Entry Methods

Completion of Year 10 (or equivalent) with passes in English and Maths is the minimum educational requirement for a job in the Navy, and there are plenty of career opportunities to choose from. Some roles in this category require a pass in Year 10 Maths and Science, or passes in Year 11 (or equivalent) and above.

If you've completed Year 10 (or equivalent) with passes in English, Maths, Science and one other subject, you have a broad range of technical and trade apprenticeships to choose from in the Navy, and you'll be paid while you learn. Some trade roles also require Science with a Physics component so check individual job descriptions before starting your application.

If you already have an appropriate trade qualification you can join the Navy through this entry method and apply your skills to exciting new challenges. You'll find specific qualification requirements on each job page.

As a Navy Officer you will be trained to be a leader, learning management and mentoring skills and taking responsibility for those under your command. Your Navy career will begin at the Royal Australian Naval College, Jervis Bay.

If you want to start a career as a Navy Officer whilst being paid to study a recognised degree from the University of New South Wales, you can enter the Navy via the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).

If you have a recognised degree in a field such as Medicine, Law, Dentistry, Nursing, Engineering, Business or IT (amongst others), you can pursue your profession as a Navy Officer. Whether you’re a recent graduate or in the middle of your career, you’ll receive further training and post-graduate study opportunities in the Navy, so you can add an exciting new dimension to your work.

If you are studying a relevant degree at an Australian university and have completed at least one year of a three or four year course or two years of a five or six year degree, you could be eligible for Defence University Sponsorship and have your fees paid in return for a commitment to an Officer role in the Navy.

If you hold an appropriate undergraduate degree, have successfully completed the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admission Test (GAMSAT), and have been accepted into an Australian university, you can apply to enter the Navy through the Graduate Medical Program. If successful, you’ll be sponsored as a medical practitioner, then serve as a Medical Officer.