READ ME: There are two paths to apply for Marine Corps Officer Candidates School (OCS).
Platoon Leaders Course (PLC) is for full-time enrolled students freshman-juniors at a community college or 4-year college. If you're a community college student you must have a plan to transfer to a 4-year college. You attend OCS during your summer(s) and cannot actually become a Marine Officer until you have graduated from both OCS and your college.
Officer Candidates Course (OCC) is for college graduates or college seniors (college seniors can apply to OCC in anticipation of receiving their college degree prior to attending OCS). They are simply 2 different application paths to receive a selection to attend Officer Candidates School (OCS) in Quantico, VA. Everything on this list can be done concurrently. Each form hyperlinked below will take you to our official recruiting forms repository; click on the appropriate form you're looking for, download it, and follow the instructions on the form. Each completed document should be sent to queenly.lee@marines.usmc.mil. CC carlos.martinez@marines.usmc.mil and niall.gallagher@marines.usmc.mil
Note: Getting selected to OCS is not guaranteed. This is not boot camp. How well you can efficiently get through this process is going to dictate how your Officer Selection Officer evaluates you and recommends you. This is part of the test.
Basic process from start to finish:
Fill out an initial screening form or contact your local Officer Selection Officer
If deemed basically qualified, fill out the rough application and send it back to the OSO or OSA and HRA ASAP.
Your OSO/HRA/OSA will e-mail and request each personal reference on your rough application to fill out a Personal Information Questionnaire (PIQ), officially known as a NAVMC 10064. At minimum, you need one from the following:
Dean (specific verbiage required.) - The Dean does not have to write a recommendation on you. They only need to indicate yes/no to whether you've been subject to disciplinary action or were on academic probation at your college.
SMCR I&I (Required only for drilling enlisted Marine reservists)
2 "Others" (can be anyone that can testify to your competence and good character)
Conduct an initial face-to-face interview with your OSO and meet the OSA
Side note: First impressions matter. How you dress, your hair, how you speak, etc.
At your first interview, if you're serious about this, provide your OSA or OSO with your Social Security Card and birth certificate.
At your first interview, fill out a DD 2807 (Medical history for examination at your local Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). (Step not required for servicemembers who have had a physical in the last 5yrs)
At your first interview, sign a DD 680 (Request for examination at MEPS) (Step not required for servicemembers who have had a physical in the last 5yrs).
At your first interview, show up in a full suit (men) or blazer, slacks, and dress shoes (women) - This is for your professional photo that the board will see. Active or Reserve Marines will take this photo in the Service "C" uniform. Active or Reserve servicemembers in other branches will take this photo in their Service "C" equivalent.
At your first interview, indicate any tattoos you may have.
The policy as of March 28, 2023 is located here: https://www.marines.mil/News/Publications/MCPEL/Electronic-Library-Display/Article/2827464/mcbul-1020-dtd-29oct21-extended-until-29oct23/ . This policy expires Oct 29, 2023.
Fill out an SF 86 (Questionnaire for National Security Positions). The time sensitivity of this form cannot be overstated. After you fill out this form it will be entered into a government system and validated. It will take additional time for an investigator to be assigned to the case. You cannot "contract" (submit your application) until you receive the case number.
Get a physical at MEPS (Schedule this with your OSA while you fill out your DD2807 and DD680) (Step not required for servicemembers who have had a physical in the last 5yrs)
OCC Only: Get your dentist to fill out a DD 2813 Dental Examination form.
Law Applicants only (PLC & OCC): Provide proof of LSAT score.
Law Applicants only (PLC & OCC): Provide original acceptance letter to law school.
OCC Law applicants only: Provide proof of admittance to a state Bar.
If you scored below 1000 (math and reading combined on the SAT) or below a 22 on the ACT you will need to take the ASVAB at MEPS in addition to your physical. You will need to score a 74 or higher.
Female Age 21 or older only: Get a pap smear and provide the OSO/OSA with a copy of the results.
Provide immunizations history filled out by your doctor or printed from a patient portal. Note: the COVID 19 vaccination is no longer required to apply to the Marine Officer program. Active Component or Reserve Component Marines can provide their IMR in MOL to fulfill this requirement.
Only if currently serving in a different branch: Get a DD 368 (conditional release) filled out by your chain of command and provide the OSO/OSA with the finalized approval letter. Note: Ask your OSO to fill out their portion of the DD368 prior to filling out your portion and routing it.
Provide official transcripts from all colleges you've attended
Use an online method to deliver it straight to your OSA or OSO's e-mail inbox.
Unless you're taking the ASVAB, provide official test scores (SAT or ACT)
SAT Score reports can be sent to our Office electronically through collegeboard.org using the SAT ID/Code 7925.
ACT Score reports can be digitally sent to our office via Act.org. Our ACT college code is 8123.
You can also have your college registrar fill out the information on an Academic Certification Form NAVMC 10469(ACF).
Note: If it's been quite some time since you've taken the ACT or SAT, you may have to call SAT or ACT and request the score be retrieved through their archive. This will cost you anywhere from $15-$30.
PLC or college seniors Only: Academic Certification Form (ACF) filled out by your college's registrar.
Flight applicants only: take the Aviation Standard Test Battery (ASTB) at the OSO's office.
Flight applicants only: Get a flight physical. This can be scheduled through your OSO/OSA. Various bases have medical treatment facilities that can conduct the physical and send to the Navy Aeromedical Institute (NAMI) for approval.
Run a Physical Fitness Test.
Full information related to the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test is outlined in detail at fitness.marines.mil
To contract, ship, and induct into training, you must attain a 220 or above PFT and meet the below minimum standards (Note: the sum of the points attained through only attaining the minimum standards does not equal 220):
If you need a waiver this timeline will be prolonged as waivers can sometimes take upwards of 30 days to route and be approved. Learn more about waivers here.
Note: whether you are qualified at MEPS or not is inconsequential because The Navy Bureau of Medicine for the Dept of the Navy (BUMED) is the final determining unit for your medical qualification. To learn more about the medical process see SSgt Vuong's post on how to get medically qualified.