37 U.S.C. § 335: Special bonus and incentive pay authorities for officers in health professions

accepts a commission or appointment as an officer in a regular or reserve component of a uniformed service, or affiliates with a reserve component of a uniformed service, and agrees to serve on active duty in a regular component or in an active status in a reserve component in a health profession; accepts a commission or appointment as an officer and whose health profession specialty is designated by the Secretary of Defense as a critically short wartime specialty; or agrees to remain on active duty or continue serving in an active status in a reserve component in a health profession. is entitled to basic pay under section 204 of this title or compensation under section 206 of this title ; and is serving on active duty or in an active status in a designated health profession specialty or skill. is entitled to basic pay under section 204 of this title or compensation under section 206 of this title ; is board certified in a designated health profession specialty or skill; and is serving on active duty or in an active status in such designated health profession specialty or skill. The Secretary concerned may impose such additional criteria for the receipt of a bonus or incentive pay under this section as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. a health professions bonus paid under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) may not exceed $100,000 for each 12-month period of obligated service agreed to under subsection (f); a health professions bonus paid under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) may not exceed $200,000 for each 12-month period of obligated service agreed to under subsection (f); a health professions bonus paid under paragraph (3) of subsection (a) may not exceed $150,000 for each 12-month period of obligated service agreed to under subsection (f); $200,000 for medical officers and dental officers; and $50,000 for officers in other health professions; and board certification incentive pay under subsection (c) may not exceed $15,000 for each 12-month period an officer remains certified in the designated health profession specialty or skill. A health professions bonus under subsection (a) may be paid in a lump sum or in periodic installments, as determined by the Secretary concerned. Board certification incentive pay under subsection (c) may be paid monthly, in a lump sum at the beginning of the certification period, or in periodic installments during the certification period, as determined by the Secretary concerned. Upon acceptance by the Secretary concerned of the written agreement required by subsection (f), the total amount of the health professions bonus to be paid under the agreement shall be fixed. the amount of the bonus; the method of payment of the bonus under subsection (e)(2); the period of obligated service; whether the service will be performed on active duty or in an active status in a reserve component; and the type or conditions of the service. An officer in a reserve component authorized incentive pay under subsection (b) or (c) who is not serving on continuous active duty and is entitled to compensation under section 204 of this title or compensation under section 206 of this title may be paid a monthly amount of incentive pay that is proportionate to the basic pay or compensation received under this title. A bonus paid to a person or officer under subsection (a) shall be in addition to any other pay and allowance to which the person or officer is entitled, except that a person or officer may not receive a payment under such subsection and section 332 of this title for the same period of obligated service. Incentive pay paid to an officer under subsection (b) shall be in addition to any other pay and allowance to which an officer is entitled, except that an officer may not receive a payment under such subsection and section 353 of this title for the same skill and period of service. Incentive pay paid to an officer under subsection (c) shall be in addition to any other pay and allowance to which an officer is entitled, except that an officer may not receive a payment under such subsection and section 353(b) of this title for the same skill and period of service covered by the certification. An officer who receives a bonus or incentive pay under this section and who fails to fulfill the eligibility requirements for the receipt of the bonus or incentive pay or complete the period of service for which the bonus or incentive pay is paid, as specified in the written agreement under subsection (f) in the case of a bonus, shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 373 of this title . Any health profession performed by officers in the Medical Corps of a uniformed service or by officers designated as a medical officer. Any health profession performed by officers in the Dental Corps of a uniformed service or by officers designated as a dental officer. Any health profession performed by officers in the Medical Service Corps of a uniformed service or by officers designated as a medical service officer or biomedical sciences officer. Any health profession performed by officers in the Medical Specialist Corps of a uniformed service or by officers designated as a medical specialist. Any health profession performed by officers of the Nurse Corps of a uniformed service or by officers designated as a nurse. Any health profession performed by officers in the Veterinary Corps of a uniformed service or by officers designated as a veterinary officer. Any health profession performed by officers designated as a physician assistant. Any health profession performed by officers in the regular or reserve corps 1 of the Public Health Service. 1 See Change of Name note below. No agreement may be entered into under this section after December 31, 2026 . Psychologists who have been awarded a diploma as a Diplomate in Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology and are fully licensed and such other mental health practitioners as the Secretary concerned determines to be necessary. Registered nurses. Under the authority provided by this section [enacting this note and section 302c–1 of this title ], the Secretary concerned may enter into an agreement under subsection (f) of section 335 of title 37 , United States Code, to pay a health professions bonus under such section to a person who accepts a commission or appointment as an officer and whose health profession specialty is specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection. In this subsection, the term ‘Secretary concerned’ has the meaning given that term in section 101(5) of title 37 , United States Code. The designations made by this subsection and the authority to enter into an agreement under paragraph (2) of this subsection expire on September 30, 2010 .”