Attending postgraduate training?
Students who choose to attend postgraduate training programs prior to beginning service in the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program must meet a set of requirements.
Review the complete, detailed information in the:
How to submit a postgraduate training request
- You must submit postgraduate training requests via the My Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) Portal by May 1.
- Physicians: Failing to submit a timely and complete postgraduate training request may result in a breach of your NHSC contract.
- Other health professionals: Though postgraduate training is optional, failure to submit a timely and complete postgraduate training request may result in NHSC assigning you to service immediately.
- Check out our videos to help you complete and submit your request to attend postgraduate training electronically.
*If you use assistive technology, you may not be able to access information in this file. For help, contact us at 800-221-9393.
When must you start postgraduate training?
If eligible to pursue postgraduate training, we expect you to start after graduation on or around July 1.
How to defer your service commitment
To defer your service commitment, you must:
- Pursue an approved medical or dental specialty;
- Not incur a conflicting service commitment;
- Complete and return the Postgraduate Training Verification (PGTV) form by June 15 each year;
- Notify us of personal (e.g., name, address, phone, or email) or financial changes; and
- Notify us immediately of any changes that affect your training status, i.e.:
- Leave of absence or other delay in completion date.
- Transfer to another postgraduate training program.
- Dropping out or termination from your postgraduate training program.
Do you need NHSC pre-approval?
Yes. During your final year of health professions education, and each year of postgraduate training (if applicable), you must request postgraduate training approval. Do this via the My BHW.
You may only pursue postgraduate training programs that we officially approve. Additionally, you may not make any changes to the type or length of postgraduate training without our prior approval.
Note: It is your responsibility to research potential postgraduate training programs. Be sure the program provides adequate training that enables you to sit for the appropriate boards, if applicable.
If you enter training, of which we do not approve, you will be in breach of contract.
Who must complete postgraduate training
Physicians
Must complete an accredited primary care training program in an NHSC-approved specialty. You must begin your NHSC service commitment no later than 6 months after completing your postgraduate training program.
You may request to defer your service to complete advanced training (e.g., chief residency or fellowship) if it is consistent with our needs.
Dentists, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, and Physician Assistants
We do not require you to complete postgraduate training, however, you may do so. If you choose to complete NHSC-approved postgraduate training, you must request to defer your period of service.
If you do choose not to complete postgraduate training: begin your NHSC service commitment no later than six months after graduation from your health professions training program.
Which postgraduate training programs we approve
Which postgraduate training programs we consider ineligible
We will not approve the following postgraduate training programs:
- Non-primary health care programs (e.g., emergency medicine, surgery, radiology, neurology, anesthesiology, ophthalmology, pathology, oral surgery, endodontics, sports medicine etc.)
- Postgraduate health professions education conducted by a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States. By participating in such programs, you incur military service commitments that conflict with the NHSC service commitment.
- Transitional residency training (except as we specified above for Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine).
How we address scholarship service and support during postgraduate training
You do not receive financial support while participating in postgraduate training.
Additionally, you will not incur any additional period of service during that time.
Note: Periods of postgraduate training do not count toward your service commitment, even though your training may occur in a facility located in a Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).