How to Comply with Scholarship Program Postgraduate Training Requirements

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.

Below is an overview of your service commitment requirements while in postgraduate training. We expect you to review the complete, detailed information in the 2023-2024 NHSC Postgraduate Training Bulletin (PDF - 440 KB).

How to submit a postgraduate training request

Submit postgraduate training requests via the Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) Customer Service Portal by May 1.

What should physicians do?

Submit a complete postgraduate training request on time. Otherwise, you may be in breach of your NHSC contract.

What about other health professionals?

Postgraduate training is optional.

However, if you do plan to attend postgraduate training, submit a complete postgraduate training request on time. If it's incomplete or late, we may assign you to service immediately.

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 BHW Customer Service Portal.

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