---
title: Configure a program service
description: Add a program service for use within the programs associated with the Healthcare and Life Sciences Service Management applications.Create a specification characteristic so that you can define the program service offering in Healthcare and Life Sciences programs.Create a relationship between a program service and programs to make the service available within the program.Publish a program service for use within the Healthcare and Life Sciences Service Management applications.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/healthcare-life-sciences/healthcare-and-life-sciences-service-management-core/hcls-create-program-service.html
release: australia
product: Healthcare and Life Sciences Service Management Core
classification: healthcare-and-life-sciences-service-management-core
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-03-12"
reading_time_minutes: 4
breadcrumb: [Configure programs and program services, Configure, Healthcare and Life Sciences Service Management Core, Healthcare and Life Sciences Service Management, Healthcare and Life Sciences]
---

# Configure a program service

Add a program service for use within the programs associated with the Healthcare and Life Sciences Service Management applications.

## Before you begin

Role required: sn.hcls\_manager or admin

## About this task

By default, the application provides a few sample program services for the Healthcare and Life Sciences workflows that you can as a reference when creating a program service.

## Procedure

1.  Navigate to **All** > **HCLS Service Management** > **Administration** > **Program service**.

2.  In the Program services list, click **New**.

3.  On the form, fill in the fields.

<table id="table_scn_ppw_brb"><thead><tr><th>

Field

</th><th>

Description

</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>

Number

</td><td>

Unique identifier for the program service. This field is automatically set to an auto-generated number.

</td></tr><tr><td>

Name

</td><td>

Name to identify the program service.

</td></tr><tr><td>

Active

</td><td>

Option to enable the program service for use.

</td></tr><tr><td>

State

</td><td>

State of the program service. This field is automatically set to the **Draft** state.

</td></tr><tr><td>

Start Date

</td><td>

Date when the program service is scheduled to start.

</td></tr><tr><td>

End Date

</td><td>

Date when the program service is scheduled to end.

**Note:** The end date of the program service must be later than the start date.

</td></tr><tr><td>

Description

</td><td>

Summary of the program service.

</td></tr></tbody>
</table>    **Note:** Either enter the date in the `yyyy-mm-dd` format, such as `2021-12-31`, or click the select date icon corresponding to the date type. For example, provide the end date of the program service by either entering the date in the **End Date** field or clicking the select date icon \(\[Omitted image "select-date-icon.png"\] Alt text: Select date icon.\) and selecting the date.

4.  Click **Submit**.

5.  [Configure a specification characteristic for the program service](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/healthcare-life-sciences/healthcare-and-life-sciences-service-management-core/hcls-create-program-service.md).

6.  [Associate the program service with a program](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/healthcare-life-sciences/healthcare-and-life-sciences-service-management-core/hcls-create-program-service.md).

7.  [Publish the program service](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/healthcare-life-sciences/healthcare-and-life-sciences-service-management-core/hcls-create-program-service.md).


**Parent Topic:**[Configure programs and program services for Healthcare and Life Sciences workflows](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/healthcare-life-sciences/healthcare-and-life-sciences-service-management-core/hcls-program-setup.md)

## Configure a specification characteristic for a program service

Create a specification characteristic so that you can define the program service offering in Healthcare and Life Sciences programs.

### Before you begin

Role required: sn.hcls\_manager or admin

### Procedure

1.  Navigate to **All** &gt; **HCLS Service Management** &gt; **Administration** &gt; **Program service**.

2.  In the Program services list, click the link to a program service from the **Number** column.

3.  In the Specification Characteristics related list, click **New**.

4.  In the **Characteristic** field, click the lookup icon \[Omitted image "lookup-using-list.png"\] Alt text: Lookup using list icon. and select a characteristic from the **Name** column of the Characteristics list.

    By default, the application provides the **Benefit Investigation** characteristic for use a reference when creating a characteristic. To create a new characteristic, click **New** in the Characteristics list and fill in the characteristic details.

5.  In the **Characteristic Option** field, click the lookup icon \[Omitted image "lookup-using-list.png"\] Alt text: Lookup using list icon. and select a characteristic option from the **Option** column of the Characteristic Options list.

    To create a new characteristic option, click **New** in the Characteristic Options list and fill in the characteristic option details.

6.  Select the **Mandatory** check box to make the specification characteristic as a requirement for completing the program service.

7.  Click **Submit**.

    **Note:** You can ignore the Activities section, which is not used.


## Associate a program service with a program

Create a relationship between a program service and programs to make the service available within the program.

### Before you begin

[Configure a program](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/healthcare-life-sciences/healthcare-and-life-sciences-service-management-core/hcls-create-program.md).

Role required: sn.hcls\_manager or admin

### About this task

You can also associate a program service with a program by using the Program module. For more information, see [Associate a program with a program service](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/healthcare-life-sciences/healthcare-and-life-sciences-service-management-core/hcls-create-program.md).

### Procedure

1.  Navigate to **All** &gt; **HCLS Service Management** &gt; **Administration** &gt; **Program service**.

2.  In the Program services list, click the link to a program service from the **Number** column.

3.  In the Program relationships related list, click **New**.

4.  In the **Program** field, click the lookup icon \[Omitted image "lookup-using-list.png"\] Alt text: Lookup using list icon. and select the program from the **Name** column of the Specifications list.

5.  In the **Program service** field, click the lookup icon \[Omitted image "lookup-using-list.png"\] Alt text: Lookup using list icon. and select a program service from the **Name** column of the Specifications list.

6.  In the **Relationship Type** field, select **Offers**.

7.  Select the **Active** check box for activating the relationship.

8.  Click **Submit**.


## Publish a program service

Publish a program service for use within the Healthcare and Life Sciences Service Management applications.

### Before you begin

Role required: sn.hcls\_manager or admin

### Procedure

1.  Navigate to **All** &gt; **HCLS Service Management** &gt; **Administration** &gt; **Program service**.

2.  In the Program services list, click the link to the program service from the **Number** column.

3.  On the Program service form, click **Publish** to make the program service available for use within Healthcare and Life Sciences Service Management applications.