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Applied in 2024? We'll notify you of your application status by September 30.
Licensed primary care clinicians can receive loan repayment assistance through the NHSC Loan Repayment Program. Providers must be in an eligible discipline.
In exchange for loan repayment, you must serve at least two years at an NHSC-approved site in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).
Maternity Care Target Areas
In addition to HPSAs, we also will use designated Maternity Care Target Area (MCTA) scoring to distribute maternity care health professionals. MCTAs are within primary care HPSAs. MCTAs are within primary care HPSAs. We award maternity care health providers using either the primary care HPSA or the MCTA score of their site, whichever is higher.
New award enhancement for Spanish-language proficiency
For the 2024 NHSC loan repayment programs, we aim to address language access barriers to health care. To support this effort, we will provide a one-time enhancement award of $5,000 for a total loan repayment award of:
Primary care participants (physicians, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, physician assistants serving in a primary care HPSA):
- Up to $80,000 for full-time participants.
- Up to $42,500 for half-time participants.
Non-primary care participants (physicians, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and physician assistants specializing in behavioral health serving in a mental HPSA, as well as dentists, dental hygienists, and behavioral health providers):
- Up to $55,000 for full-time participants.
- Up to $30,000 for half-time participants.
Award amounts are based on the outstanding balance of an applicant’s qualifying educational loans. Participants must complete the two-year service obligation regardless of the amount of their award.
Who is eligible for the enhancement?
If you indicated that you have proficiency in Spanish when the application closes, you will receive an email containing a link to a Spanish-language competency assessment. This assessment will be conducted by a vendor approved by the General Services Administration. To be eligible for the award enhancement, your score on the assessment must be three or higher.
Note: If your loans are less than the maximum $75,000 (full-time) or $37,500 (half-time) increased award amounts or the $50,000 (full-time) or $25,000 (half-time) traditional two-year award amount, you will not receive the award enhancement even if you are eligible under the other criteria.
Award increase for primary care providers
We have increased the award amount for physicians, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants who provide primary care services in high-need communities (located in a primary care HPSA) to address the critical shortages of these providers.
The increased award amounts are:
- Up to $75,000 for a full-time, two-year service commitment
- Up to $37,500 for a half-time, two-year service commitment
If you are in an eligible discipline but you provide mental or behavioral health care services, you will not be eligible for the increased award amount. Instead, all other providers eligible for an NHSC award will receive up to $50,000 of support for a full-time, two-year service commitment.
Application information
Determine if you're eligible
Do I qualify for the NHSC Loan Repayment Program?
You qualify if you meet these requirements:
- A United States citizen (U.S. born or naturalized) or a United States national
- A provider (or eligible to participate as a provider) in the Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program, as appropriate
- Fully trained and licensed to practice in the NHSC-eligible discipline and state in which you are applying to serve. This page lists eligible disciplines and specialties for primary care, dental care, mental/behavioral health care, and maternity care.
- A health professional in an eligible discipline with qualified student loan debt for education that led to your degree
- Working at an NHSC-approved site
Are military reservists eligible?
Yes. Find out about specific guidelines and requirements for military reservists.
Which disciplines and specialties are eligible?
The following disciplines and specialties are eligible to apply.
What is an NHSC-approved site?
An NHSC-approved site is a health care facility that:
- Provides complete outpatient services to people living in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs)
- Meets NHSC site requirements
How to apply
We guide you through the application and award process:
Before you apply
It takes three weeks to complete an application. That includes all required and supplemental documents, and access to a credit report. Failure or refusal to unfreeze your credit report will disqualify your application.
- Provide answers in your application that match your supporting documents. If they don't, we will reject your application.
- You must submit a legible, complete online application by the deadline.
- Save each document as a PDF file before uploading to your application. Do not attempt to upload files larger than 5 MB. We do not accept files saved as TIFF, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, and TXT.
Print and keep a copy of your completed application package for your records.
After you apply
After you submit your online application, you'll see a receipt of submission.
How can I view my application and its status?
Log into the Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) Customer Service Portal to view your application status. You can download a copy of your application, supporting documents, and completed EVs.
Can I make edits after I submit my application?
After you submit the online application, you may make edits and upload new documents. You must make all final edits and resubmit your final, complete application by the application deadline. You must certify and submit your application each time you make any changes. We don’t consider applications in an “In Progress” status for an award.
Can I withdraw my application?
Yes, you may withdraw your application at any time before the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), or their designee, signs the contract. Please see the Application and Program Guidance (PDF - 597 KB) for additional information.
How do you evaluate me?
We use selection factors and funding priorities to evaluate you and determine who receives awards. This review begins after the application deadline.
Notifying award finalists
If you become an award finalist, we will email you by September 30. You must log into the BHW Customer Service Portal to confirm:
- Your continued interest in receiving an award.
- That your loan and employment information is valid.
- That you have read and understand the Loan Repayment Program contract. (We ask you to e-sign this if you receive, and accept, an award.)
We will also ask you to provide your direct deposit banking information. We use this for award funds if you receive an award.
Note: You must respond by the deadline we provide in the Confirmation of Interest email.
What if I don’t respond in time?
If you do not complete the Confirmation of Interest process by the deadline, we may not consider your application.
If you still wish to participate in the program, you will need to submit a new application. You will need to do this during a future NHSC Loan Repayment Program application cycle for first-time participants. You will compete with other providers based on that cycle’s program requirements.
Who determines if I receive an award?
Only the HHS Secretary or their designee can make an NHSC Loan Repayment Program award.
When will you notify me of an award?
You will receive final notification of an award, including your service obligation dates, no later than September 30.
Will you notify me if you don't select me for an award?
Yes. If we do not select you for an award, we will email you no later than September 30.
NHSC Loan Repayment Program contract & service obligation
When does my service obligation begin?
Your service obligation begins on the date that the HHS Secretary or their designee countersigns your contract.
Can I terminate my contract?
Review the Application and Program Guidance and your contract. Both provide detailed information on the timeline and requirements for NHSC Loan Repayment Program contract termination.
If you terminate, you must repay all funds you receive under the contract.