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What They Do
Bioscience Officers reduce and prevent health threats to Canadian Forces members and improve their operational performance. They develop practical procedures, standards, equipment and strategies that protect Canadian Forces’ members and resources, respect the environment, and increase effectiveness.
Bioscience Officers understand not only the human factors of military operations, environmental physiology, and occupational health and safety, but also the roles, capabilities and needs of Canadian Forces members. Bioscience Officers interpret and apply current scientific standards and practices in the following fields:
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Applied research and development, which includes:
- study of human response to environmental stress
- development, testing and evaluation of protective clothing and equipment
- analysis of the human-machine interface and system design
- human-factors analysis of accidents
- exploitation of technology to improve health, safety and human capability
- Occupational hygiene support, which involves health-hazard and risk assessments of Canadian Forces workplaces and equipment
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High-risk training for Canadian Forces members so they can function effectively and safely when faced with environmental, occupational and operational health threats, which involves:
- threat-specific countermeasures
- use of protective equipment
- operational medical training
Working Environment
Bioscience Officers typically work in a laboratory or office. They may be assigned to a Health Hazard Assessment Team or the Canadian Forces School of Survival and Aeromedical Training. They may be posted to support the operations of the Army, Royal Canadian Navy or Royal Canadian Air Force, in Canada or around the world.
Career Development
The starting salary for a fully-trained Bioscience Officer is $51,000 per year; however, depending on previous experience and training the starting salary may be higher. Regular promotions through the junior officer ranks take place based on the completion of required training and on the length of service as an officer. Once promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (Navy) or Captain, their salary is approximately $74,000 per year. Bioscience Officers are expected to maintain and expand professional knowledge, skills and potential through continuing education and training, including in-service instruction, specialist courses, and applicable university programs at the graduate level.
After enrolment, you start basic officer training at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, for 15 weeks. Topics covered include general military knowledge, the principles of leadership, regulations and customs of the Canadian Forces, basic weapons handling, and first aid. Opportunities will also be provided to apply such newly acquired military skills in training exercises involving force protection, field training, navigation and leadership. A rigorous physical fitness program is also a vital part of basic training. Basic officer training is provided in English or French and successful completion is a prerequisite for further training.
Second language training is available following basic officer training; depending on your ability in your second language, it may take from two to nine months.
Bioscience Officers work for up to 24 months under the supervision of a senior Bioscience Officer in a preceptor program. This program includes a variety of military and civilian courses, as well as work experience to bring the Bioscience Officer to an operational and independent level of performance as quickly as possible.
Bioscience Officers may be offered the opportunity to develop specialized skills through formal courses, professional conferences, and on-the-job training, including:
- Military Leadership
- Instructional Techniques
- Project Management and Administration
As they progress in their career, Bioscience Officers who demonstrate the required ability and potential will be offered advanced training. Available courses include:
- Graduate studies in Occupational Health
- Graduate studies in Human Factors
- Aerospace Physiology
The required education for this position is a bachelor’s degree with honours from an accredited university in Canada. Applicants must also meet minimum requirements for acceptance into a graduate program in Human Factors, Physiology or Industrial Hygiene. The Canadian Forces will decide if your academic program matches the training criteria for this job and may place you directly into the any required on-the-job training program following basic training. Basic training and military occupation training are required before being assigned.
Preference is given to applicants with degrees in the human sciences, such as human biology, human factors engineering, ergonomics, occupational hygiene, human physiology, biochemistry. The Canadian Forces may also consider applicants who have completed suitable courses in the human sciences if they also hold an engineering degree in a relevant discipline, such as Industrial, Environmental or Chemical Engineering, or Engineering Management.
Regular Officer Training Plan
Because this position requires a university degree, the Canadian Forces will pay successful recruits to complete a Bachelor degree program at a Canadian university. They receive full-time salary including medical and dental care, as well as vacation time with full-pay in exchange for working with the Canadian Forces for a period of time. Typically, candidates enter the Canadian Military College System as an Officer Cadet where they study subjects relevant to both their military and academic career. In some instances, the Canadian Forces is able to pay for Officer Cadets to attend other Canadian universities in a relevant degree program. Officer Cadets who attend other Canadian universities typically attend university during the regular academic year and participate in additional military training during the summer months. If you choose to apply to this program, you must apply both to the Canadian Forces and the Canadian university of your choice. For more information, click on Paid University.
The role of the Canadian Forces Health Services Reserves is to provide trained personnel to support, augment and sustain Canadian Forces Health Services organizations for Canadian Armed Forces operations and training activities, while building and maintaining links between the Canadian Armed Forces and the local community.
This position is available for part-time employment with the Primary Reserve as a member of the 1 Canadian Field Hospital Detachment Ottawa. Reserve Force members in this unit reside across Canada and serve part time a minimum of 14 days per year in a military clinic or on military training when required. They are paid during their training. They are not posted or required to do a military move. However, they can volunteer to move to another base. They may also volunteer for deployment on a military mission within or outside Canada.
Bioscience Officers may serve with the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army or the Royal Canadian Air Force as members of the Canadian Forces Health Services Group. They are employed to reduce and prevent health threats to Canadian Armed Forces members and improve their operational performance. Those employed on a part-time or casual full-time basis usually serve at a location within Canada.
Reserve Force members are trained to the same level as their Regular Force counterparts. Bioscience Officers work for up to 24 months under the supervision of a senior Bioscience Officer in a preceptor program. The preceptorship training may take place in blocks of training lasting from one week to longer periods of time based on your availability.
Preference is given to applicants with degrees in the human sciences, such as human biology, human factors engineering, ergonomics, occupational hygiene, human physiology and biochemistry.
Reserve Force Bioscience Officers may serve part-time at a Health Services Clinic and may also serve in full-time positions at some units for fixed terms, depending on the type of work that they do. They are paid 85% of Regular Force rates of pay, receive a reasonable benefits package and may qualify to contribute to a pension plan.
For more information, and to start the application process for part-time employment, send an e-mail to: HealthServicesReserves@forces.gc.ca.
