An officers candidate was a generally a civilian – already possessing a higher education – or a non-commissioned officer who trained to earn a commission, as an officer in the military, without being required to attending a service academy. An officers candidate was similar to what a midshipman was to a cadet.
Prior to joining the crew of USS Voyager in 2371, Crewman Frank Darwin was recommended by his training instructor as an officers candidate. Darwin, however, turned down the opportunity in favor of his desire to get out into space. (VOY: "Meld")
This rank has been mentioned in a handful of Pocket Books publications (i.e. "Doctor's Orders"), most often as a way to explain prior civilian doctors and scientists who join Starfleet as officers without having attended Starfleet Academy.
| Enlisted personnel | Commissioned officers | Flag officers | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fleet: | CRM | PO | CPO | MID CDT OC WO |
ENS | LT JG | LT | LT CMDR | CMDR | CAPT | FCAPT | CDORE | RADM | VADM | ADM | FADM | ||||
| Military: | PVT AMN |
CPL LCP |
SGT | SSGT | MSGT 1SGT |
2nd LT | 1st LT | CAPT | MAJ | LT COL | COL | BRIG | MAJ GEN | LT GEN | GEN | MARSHAL | ||||
| Services: | Andorian • Bajoran • Cardassian • Ferengi • Human (CSA • Third Reich • UE MACO • USA) • Jem'Hadar • Klingon • Romulan • United Earth/Federation Starfleet • Vulcan Mirror universe: Terran Empire Starfleet • Terran Empire MACO | |||||||||||||||||||
This chart shows only general equivalencies based on the ranks used by many governments on Earth, as well as the rest of the galaxy.