Apply for a Continuation Contract

Prepare to apply

Review this page to determine your eligibility, important dates, gather required documents, and apply for a Continuation Contract.

Before you begin:

Program guidance and definitions

Use these resources for program guidance and understanding terms while completing your application.

Who can apply?

You may apply for a Continuation Contract if you’re a current:

  • NHSC Loan Repayment Program (NHSC LRP) participant.
  • NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program (NHSC S2S LRP) participant who has completed their initial three-year service contract.

A Continuation Contract extends your NHSC service by one year in exchange for an additional loan repayment award.

When do I apply?

  • Review the chart below for application cycle dates.
  • You’ll receive a notification in your My BHW account about the application cycle. Continue to monitor your account for notifications before and during the application cycle.
Contract End Dates Between Application Cycle Start and End Dates
September 30, 2026 – March 31, 2027 Application Cycle 1: September 15, 2026 – October 22, 2026
April 1, 2027 – July 31, 2027 Application Cycle 2:  January 14, 2027 – February 16, 2027
August 1, 2027 – September 29, 2027 Application Cycle 3:  April 8, 2027 – May 11, 2027

What are the FY27 award amounts?

Award amounts are based on your remaining qualifying educational loan balance and may be less than the maximum award amount.

For FY27, the maximum award amounts are:

Full-Time Half-Time
$20,000 $10,000
  1. Full-Time Clinical Practice
    • No less than 40 hours per week
    • A minimum of 45 weeks a year
  2. Half-Time Clinical Practice
    • A minimum of 20 hours per week (not to exceed 39 hours per week)
    • A minimum of 45 weeks per year

How do I apply?

The Continuation Contract application process is a more seamless process similar to your initial NHSC application.

Apply in your My BHW account

  • Sign in to My BHW.
  • Select Apply for a Continuation Contract under the "I Want To..." section.
  • Update your loan information.
  • Upload your payment history documentation.
  • Your site point of contact (POC) will verify your employment and professional license.

Required documentation

Upload proof of payment showing that you applied all your previous NHSC LRP or S2S LRP award funds towards your qualifying educational loans listed on your Payment Authorization Worksheet (PAW).

Your payment history must include:

  • Lender’s name
  • Account holder’s name
  • Account number
  • Date of payment(s) within your current service obligation
  • Amount of payment(s) that clearly shows you used funds for qualified loans.

Important: After you receive your NHSC award, you must complete your full Continuation service obligation, even if your qualifying educational loans are later paid off or forgiven through another program, such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).

Remaining eligible

If you have remaining qualifying educational loans after your initial continuation, you may apply for an additional Continuation Contract each year. Continuation Contracts provide additional loan repayment assistance until your qualifying educational loans are paid in full.

To remain eligible for a Continuation Contract, NHSC LRP and NHSC S2S participants must:

Award decisions

Are Continuation Contracts guaranteed?

There is no guarantee that you will receive a Continuation Contract. Awards are made at the federal government’s discretion and depend on available funding.

How are applications evaluated?

When reviewing Continuation Contract applications, we consider your compliance with NHSC program requirements throughout your current contract.

To maintain a strong record of compliance, adherence to the following activities is required:

Loan repayment

  • Apply all the NHSC award funds towards your qualifying educational loans.
  • Refer to your Participant Authorization Worksheet (PAW) for your list of approved qualifying educational loans.

Documentation and reporting

  • Submit your six-month In-Service Verification (ISV) forms on time.
  • Submit required documentation for service requests promptly, for example, transfer request documents.
  • Disclose changes that may affect your compliance, such as change to your work hours or scope of practice. 

Site changes

  • Obtain NHSC approval before changing or transferring practice sites.
  • Notify NHSC before leaving your approved site.
  • Limit voluntary transfers to no more than two during your service commitment.

Service commitment

  • Obtain NHSC approval before changing full-time to half-time status.
  • Follow program timelines and requirements.
  • Maintain approved practice schedule.
  • Limit absences in accordance with program requirements. Participants are allowed 35 workday absences per service year.
  • Submit requests before taking extended leave, such as parental leave or medical leave.

Important: Failure to resolve issues during your contract may result in:

  • A breach of contract
  • Default on your NHSC contract
  • Ability to apply for a Continuation award (The application link will not be made available in your My BHW account).

* If you use assistive technology, you may not be able to access information in these files. For help, contact us at 800-221-9393.

Related resources

Application & Program Guidance (APG)

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