1970s
- NHSC creation
- Awarded first scholarships
- Grew from 181 providers to over 1,800
- Budget 10x larger by decade’s end
We connect primary health care clinicians to people in the United States with limited access to healthcare.
Strengthening and growing our primary care workforce—through the National Health Service Corps (NHSC)—began in 1972.
Our Mission
The NHSC builds healthy communities by supporting qualified health care providers dedicated to working (PDF - 139 KB) in areas of the United States with limited access to care.
What drives our work?
We want everyone to be healthy.
To do our part:
- We support skilled health care workers.
- We require health care workers to serve in high-need areas.
- We score these Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) so the highest needs are met first.
How does our work serve the public?
There aren't enough primary health care workers. That means some people can't get the health care they need. We work to change that.
We focus on:
- Caring for everyone, even if they can't pay.
- Preventing disease and illness.
Why should I apply to the NHSC?
You can help those in need. And—you can be free of school debt.
How do I become an NHSC member?
First, decide which program fits you—loan repayment or the scholarship program. Then find out if you're eligible and apply.
How do I become an NHSC-approved site?
NHSC-approved sites provide outpatient, primary health services in HPSAs.
If you're eligible, you can apply to become an NHSC site. In some cases, we auto-approve sites. If we approve your site, you gain access to primary care providers.
What is the history of the NHSC?
We created the NHSC because of the health care crisis in the 1950s and 1960s.
Older physicians retired and young doctors stopped choosing general practice. This meant areas of the country would have no access to primary care.
So, we stepped in to support health centers in rural, urban, and tribal communities. Our efforts addressed a growing primary health care shortage.
Check out the full timeline marking all the big moments in NHSC history.
Major Milestones
1980s
- Launch of Loan Repayment Program (LRP)
- Predicted more physicians than needed—budget reduced
- 1989: Field strength reaches 1,500
1990s
- The early 90s: only 1,000 providers serve
- Loan Repayment Program adds mental health discipline
- End of the decade: Over 2,500 providers serve
2000s
- Unprecedented growth in field strength due to increased funding
- Added new primary care disciplines
- 2008 – 2011: Number of NHSC members doubled
2010s
- Behavioral health becomes top discipline among NHSC clinicians
- Students to Service (S2S) adds dentistry discipline
- Telehealth increases rural healthcare access
2020s
- Students to Service Loan Repayment Program adds nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants
- Alumni data shows that at least 80% of NHSC members continue to serve in an underserved community
How many people have served in the NHSC?
NHSC alumni include more than 80,000 primary care medical, dental, and mental and behavioral health providers.
Check out this interactive journey (PDF - 2 MB) through five decades as NHSC members and alumni share “why they serve” in their own words.
Related resources
Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW)
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