NHSC Loan Repayment Program

Award

Primary care (physicians, NPs, CNMs, PAs at primary-care HPSA sites): up to $80,000 full-time or $42,500 half-time for a 2-year initial contract. Non-primary care (psychiatrists, behavioral-health-specialty NPs, PAs, CNMs, dentists, dental hygienists, behavioral health providers): up to $55,000 full-time or $30,000 half-time for a 2-year initial contract. Both tiers include a one-time $5,000 Language Access Award Enhancement.

Eligible professions

• →MD, DO
• →NP, CNM, PA
• →DDS, DMD, Dental Therapist, RDH
• →Health Service Psychologist (PhD/PsyD)
• →LCSW, PNS, LPC, MFT

Eligible employer types

HPSA requirement

Primary medical care HPSA score ≥21 for physicians and NPs; ≥19 for PAs and CNMs. Mental health HPSA ≥21 for psychiatrists. Dental HPSA ≥14 for dentists. Lower-score sites may become eligible later in the cycle if higher-score awards are exhausted.

Application cycle

FY2026 submission deadline: March 31, 2026, 7:30 p.m. ET. Edits and resubmissions due March 26, 2026. Awards announced by September 30, 2026.

PSLF interaction

NHSC LRP time at a 501(c)(3) FQHC, IHS site, or government facility can count toward PSLF concurrently. The award payments do not count as qualifying PSLF payments themselves.

Tax treatment

Federally tax-exempt under IRC §108(f)(4). State tax treatment varies.

Common pitfalls

• !You must hold a current, full, unrestricted license by June 30, 2026.
• !You cannot hold another concurrent service obligation (military, J-1 waiver, etc.) during the NHSC term.
• !The site must be on the NHSC-approved list at the time of award. Verify any prospective employer at the Health Workforce Connector before accepting.
• !Outstanding federal judgments or breach of a prior federal service obligation disqualifies you.