NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program
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The FY 2026 NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program (NHSC SUD Workforce LRP) application is now open throughTuesday, March 31, 2026, 7:30 p.m. ET..
To combat the nation’s opioid crisis, HRSA launched the NHSC SUD Workforce LRP.
The most effective treatment for opioid addiction is a comprehensive approach that incorporates medication and behavioral health counseling.
The program supports the recruitment and retention of health professionals needed in underserved areas to expand access to SUD treatment and prevent overdose deaths.
In addition to awarding loan repayment program participants who serve in HPSAs, we also will use designated Maternity Care Target Area (MCTA) scores to distribute maternity care health professionals.
MCTAs are specific areas located within primary care HPSAs that have a higher need for maternity care services. We award maternity care health providers using either the primary care HPSA or the MCTA score for their site, whichever is higher.
Maternity care health professionals are obstetricians/gynecologists, family medicine physicians who practice obstetrics on a regular basis, and certified nurse midwives. Maternity care health professionals serving exclusively in mental HPSAs are not eligible to apply to the NHSC SUD Workforce LRP.
Service You have an opportunity to increase access to primary care services to communities in need.
Flexible Service Options You have a choice between three years of full-time or part-time service at an NHSC-approved SUD service site.
Note: If you serve in a private practice, you are not eligible to practice half-time.
Loan Repayment You will receive funds to repay your outstanding, qualifying, educational loans for a three-year service obligation.
NHSC loan repayment funds are exempt from federal income and employment taxes.
Eligible clinicians may receive:
Up to $75,000 for full-time service
Up to $37,500 for half-time service
Application Launch Date: January 30, 2026
Application Submission Deadline: March 31, 2026
Licensure Deadline: Applicants must have a current, full, unencumbered, unrestricted health professional license, certificate, or registration by: June 30, 2026
Employment Start Date: July 18, 2026
National Health Service Corps Scholarship and Nurse Corps Scholarship Program participants Service Obligation Completion Date: July 31, 2026
Notification of Award: September 30, 2026
Contract Termination Deadline:
60 days from the effective date of the contract or
At any time if the individual who has been awarded the contract has not received their award funds.
Award enhancement for Spanish-language proficiency
For the 2025 NHSC SUD Workforce LRP application cycle, we aim to address language access barriers to healthcare. To support this effort, we will provide a one-time award enhancement of up to $5,000 for a total loan repayment award of:
Up to $80,000 for full-time participants.
Up to $42,500 for half-time participants.
Award amounts are based on the outstanding balance of an applicant’s qualifying educational loans. Participants must complete the three-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, and your site affirms you provide services in Spanish to patients with limited English proficiency, after the application closes you will receive an email containing a link to schedule 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 at least a three (3) or higher.
Note: If your loans are less than the maximum $75,000 (full-time) or $37,500 (half-time) award amounts, you will not receive the award enhancement even if you are eligible under the other criteria.
Determine your eligibility
Do I qualify for the NHSC SUD Workforce LRP?
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 and 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 or have accepted a position at an NHSC-approved SUD treatment facility by the application deadline.
Using either your NHSC-approved site’s mental or primary care HPSA score.
You can now check your eligibility in your My BHW. After you select Applying for the NHSC LRP on the main portal page, see the Eligibility box at the top of the page.
We offer awards to providers who use evidence-based treatment models to treat substance use disorders. Evidence-based SUD treatment helps fight this epidemic through specific eligibility.
You must be trained and licensed to provide SUD treatment at NHSC-approved evidenced-based SUD treatment facilities.
To apply for the NHSC SUD Workforce LRP, you must understand and follow our requirements.
Before you apply
It takes up to three weeks to complete an application. This includes all required and supplemental documentation and access to a credit report. Failure or refusal to unfreeze/unlock a frozen credit report will disqualify your application.
Provide answers in your application that match your supporting documents. If they don’t, we’ll reject your application.
You must submit a legible, complete online application by the application deadline
Save each document as a PDF file before uploading to your application. Do not attempt to upload files larger than 5MB, or files saved as TIFF, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, and TXT.
We will not:
Accept requests or materials after the deadline to update a submitted application
Fill in any missing information
Contact you regarding missing information
How can my application receive priority?
You will receive priority if you:
Serve in an opioid treatment program;
Have specialized training to provide SUD treatment (for example, Licensure/Certification;
Have a license or certification in substance use disorder interventions, such as master’s-level substance use disorder counselors.
The following provides an overview of the application requirements. Find our complete set of requirements and instructions in the application and program guidance.
Complete each of the sections below to submit your application.
Eligibility
You must pass the initial screening portion of the application to confirm your eligibility. If you do not pass, you will not be able to continue with the application.
Personal information
Provide contact information such as your name, social security number, mailing and email addresses, as well as information about individual and family background.
Professional Information
Discipline, Training and Certification Provide information about your education, training, and licensure/certification.
Site Search (Employment) You will search for and select the NHSC-approved site(s), where you currently provide or will provide patient care.
Employment Verification You must request an Employment Verification (EV) through your My BHW account We will notify the point(s)-of-contact at the NHSC-approved service site where you work (or plan to work), about your request. The site(s) must complete the electronic EV before you can submit your application. It's your responsibility to ensure that the site point-of-contact completes the EV. We’ll notify you once the site(s) point(s)-of-contact completes it.
Professional information You will respond to questions related to your profession and professional training.
Telehealth This section contains optional questions that you will answer about any telehealth services you provide.
Loan information
Provide information on each qualifying educational loan for which you seek repayment. We'll review supporting documents, contact lenders/holders, and check 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, we need to know:
Original date of consolidation.
Original balance of consolidation.
Account number.
Purpose of loan.
An application is incomplete without the following 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: driver’s license or Social Security card.
Loan Information Verification Provide two types of documentation for each loan you submit:
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 (the NHSC loan repayment program 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.
Include the current interest rate.
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.
Include the purpose of the loan.
You may need to submit additional supporting documents.
Submit these documents if we list them on the “Supporting Documents” page of the online application.
Specialty Certification If you select a specialty, you are required to upload a copy of the certificate of completion or diploma from the training program.
Substance Use Disorder Specialized Training You should upload your document verifying your specialized substance use disorder or addiction medicine training program if you have one.
Substance Use Disorder License or Certification You should upload your certificate, license or diploma from a substance use disorder or addiction medicine training program if you have one.
Postgraduate Training Verification This document verifies that you completed the Addiction Medicine Fellowship (AMF) Program or Graduate Psychology Education Program (GPE). This information is in addition to the postgraduate training related to your practice area. Such documents may include an official completion certificate.
Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program Identification Number If you completed a postgraduate medical or dental training program funded by HRSA through the THCGME Payment Program, you are required to submit the residency identification number and residency completion certificate, if available. Use the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or The Commission on Dental Accreditation to look up your program identification number.
Verification of Disadvantaged Background A school official may complete the Verification of Disadvantaged Background(PDF - 406 KB). Alternatively, applicants may self-attest to having a disadvantaged background by submitting both the form and uploading a document that validates they meet the criteria listed on the disadvantaged background form. (For example, a federal student aid report, etc.).
Verification of Existing Service Obligation You must provide documentation from the entity where you have an existing service obligation confirming that you will complete your service prior to the NHSC application deadline.
Payment History (Former NHSC recipients) You must verify that you used all NHSC LRP funds to repay the qualifying educational loans approved as part of your most recent NHSC LRP contract, if applicable.
Proof of Name Change You must provide legal documents if the name on the proof of citizenship document is different from the name in the application, for example, marriage license or divorce decree.
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 your My BHW account to view your application status. Use My BHW to download a copy of your application, supporting documents, or 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 edits, certify, and resubmit your final, complete application by the application deadline. We will not consider applications in an "In Progress" status for an award
Can I withdraw my application?
Yes, you may withdraw your application any time before the Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS), or their designee, signs the contract.
How do you evaluate me?
We review all applications after the application deadline passes. We use various selection factors and funding priorities to evaluate each application and make award decisions.
If you become an award finalist, we will email by September 30. You must log into your My BHW account to confirm:
Your continued interest in receiving an award.
That your loan and employment information is valid.
That you have read and understand the LRP contract.
You will e-sign confirmation of receipt and provide your direct deposit banking information. If awarded, we use this information for award funds disbursement.
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 miss the deadline for the Confirmation of Interest process, we may not consider your application.
If you still wish to participate in the program, you will need to submit a new application during a future NHSC SUD Workforce LRP application cycle for first-time applicants. You will be considered along with other applicants based on that cycle’s program requirements.
Who makes award determinations?
Only the HHS Secretary or their designee can make an NHSC SUD Workforce LRP 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 Contract and service obligation
When does my service obligation begin?
Your service obligation begins on the date that the HHS Secretary or the Secretary’s designee countersigns your contract.
Can I terminate my contract?
Yes, however you must review the Application and Program Guidance and your contract to understand the timeline requirements and limitations for termination. If you terminate, you will be required to repay all funds received under the contract.