Step 1: Get Ready for NHSC Service

As a National Health Service Corps Scholar (NHSC) Scholar or a Student to Service (S2S) awardee, you must start working within six (6) months after you graduate or finish your training. Your job must be at an NHSC-approved site with a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) score that meets the requirements for your program, discipline and class year.

Your job search and move from student/trainee status to a licensed clinician fulfilling your service commitment is called the NHSC Transition to Service Process. NHSC provides administrative guidance throughout the process to help you meet your service obligation. However, you are responsible for contacting potential employers and obtaining a job offer.

Follow the step-by-step NHSC Transition to Service guidance to successfully complete your job search and meet all program requirements.

To get ready for NHSC service, you must:

1. Communicate with the NHSC via the My BHW portal.
2. Review your service commitment.
3. Understand NHSC-approved sites.
4. Understand Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) scores and their role in your service obligation.

1. Communicate with NHSC

• You will be assigned an NHSC Job Support Analyst (JSA) to guide you through the Transition to Service process.
• Communicate with your JSA through the My BHW Portal homepage →My Activities →Employment Assistance (EA) Inquiry.  
• Your JSA will send an introductory message to start communication.  
• Use this EA Inquiry for all job-search and site related questions and check it regularly for updates, steps, and deadlines.
• You will receive email alerts from noreply@hrsa.gov when a new EA message is available.

• For other questions (e.g., in-school payments or verification), use the “Ask a Question” feature in your My BHW account. Also, go to My Activities/View All Activities if you were contacted through the account. 

2. Review your service commitment

• You must start working at an NHSC-approved site within six (6) months after you graduate or finish your training.
• Your NHSC-approved job site must have a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) score that meets the requirements based on your program, discipline and class year.
• See Section 4 below for your HPSA score requirements
• Review your program's Application and Program Guidance (APG) to obtain a complete understanding of your service commitment requirements to include work hours, job sites, financial liabilities, and legal obligations as stated in the NHSC program statute and contract.
  • Student to Service Loan Repayment Program (PDF)
  • National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program (PDF)

3. Understand NHSC-approved sites

• NHSC-approved sites are health care facilities that provide outpatient primary care, mental health, or dental services to populations residing in HPSA.
• To become an NHSC-approved site, a site must apply during the annual application cycle and recertify every three years to stay in the program.
• Some site types are automatically approved and do not need to recertify.
• See page 28 of the NHSC Scholar APG (PDF - 518 KB) to review eligible and ineligible site types.

4. Understand HPSA scores and how they impact your service obligation

a. HPSA overview:

• HPSA scores show the level of need for health professionals in an area. Scores range from 0 (lowest need) to 26 (highest need) and can change overtime. They are set in collaboration with states and counties.
• There are (3) HPSA categories: Primary Care, Dental, and Mental Health. A site may not have scores in all three.
• NHSC does not grant exceptions to HPSA score requirements. If a site does not meet your required HPSA score, you cannot work there.
• NHSC cannot change a site’s HPSA score.
• HPSA scores are listed on each site record in the Health Workforce Connector.

b. The Role of HPSA Scores in Your Service Obligation

• HPSA score requirements are released each spring for the following year. For example, scores for class year 2027 will be released in Spring 2026.
• Your class year is based on the year you graduate or complete your Post-Graduate Training (PGT)—such as residency, chief residency, or fellowship. This is also the year you begin your service obligation.
  • For example, if you graduate in 2026 but finish your PGT in 2029, your class year—and HPSA score requirement—will be 2029.
    • A site must have an eligible HPSA score for your respective discipline. For example, a dentist must work at a site with a Dental HPSA score.

c. Review your HPSA Score Requirements:

• NHSC Scholarship Program
• Student to Service (S2S) Loan Repayment Program Scholars
• For maternity care providers who received the Maternity Care Target Area (MCTA) Supplemental Award (PDF - 611 KB) under the S2S LRP, your job site must have a MCTA score of 16 or above.

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