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Determine State Loan Repayment Program Eligibility and Application Requirements

Health Resources and Services Administration's Bureau of Health Workforce funds the National Health Service Corps' State Loan Repayment Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) through a grant.

What Is the State Loan Repayment Program?

The State Loan Repayment Program provides cost-sharing grants to states and territories to operate their own loan repayment programs.

These programs offer loan repayment to primary medical, mental/behavioral, and dental healthcare clinicians working in Health Professional Shortage Areas

Eligible disciplines, practice sites, length of required service commitment, and the amount of loan repayment awards offered may differ by state/territory.

The State Loan Repayment Program is an important complement to other NHSC loan repayment programs and allows states and territories to design programs that address the most pressing health care needs of their residents while increasing the number of primary care clinicians serving in areas where they are needed most.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements for States/Territories?

There are three requirements for a non-federal entity (NFE) wishing to be eligible for SLRP:

Location

Your entity falls in one of the 50 states, or in:

  • Washington, D.C.
  • Puerto Rico
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Guam
  • American Samoa
  • Palau
  • Marshall Islands
  • Northern Mariana Islands

Matching Funds

Cost-sharing Requirement: States will not be required to demonstrate a $1 for $1 match for the federal funding received through the grant.

Federal funds used to support the SLRP funds are exempt from federal income and employment taxes.

Is there flexibility in matching funds?

Yes.

You may use funds from:

  • Other state education loan repayment programs.
  • Donations from eligible service sites, private foundations, or community organizations.

SLRP allows you to expand your educational loan repayment programs without additional state outlays.

Your state/territory cannot:

  • Make SLRP awards to people already obligated under the state program unless those people complete their state obligation before their SLRP service begins.
  • Operate on terms that are more favorable than what the NHSC Loan Repayment Program (LRP) provides.
    • There’s still a significant amount of flexibility for you to differentiate your SLRP from the NHSC LRP through the

      • eligible disciplines you fund;
      • practice sites where program participants may serve; and
      • length of the service commitment your program requires.

Administration

A state agency must manage the SLRP grant.

Use of Federal Funds

The state agency must use federal funds received through the SLRP to make loan repayment awards.

Who Determines Award Amounts for Clinicians?

SLRP NFEs (grantees) determine the annual award amount for each clinician receiving loan repayment.

However, clinicians cannot receive more than the total amount of their outstanding educational debt.

  • The maximum award amount per clinician = $50,000 for a two-year full-time service commitment. If you wish to make awards above $50,000 for a two-year full-time service commitment, the state/territory is responsible for non-federal funds in excess of the maximum award amount per clinician.

Can you renew awards?

You may renew a clinician’s award in exchange for additional years of service. However, it does depend on your state program and its available funding.

What Must You Do to Apply For SLRP?

Before you apply for a HRSA grant, you must:

How can I contact you?

Email: Paula Gumbs
Call: (301) 443-7581

Note: Always read the notice of funding opportunity for full eligibility requirements.

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