How to Choose an NHSC Site

Choosing an NHSC-approved site and a community where you’ll be practicing and living is a big decision.

As you begin to weigh your options, consider your answers to the following questions.

Site Location

In which three to five states would I like to live?
Do I want to work in an urban, rural, or frontier area?
Would I like to be a certain distance from the city, mountains, or beach?
Do I want to be near a family member or close to where I studied?
Am I willing to accept a long work commute, and what kind of transportation options are available?

Will I thrive in a large, mid-size, or small environment?
Do I want a site that has satellite locations or mobile vans that are also NHSC-approved where I can spend some of my time?
What population groups (e.g., homeless, migrants) would I like the opportunity to work with more?
Do I have additional language skills that I want to use?
What disease areas are of particular interest to me (e.g., diabetes, HIV/AIDS)?

Does the site’s mission and goals align with mine?
Do I want a site that already has a health information technology system or one that is just beginning to transition to an electronic system?
Is having on-site ancillary services such as laboratory, pharmacy, and x-ray important to me?
What kinds of resources are most important to me—certain clinical support or administrative staff?
Are there opportunities to support my continued medical education training?
What are the opportunities for growth?

What type of on-call schedule can I manage?
Does it matter if I work Monday through Friday, or would I prefer a non-traditional schedule?
What kind of flexibility do I need so I can fulfill my personal responsibilities and needs?

What kind of community amenities are a priority for my family (e.g., places of worship, housing, schools, day care, leisure and cultural activities, special medical needs)?
Are there employment opportunities for my spouse or partner?

Date Last Reviewed:

September 2021