Army Medical MOS Jobs: CMF 68 Career Profiles (2026)

Medical

Career Management Field 68 is the Army’s entire enlisted medical workforce. These soldiers staff garrison hospitals, field clinics, combat support hospitals, and deployed medical teams from Fort Sam Houston to forward operating bases overseas. The unifying mission is medical readiness: keeping soldiers healthy enough to fight and treating them when they aren’t.

CMF 68 has 23 enlisted specialties. The range is wide. On one end, the 68W Combat Medic runs trauma care on the battlefield. On the other, the 68A Biomedical Equipment Specialist repairs MRI machines and surgical lasers. Between those two poles you’ll find lab technicians, pharmacists, dental assistants, cardiovascular specialists, respiratory therapists, and more. Most ASVAB-qualifying soldiers will find at least a few roles in this field that match both their scores and their interests.

The people who do well in CMF 68 tend to share a few things: patience with detail work, comfort around sick or injured people, and the ability to stay focused under pressure. You don’t need a pre-existing healthcare background. The Army trains you from scratch. But if healthcare already interests you, this field offers faster hands-on clinical experience than most civilian entry-level programs.

At a Glance

The table below covers all 23 CMF 68 specialties. ASVAB scores are the minimum required line scores per DA Pam 611-21. Training lengths reflect AIT only (BCT is separate for all roles). Sorted by MOS code.

Patient Care

MOS	Title	ASVAB Line Score	Training Length	Clearance	Civilian Equivalent
68C	Practical Nursing Specialist	ST 101, GT 107	10-14 weeks	Top Secret	Licensed Practical Nurse
68D	Operating Room Specialist	ST 91	12-16 weeks	Secret	Surgical Technologist
68N	Cardiovascular Specialist	ST 101, GT 107	56 weeks	None	Cardiovascular Technologist
68V	Respiratory Specialist	ST 102	36 weeks	None	Respiratory Therapist
68W	Combat Medic Specialist	ST 101, GT 107	16-18 weeks	None	EMT / Paramedic

Diagnostics and Laboratory

MOS	Title	ASVAB Line Score	Training Length	Clearance	Civilian Equivalent
68K	Medical Laboratory Specialist	ST 106	52 weeks	Secret	Medical Lab Technician
68P	Radiology Specialist	ST 106	46 weeks	Secret	Radiologic Technologist
68U	Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist	ST 101, GT 107	14 weeks	None	Hearing Instrument Specialist
68Y	Eye Specialist	ST 101, GT 107	13 weeks	None	Ophthalmic Technician

Dental and Therapy

MOS	Title	ASVAB Line Score	Training Length	Clearance	Civilian Equivalent
68E	Dental Specialist	ST 91	8-10 weeks	Secret	Dental Assistant
68F	Physical Therapy Specialist	ST 101, GT 107	28 weeks	Secret	Physical Therapy Assistant
68L	Occupational Therapy Specialist	ST 101, GT 107	34 weeks	None	OT Assistant
68X	Mental Health Specialist	ST 101	12-14 weeks	Secret	Mental Health Technician

Pharmacy and Nutrition

MOS	Title	ASVAB Line Score	Training Length	Clearance	Civilian Equivalent
68M	Nutrition Care Specialist	OF 95	7 weeks	None	Dietary Technician
68Q	Pharmacy Specialist	ST 95	5 weeks	Secret	Pharmacy Technician

Technical and Equipment

MOS	Title	ASVAB Line Score	Training Length	Clearance	Civilian Equivalent
68A	Biomedical Equipment Specialist	EL 107	~42 weeks	None	Biomedical Equipment Technician
68B	Orthopedic Specialist	ST 101, GT 107	14 weeks	None	Orthopedic Technician
68H	Optical Laboratory Specialist	GM 98	24 weeks	None	Optician / Lab Technician

Preventive Medicine and Veterinary

MOS	Title	ASVAB Line Score	Training Length	Clearance	Civilian Equivalent
68R	Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist	ST 95	8 weeks	None	Food Safety Inspector
68S	Preventive Medicine Specialist	ST 101	15 weeks	None	Public Health Technician
68T	Animal Care Specialist	ST 91	11 weeks	None	Veterinary Technician

Medical Administration and Logistics

MOS	Title	ASVAB Line Score	Training Length	Clearance	Civilian Equivalent
68G	Patient Administration Specialist	CL 90	6 weeks	None	Health Information Technician
68J	Medical Logistics Specialist	CL 90	5 weeks	None	Medical Supply Chain Coordinator

Which Role Fits You?

The biggest split in CMF 68 is between roles where you work directly on patients and roles where you work on systems, equipment, or data. Both tracks matter equally, but the day-to-day experience is completely different.

If you want hands-on patient care, start with the 68W Combat Medic. It’s the field’s most versatile role: trauma care in the field, sick call in garrison, and a direct path to paramedic certification after service. The 68C Practical Nursing Specialist and 68F Physical Therapy Specialist go deeper into clinical practice with longer AIT pipelines and strong civilian licensing pathways. The 68X Mental Health Specialist fits people drawn to behavioral health and counseling work rather than physical medicine. If working with patients in a cardiac or pulmonary ICU setting appeals to you, the 68N Cardiovascular Specialist and 68V Respiratory Specialist offer some of the most advanced clinical training in the enlisted Army, though their AIT pipelines run 36 to 56 weeks.

If you prefer diagnostics and imaging over bedside care, look at the 68K Medical Laboratory Specialist and 68P Radiology Specialist. Both require ST 106 or higher, both come with a Secret clearance, and both produce nationally recognized civilian credentials. The 68Y Eye Specialist and 68U Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist are shorter pipelines in the same diagnostic vein, with civilian optometry and audiology careers on the other side.

For dental, therapy, and specialty clinical work, the 68E Dental Specialist is the shortest AIT in this cluster at 8-10 weeks and leads directly to civilian dental assisting work. The 68L Occupational Therapy Specialist runs 34 weeks and is one of the better-paying civilian healthcare careers you can enter without a degree.

If you’re drawn to science and public health over clinical settings, the 68S Preventive Medicine Specialist does disease surveillance, sanitation inspections, and health threat analysis in both garrison and deployed environments. The 68R Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist and 68T Animal Care Specialist work within the Army Veterinary Corps and require the lowest ST scores in the field.

For equipment, administration, or logistics, the 68A Biomedical Equipment Specialist requires an EL 107 score and spends 42 weeks in training learning to maintain clinical equipment. The 68G Patient Administration Specialist and 68J Medical Logistics Specialist both use the CL composite instead of ST, making them accessible to recruits who score higher on verbal and clerical subtests. If precise lab fabrication interests you, the 68H Optical Laboratory Specialist makes prescription eyewear and serves a niche but steady mission.

Common Entry Requirements

All CMF 68 soldiers need a high school diploma (AFQT 31 minimum) or GED (AFQT 50 minimum), U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status, and the ability to pass a full medical exam at MEPS. Most AIT courses are located at the Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE) at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, which serves as the Army’s main medical training installation. A few specialties train at other MEDCOM facilities or service-specific schools. Color vision standards apply to several MOSs, including 68A, 68H, and 68K. See each role’s profile below for specific ASVAB scores, training details, and additional requirements.

Career Field Directory

Preparing for this career field? Most CMF 68 jobs require specific ASVAB line scores. Our ASVAB study guide covers every composite and how to raise the scores that matter for your target MOS. First-time testers may also qualify for the PiCAT, the at-home version of the ASVAB.