NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program

• Service

  By joining thousands of NHSC participants across the country, you have an opportunity to provide primary health services to communities in need.

• Loan Repayment

  You will receive funds to repay your outstanding, qualifying, educational loans.

  • NHSC loan repayment funds are exempt from federal income and employment taxes.
  • You will receive up to $120,000 in loan repayment funds payable in four annual installments (up to $30,000 per year) as long as you meet program requirements.
  • In return, you agree to provide three years of full-time clinical practice at an NHSC-approved site in a HPSA. (Full-time clinical practice means at least 40 hours per week, for at least 45 weeks each service year.)

• Complete Repayment of Qualifying Loans

  Once you complete the initial three-year service contract, you may be eligible to apply for additional loan repayment funds to pay any remaining educational loans through one-year continuation service contracts.

  • There is no guarantee that you will receive a continuation contract.

You must be:

• A United States (U.S) citizen or U.S. national.
• Pursuing a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (D.M.D.), Nurse Practitioner (NP), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) or Physician Assistant (PA) degree in a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory at:
  • A school of allopathic medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (sponsored by the American Medical Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges);
  • A school of osteopathic medicine accredited by the American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation; or
  • A school of dentistry accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation;

  • A school or program of nurse practitioner education accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; 

  • At a school or program of nurse-midwifery education accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives, Division of Accreditation; or

  • A school or program of physician assistant education accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant at a college, university, or educational institution that is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education nationally recognized accrediting body or organization.

• Enrolled as a full-time student in the last year of medical, physician assistant, nursing, or dental school with a graduation date during the application year*
  • On or before July 1 for physicians and dentists, and
  • On or before August 31 for nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives or physician assistants.

  Note: Any classes that are not required or unrelated courses to the qualifying degree program will not count towards the hours required for full-time status.

  *The application year applies to the fiscal year noted in the Application and Program Guidance (APG).

• Eligible for federal employment.
  You should expect to serve your commitment as a salaried, non-federal employee of a public or private entity approved by the NHSC.
  However, there may be vacancies that require federal employment, including a security clearance.
  • You must be eligible to hold an appointment as a Commissioned Officer of the Public Health Service or as a federal civil servant.

Note: There are additional, specific requirements for both medical students and dental students—you can find them in the NHSC S2S LRP Application and Program Guidance.

Are military reservists eligible?

Yes. Find out about specific guidelines and requirements for military reservists.

Following medical, nursing, or dental school, you must plan to train and become licensed to provide patient care in one of these disciplines and specialties:

Physicians

• Allopathic (MD)
• Osteopathic (DO)
• Family Medicine
• General Internal Medicine
• General Pediatrics
• Geriatrics
• Obstetrics/Gynecology
• Psychiatry (including Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists)

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

• Adult Practice
• Family Practice
• Pediatrics
• Women’s Health
• Psychiatry
• Geriatrics

Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)

• Women’s Health

Dentists

• Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
• Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD)
• General Dentistry
• Pediatric Dentistry

Physician Assistant (PA)

• Adult
• Family
• Pediatric
• Women's Health
• Geriatrics

You must complete each of the following sections below to submit your application:

• Eligibility Screening.
  If you do not pass this initial screening portion of the application, you cannot continue with the application.
• General Information.
  Provide contact information such as your name, social security number, mailing and email addresses, as well as information about individual and family background.
• Education Information.
  Provide information related to the degree program you are currently pursuing.
• Loan Information.
  Provide information on each qualifying educational loan for which you seek repayment.
  We will verify each by reviewing supporting documents, contacting lenders/holders, and checking your credit report.
  Each of the loans must have:
  • Name and contact information for the lender/holder.
  • Loan account number.
  • Original amount disbursed.
  • Original date of the loan.
  • Current outstanding balance (no more than 30 days from the date you submit your application).
  • Current interest rate.
  • Type of loan. If a consolidated loan, additional questions will be asked:
    • Original date of consolidation.
    • Original balance of consolidation.
    • Account number.
  • Purpose of loan.
• Essay.
  Respond to the essay topic in 500 words or less, and upload it to the application.

An application is incomplete without these required supplemental documents:

• Proof of status as a United States citizen or United States national
  Acceptable documents: birth certificate, current U.S. passport’s ID page, or a certificate of citizenship or naturalization.
  Unacceptable documents: permanent resident card, driver’s license, marriage certificate or Social Security card.
• Authorization to Release Information
  Authorizes identified entities to disclose information about you. It must include the last four digits of your social security number, be dated and have your handwritten signature.
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  Outline relevant work/volunteer experience and be fewer than five pages long.
• Proof of Passage of Required Licensing Examinations
  Medical students must submit documentation verifying that they have passed Step/Level 1 of the USMLE or the COMLEX.
  Dental students must submit documentation verifying that they have passed Part I of the National Board Dental Examination.
  Nursing students must submit documentation of appropriate specialized training and certification.
• Verification of Good Standing
  A school official must complete and sign a report verifying:
  • Your enrollment;
  • You are in good standing
  • Your last day of classes is no later than May 31, 2023; and
  • You will graduate before July 1, 2023.
  • We will verify for accuracy
• Letters of Recommendation
  Submit two letters of recommendation, each on letterhead with a handwritten signature:
  • One letter from an instructor; and
  • One additional letter of recommendation.

  Recommendations should include a description of the recommender’s relationship to you, and a discussion of your interest in, and commitment to, a career in primary care and service populations and communities in need.

• Transcript
  Must come from your current educational institution. An unofficial transcript is acceptable as long as it includes your name, school name, and grade point average (GPA) (may be pass/fail).
• Loan Information Verification
  Provide two types of documentation for each loan you submit:
  • Document One: Account Statement
    Current information on your qualifying educational loans. This document should:
    • Be on official letterhead or other clear verification that it comes from the lender/holder;
    • Include the name of the borrower (i.e., the NHSC S2S LRP applicant);
    • Contain the account number;
    • Include the date of the statement (cannot be more than 30 days from the date you submit your application);
    • Include the current outstanding balance (principal and interest) or the current payoff balance; and
    • Include the current interest rate.
  • Document Two: Disbursement Report
    Verifies the originating loan information and should:
    • Be on official letterhead or other clear verification that it comes from the lender/holder;
    • Include the name of the borrower;
    • Contain the account number;
    • Include the type of loan;
    • Include the original loan date (must be prior to the date you submit your application);
    • Include the original loan amount; and
    • Include the purpose of the loan.

We may require you to submit additional documents if your responses on the online application indicate that they are relevant.

You should only submit these documents if we list them on the “Supporting Documents” page of the online application.

• Verification of Disadvantaged Background
  A school official must complete the Verification of Disadvantaged Background (PDF - 406 KB).
• Verification of Existing Service Obligation Verification from the entity for which you have an existing service obligation stating you will complete service there prior to the NHSC application deadline.