Loan Repayment
- Full-Time Service: Apply by July 29
- Part-Time Service: Apply by May 25
- Help with the Application Conference Call: May 20, 2:30 to 4:30 pm ET, 1-888-889-0974, passcode 8360318
The National Health Service Corps recruits primary care medical, dental and behavioral and mental health clinicians who are dedicated to providing care to the Nation's underserved people. In return, they can reduce or eliminate their health professions student debt by providing care at a National Health Service Corps-approved site.
The Full-Time Program starts with an initial award of $50,000 for 2 years of service. The new Half-Time Pilot Project starts with an initial award of $50,000 for 4 years of service. Participants may apply to extend their service until their debt is paid.
When you join the National Health Service Corps, you become part of a network of more than 10,000 dedicated clinicians and sites caring for the most medically underserved people in the U.S.
Am I Eligible?
- U.S. citizen or national [+]
- Trained and licensed in one of the following primary care disciplines:
- Allopathic (MD) or Osteopathic (DO) Physician [+]
- Primary Care Nurse Practitioner [+]
- Certified Nurse-Midwife [+]
- Primary Care Physician Assistant [+]
- Dentist [+]
- Dental Hygienist [+]
- Health Service Psychologist [+]
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker [+]
- Psychiatric Nurse Specialist [+]
- Marriage and Family Therapist [+]
- Licensed Professional Counselor [+]
- Working or applying to work at a site that is approved by or has applied to become approved by the NHSC
- Unpaid government of commercial loans for school tuition, reasonable educational and living expenses that are not consolidated with non-educational debts
What is the Service Commitment?
NHSC loan repayors are committed to serve 2 years (full time) or 4 years (part time) at an approved site in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area.
You can apply if you are already working at an approved site or seeking employment at a site that is either approved or meets site eligibility requirements and plans to become approved by applying for Recruitment and Retention Assistance (for more information, see Communities).
Many types of health care facilities are approved NHSC sites. About half of NHSC clinicians fulfill their service commitment at federally-supported health centers. Health center clinicians can be granted medical malpractice liability protection through the Federal Tort Claims Act.
Other types of NHSC approved sites include rural health clinics, Indian Health Service clinics, public health department clinics, hospital-affiliated primary care practices, managed care networks, prisons, and U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement sites.
Loan repayors negotiate their salaries with the employing site.
Questions: CallCenter@hrsa.gov or 1-800-221-9393 (TTY: 1-877-897-9910), Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays), 9 am to 5:30 pm ET.
