How to become a Royal Navy officer
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- applying directly
University
If you have a degree, you can apply through the Direct Graduate Entry route.
For some officer roles you'll need specific qualifications and experience, for example:
- as an air engineering officer, you'll need a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths (STEM)
- to join the medical support services as a doctor, you need to have or be working towards an approved degree in medicine
- to be a chaplain you must be ordained with 3 years' experience and have a theological degree
You can start applying before you finish your studies, as the process can take up to 6 months. If you're accepted, you'll attend Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth to begin officer training.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
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Volunteering
You can join the Royal Navy Reserve to get some experience of what life is like in the service, and to learn new skills at the same time. You'll need to be:
- between the ages of 16 and 42
- able to commit to basic training which includes a 2-week course at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth
If you're between 12 and 18 years old, you can join the Sea Cadets.
Direct Application
You can apply directly for officer training.
You'll need a minimum of:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
- 2 A levels or equivalent
Age limits vary depending on which officer role you're interested in.
If your application is accepted, you'll be invited to talk to someone at your local armed forces careers office about what you want to do. You'll also have a medical and fitness check.
There will be further assessments and interviews to complete and if you're successful, you'll be offered a place on a full officer training programme.
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Further information
You'll find more details about how to become an officer from the Royal Navy.