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HM Career Guide

Navy

HM: Hospital Corpsman

Career transition guide for Navy Hospital Corpsman (HM)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for HM veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Medical Assistant

$42K
High matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

CMA certification

Emergency Medical Technician

$42K
High matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

State EMT certification

Registered Nurse

$82K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

BSN bridge program

Physician Assistant

$120K
Moderate matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

PA programGRE

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your HM training built — and where they transfer.

Rapid Prioritization

Triaging casualties in mass-casualty scenarios, prioritizing treatment based on severity and survivability

Making critical allocation decisions under time pressure — the same cognitive skill used in emergency medicine, incident command, and resource management

Degraded-Mode Operations

Providing medical care in field conditions with limited supplies, no electricity, and no specialist backup

Delivering results with minimal resources — valued in rural healthcare, telemedicine, community health, and humanitarian organizations

Procedural Compliance

Maintaining medical records, following treatment protocols, and managing controlled substances under strict Navy medical regulations

Working within healthcare regulatory frameworks — directly transferable to HIPAA compliance, clinical documentation, and pharmaceutical regulation

Team Synchronization

Coordinating with Marine Corps units, medical evacuation teams, and hospital staff across different communication systems and chains of command

Bridging organizational silos — the cross-functional coordination skill valued in healthcare administration, project management, and operations

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Health Informatics Specialist

SOC 15-1211

You understand both clinical workflows and documentation requirements — the rare combination health informatics needs. You can bridge the gap between clinicians and technology teams.

Medical Device Sales Representative

SOC 41-4011

You've used medical equipment in the most demanding conditions and can speak credibly with surgeons and ER doctors. That clinical fluency gives you instant credibility that non-clinical sales reps spend years trying to build.

Occupational Health & Safety Specialist

SOC 29-9011

Your training in preventive medicine, hazard assessment, and treatment protocols translates directly to workplace health and safety — keeping people from getting hurt instead of treating them after.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Hospital Corpsman A School, Joint Base San Antonio (Fort Sam Houston)

920 training hours19 weeksUp to 18 semester hours recommended

Topics Covered

  • Basic medical and surgical procedures
  • Patient assessment and triage
  • Pharmacology and medication administration
  • Emergency medicine
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Laboratory techniques
  • Medical record documentation
  • Preventive medicine

Certification Pathways

Ready to Certify

EMT-BNREMT

Partial Coverage

Paramedic65% covered

Advanced cardiac life support pharmacology, clinical internship hours, and pediatric emergencies

Certified Nursing Assistant85% covered

Minimal — focus on long-term care and assisted living facility protocols

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)50% covered

Pharmacology, IV therapy, and state licensing clinical requirements

Recommended Next Certifications

ParamedicLPNRN (with bridge program)

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
AHLTA (Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application)Electronic health record systems (Epic, Cerner, Allscripts)
CHCS (Composite Health Care System)Hospital information and patient management systems
TMIP (Theater Medical Information Program)Healthcare information exchange and patient tracking platforms
DMLSS (Defense Medical Logistics Standard Support)Medical supply chain and inventory management systems
TC2 (Tactical Combat Casualty Care) ProtocolsEmergency medical protocols and clinical decision support tools

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