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DAOD 5002-13, Specialist Officer Training Plan – Regular Force

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Overview and Plan Framework
  3. Selection
  4. Career Administration
  5. Training
  6. Compliance and Consequences
  7. Responsibilities
  8. References

1. Introduction

Date of Issue: 2026-02-12

Application: This DAOD is an order that applies to officers and non-commissioned members (NCM) of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF members).

Supersession:

  • CFAO 9-63, Medical and Dental Officer Training Plans
  • CAFMPI 12/06, Subsidized Education for Entry-Level Masters in Physiotherapy, Masters in Social Work, Masters of Divinity – Regular Force (all references to civilian and Primary Reserve applicants)
  • CANFORGEN 157/06, Enrolment of Medical Officer Specialist Residents
  • CANFORGEN 158/06, Medical Officer Training Plan (MOTP)
  • CANFORGEN 118/21, Amendment to CFAO 9-63 Medical and Dental Officer Training Plans
  • CANFORGEN 048/22, Physician Assistant Training Plan (PATP) - Entry Pathway for Reservists

Approval Authority: Chief of Military Personnel (CMP)

Enquiries: Administrative Response Centre (ARC)

2. Overview and Plan Framework

Context

2.1 The CAF requires specialist military officers with advanced academic qualifications and credentials. Specialist officer military occupations in these branches must adhere to professional requirements as specified by professional regulatory bodies. These advanced requirements include a graduate-level academic degree and typically some additional specialized education, training, licensing, certification, and experiential components. 

Purpose

2.2 The Specialist Officer Training Plan (SOTP) – Regular Force (Reg F) is a Reg F officer production plan. It enables the CAF to maintain the optimal trained effective strength and production levels of officers in specific specialist military occupations as listed in the Personnel Generation Requirement Instruction (PGRI) 4-13, Specialist Officer Training Plan. This is achieved by providing full-time, subsidized training and education to selected civilians and Reserve Force (Res F) applicants.

Production Planning

2.3 The officer military occupations open to the SOTP are subject to officer production requirements, which are determined by the process set out in CAFMPI 01/08, Annual Military Occupation Review.

2.4 The SOTP intake requirements are determined by the Occupation Authorities (OAs) and conveyed in the annual Strategic Intake Plan. 

Educational Institutions

2.5 The academic degree is normally completed through full-time studies by attending a post-secondary institution accredited by a provincial or territorial ministry, or a federal government department. 

Periods of Subsidized Studies

2.6 An SOTP officer in receipt of pay and allowances in accordance with Compensation and Benefits Instructions (CBI) Chapters for the period required to complete an approved degree program and additional qualifications, licensing or training, as set out in PGRI 4-13 must:

  1. if the officer is a student:
    1. be registered as a “full-time” student, as defined by the SOTP officer’s educational institution; and
    2. follow the number of courses required in each semester as set out in the curriculum for that course of study to maintain full-time student status and progress normally from year-to-year; or
  2. if the officer is completing additional specialized education, training, licensing, certification, or required experiential components (e.g. residency, internship, ministry experience, etc.), they must undertake these activities on a full-time basis.

Note – An SOTP officer is normally limited to full-time subsidization studies for a period not to exceed the subsidization period listed in PGRI 4-13. In exceptional cases, the Director Personnel Generation Requirements (DPGR) may authorize additional years.

2.7 Applicants are not subsidized for any preparatory or prerequisite courses, degrees or qualifications required for admission to the degree program designated as the entry-level degree in the officer military occupation entry standards. 

3. Selection

General

3.1 The SOTP is a competitive application plan, based on merit or other criteria indicative of potential for service as specialist officers. Full-time, subsidized training and education are provided to selected applicants who meet the academic and eligibility requirements.   

3.2 An applicant to the SOTP must be either:

  1. a civilian with or without previous military service; or
  2. a Res F officer or NCM.

Eligibility Criteria

3.3 An applicant must meet all eligibility criteria as laid out in PGRI 4-13.

Component Transfer

3.4 A serving Res F CAF member must transfer into the new Reg F occupation prior to commencing education or training for the new occupation.

Environmental Assignment

3.5 The distinctive environmental uniform will be confirmed upon selection to the plan. 

4. Career Administration

Basic Military Officer Qualification

4.1 Upon selection to SOTP, members are required to complete Basic Military Officer Qualification (BMOQ) within 12 months following completion of full-time academic studies. However, in cases where academic program obligations (such as specialist courses, residencies, or internships) conflict with this timeline, members may be permitted to proceed with subsidized education or training prior to completing BMOQ. In such instances, BMOQ must be completed at the earliest reasonable opportunity. Certain specialist officers may be eligible to complete a modified version of BMOQ upon conclusion of their academic program.

4.2 If the BMOQ has not been completed within 12 months following completion of full-time academic studies and if the delay is not due to service reasons or course availability, an administrative review (AR) must be conducted in accordance with DAOD 5019-2, Administrative Review. The occupation advisor must be consulted as part of the AR process. If the non-completion of BMOQ is not due to service reasons or course availability, the AR process must also determine if the officer’s seniority date will still reflect the original date of the promotion to acting rank or if a later date will be assigned. 

Promotion

4.3 To be eligible for any promotion, an SOTP officer must meet the conditions and standards specified in CAF promotion policies.

4.4 Eligibility for promotion to the substantive rank of lieutenant/sub-lieutenant occurs on successful completion of academic requirements; and in accordance with officer military occupation specifications and applicable CAF promotion policy.

4.5 Eligibility for promotion to higher ranks occurs in accordance with officer military occupation specifications and applicable CAF promotion policy.

Obligatory Service

4.6 An SOTP officer is subject to obligatory service under DAOD 5049-1, Obligatory Service, which provides the duration and conditions of such service.

Voluntary Withdrawal from Academics or Training

4.7 An SOTP officer is not permitted to voluntarily withdraw from academics or training except under extenuating circumstances. Voluntarily withdrawal requires an AR in accordance with DAOD 5019-2 by the Canadian Defence Academy (CDA) Headquarters (HQ) Subsidized Education Management (SEM) and approval by the Commander (Comd) CDA in consultation with the OA.

Voluntary Release

4.8 QR&O articles 15.01 Release of Officers and Non-Commissioned Members, and 15.07, Voluntary Release After Subsidized Education or Training and DAOD 5049-1, Obligatory Service limits the voluntary release of an SOTP officer.  

Military Occupation Transfer 

4.9 A voluntary military occupational transfer - untrained (VMOT-U) request prior to completion of training by an SOTP officer must be referred to CDA HQ SEM. A VMOT-U will not normally be approved if an additional period of subsidy is required.

4.10 A compulsory military occupation transfer may be required because of a change in the officer’s medical category, unsatisfactory academic progress, voluntary withdrawal, or a military training failure. Final approval authority rests with Director General Military Careers (DGMC) in accordance with CAF Policy.

5. Training

Military and Academic Standards

5.1 An SOTP officer:

  1. remains subject to military law, including the Code of Service Discipline, at all times;
  2. must continue to meet the Universality of Service as stipulated in DAOD 5023-1, Minimum Operational Standards Related to Universality of Service;
  3. must maintain satisfactory academic and military standards to be eligible for retention under the SOTP;
  4. must advance to the next academic year without being placed on academic probation or conditional standing;
  5. is subject to the applicable rules of their educational institution; and
  6. must remain in good standing during any required periods of residency, internship, subsidized education, ministry experience, licensing, certification, or other required qualifications.

5.2 An SOTP officer must immediately inform their university liaison officer (ULO) and the Subsidized Education Manager of any academic failures, if they are placed on academic probation or conditional standing, or if they are subject to periods of remediation during residency, internship, or ministry experience. An SOTP officer is not permitted to change their academic course of study without the written permission of the CDA HQ SEM.

5.3 The CDA HQ SEM will conduct a Progress Review Board (PRB) with the OA as a board member and must forward a full report, together with recommendations, in accordance with the results of the PRB. 

Co-operative Academic Programs, Practical Experience and On-Job-Training Including Clinical Rotations

5.4 An SOTP officer is not authorized to enrol in a co-operative academic degree program that incorporates one or more work terms unless it is essential for their academic degree program. Approval must be sought from the CDA HQ SEM prior to accepting a co-operative work term placement.

5.5 Priority is given to local area placements for university placement. If a local area placement is not possible, approval for travel to the next most economical location must be requested from the CDA HQ SEM.

6. Compliance and Consequences

Compliance

6.1 CAF members must comply with this DAOD. Should clarification of the policies or instructions set out in this DAOD be required, CAF members may seek direction through their chain of command. Military supervisors have the primary responsibility for and means of ensuring the compliance of their CAF members with this DAOD.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

6.2 CAF members are accountable to their military supervisors for any failure to comply with the direction set out in this DAOD. Non-compliance with this DAOD may result in administrative or disciplinary action, or both, for a CAF member. Non-compliance may also result in the imposition of liability on the part of His Majesty in right of Canada and CAF members.

7. Responsibilities

Responsibility Table

7.1 The following table identifies the responsibilities associated with this DAOD:

The … is responsible for …
OA
  • identifying officer production requirements for their officer military occupations; and
  • requesting determinations through the Director Pay Policy and Development for the appropriate pay increment upon commissioning, in accordance with CBI 204.211, Pay – General Service Officers – Officer Entry Plans – Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant and Officer Cadet, as per CBI 204.211 (9) (Rate of pay – DEO)
Comd CDA
  • monitoring academic progress and managing career-related matters for SOTP officers undergoing subsidized education or training;
  • conducting training reviews and taking appropriate administrative and career actions;
  • approving all duty travel for SOTP officers, including to write supplemental examinations at a location other than where the officer is on training or duty; and
  • reviewing the terms of any monetary awards received by an SOTP officer, to determine whether the award may be retained by the officer in accordance with applicable regulations and orders.
CDA HQ SEM
  • conducting personnel management activities; and
  • managing the ULO network to support SOTP officers.
Commander Canadian Forces Recruiting Group
  • attracting, recruiting, selecting, and enrolling SOTP applicants;
  • verifying the eligibility of SOTP applicants and conducting their selection;
  • issuing the:
    • offers for selected SOTP applicants; and
    • posting instructions specifying the course of study and the educational institution, professional qualifications and licensing to be attained, required military occupation training, and requirements to complete the BMOQ, if applicable.
Director Military Careers Policy and Grievances
  • verifying the eligibility of SOTP applicants on component transfer from the Primary Reserve (P Res);
  • issuing the:
    • offers for selected SOTP applicants on component transfer from the P Res; and
    • posting instructions specifying the course of study and the educational institution, professional qualifications and licensing to be attained, required military occupation training, and requirements to complete the BMOQ, if applicable.

Director General Health Services
  • reviewing voluntary withdrawal requests of SOTP health services officers and providing recommendations to Comd CDA.
  • reviewing requests for occupational transfer by an SOTP health services officer in conjunction with CDA HQ SEM.
  • providing contract amendment to academic institutions for Medical Officers and Medical Specialist Officers under sponsorship subsidization when a failure is due to a temporary medical condition or service requirement.
  • inputting into selection and ranking for MED SPEC, MED-PGY3 & MED SPEC-PGY6;
  • inputting into selection and ranking for CCFP (EM) R3 training.

Chaplain General
  • reviewing voluntary withdrawal requests of SOTP chaplain officers and providing recommendations to Comd CDA.
  • reviewing request for occupational transfer by an SOTP chaplain officer in conjunction with CDA HQ SEM.
  • determining eligibility of applicants in consultation with the Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy and following the selection process held by the Director Chaplaincy Services;
  • reviewing the progress of all chaplain officers towards credentialing (ordination, mandating, or licencing) and successful completion of experience or internship within their respective spiritual faith tradition;
  • approving summer on-the-job experience or on-the-job training locations and opportunities for candidates in consultation with the Basic Training List Management; and
  • forwarding a report to the CDA HQ SEM if an SOTP chaplain officer is deemed, at any point of the process, not to be making sufficient progress to warrant continued subsidization at public expense.
Director Personnel Generation Requirements
  • reviewing and approving waivers to the officer military occupation entry standards in support of enrolment and in-service selection requirements; and
  • maintaining the SOTP policy and responding to questions concerning policy issues and interpretation.
Commanding Officers
  • monitoring the conduct, discipline, administration, dress, and deportment of SOTP officers under their command and initiating administrative action as required; and
  • informing the CDA HQ SEM of conduct or performance deficiencies of SOTP officers.

SOTP officer
  • completing the required course of study, residency, ministry experience, other required professional qualifications, licensing or articling, the BMOQ and military occupation training, as applicable.

8. References

Acts, Regulations, Central Agency Policies, and Policy DAOD

Other References

Page details

2026-02-12