an appointment in the NOAA Corps.

PRIMARY candidates will be offered a temporary appointment in the NOAA Corps, contingent upon passing the physical examination as prescribed in the NOAA Corps Directives, obtaining a Secret security clearance, and receiving negative test results for illegal drug use.

ALTERNATE candidates will be ranked and offered a temporary appointment in the NOAA Corps if an opening becomes available due to a Primary candidate declining an appointment or being disqualified. Top ranked Alternates will be asked to complete a pre-commissioning physical examination to ensure they can be quickly transferred to the Primary candidate list, if a position becomes available.

NON-SELECT applicants were not determined by the OPB to be among the best qualified for the NOAA Corps, and will not be offered an appointment in the NOAA Corps.