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California · 2026 Guide

Healthcare loan repayment in California.

California has the largest primary-care HPSA pool in the country (661 designations per HRSA Q1 FY2026 data) and runs three state programs: the California State LRP, the Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps LRP, and the Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Student LRP. All administered by the state Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI).

State programs

3 state-funded programs.

California State Loan Repayment Program

(CA-SLRP)

California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI)

Up to $50,000 for 2 or 4 years of full-time service, or up to $25,000 for 2 years half-time, at HCAI-approved HPSA sites.

Award

Full-time: up to $50,000 for 2-year or 4-year commitment. Half-time: up to $25,000 for 2-year commitment.

Application cycle

Next cycle expected July 2026.

Eligible: Primary care physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, PAs, NPs, CNMs, pharmacists, mental/behavioral health providers

Federal SLRP funds are tax-exempt under IRC §108(f); state add-ons may not be. Confirm with a tax professional.

Open application page Sources: HCAI: California State Loan Repayment Program · HCAI: 2025-26 CA-SLRP Grant Guide

Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment

(STLRP)

HCAI

Up to $105,000 for licensed physicians who commit to 36 months of service in a California HPSA.

Award

Up to $105,000 for a 36-month service obligation.

Application cycle

2026 cycle opened May 1, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. and closes June 2, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Funding pool approximately $2.1M.

Eligible: Licensed practicing physicians (MD/DO) who have completed a 3-year residency and hold a valid CA license

Open application page Sources: HCAI: STLRP · HCAI: STLRP FY 2025-26 Grant Guide (PDF)

Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Student Loan Repayment Program

(MBHSLRP)

HCAI (BH-Connect)

State program supporting behavioral health providers serving Medi-Cal members. Award and eligibility details for 2026 not confirmed in accessible primary source at retrieval.

Award

Verify current 2026 award details at the HCAI program page.

Application cycle

Verify at HCAI program page.

Eligible: Behavioral health providers serving Medi-Cal

Open application page Sources: HCAI: MBHSLRP program page

Federal programs in California

Federal programs you can stack with the state ones.

All nine federal loan-repayment programs operate in every state. The details (dollar amounts, eligibility, tax treatment) are the same regardless of where you serve.

PSLF

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

→

NHSC LRP

NHSC Loan Repayment Program

→

NHSC SUD LRP

NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program

→

NHSC Rural LRP

NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program

→

NHSC S2S

NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program

→

NURSE Corps LRP

NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program

→

IHS LRP

Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program

→

FLRP

HRSA Faculty Loan Repayment Program

→

PS LRP

HRSA Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program

→

Conrad 30 J-1 visa waiver

For international medical graduates serving in California

Slots per year
30
Application window
2025-2026 cycle is closed at retrieval. Email J1VisaWaiverProgram@hcai.ca.gov when the next cycle opens. Priority to rural practice sites.
Submission
Email to J1VisaWaiverProgram@hcai.ca.gov.
Open Conrad 30 page

Qualifying employers in California

7 organizations that may qualify you for these programs.

Federally Qualified Health Centers, Indian Health Service sites, and public hospitals in California that meet the eligibility rules for the programs above. Service at any of these sites typically counts toward both NHSC awards and PSLF concurrently.

  • Federally Qualified Health Center

    La Clinica de La Raza, Inc.

    Oakland, CA

    Founded in 1971 in Oakland's Fruitvale district; one of the largest community health center networks in California, serving more than 90,000 patients across Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano Counties as a HRSA-funded FQHC.

    Recruit on Black Health? Claim this listing free.

  • Federally Qualified Health Center

    South Central Family Health Center

    Los Angeles, CA

    FQHC established in 1981 on Central Avenue in South Los Angeles; designated as a Section 330 FQHC in 2002 and provides medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health care to underserved patients regardless of ability to pay.

    Recruit on Black Health? Claim this listing free.

  • Federally Qualified Health Center

    T.H.E. Health and Wellness Centers

    Los Angeles, CA

    FQHC serving inner-city Los Angeles and Huntington Park with comprehensive affordable primary, dental, behavioral health, and women's health care in a multicultural environment.

    Recruit on Black Health? Claim this listing free.

  • Federally Qualified Health Center

    Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, Inc.

    Hayward, CA

    FQHC in southern Alameda County with 300+ multicultural, multilingual health professionals delivering primary, dental, behavioral, and pediatric services to predominantly Latino working-class communities.

    Recruit on Black Health? Claim this listing free.

  • Federally Qualified Health Center

    UMMA Community Clinic

    Los Angeles, CA

    First Muslim American organization designated as an FQHC; medical home to over 25,000 adults and children living in South Los Angeles, a federally designated Primary Care HPSA and Medically Underserved Area.

    Recruit on Black Health? Claim this listing free.

  • Federally Qualified Health Center

    Watts Healthcare Corporation

    Los Angeles, CA

    Section 330 HRSA-funded FQHC founded after the 1965 Watts uprising; operates five locations across South Central LA providing primary, dental, behavioral, and specialty care with a focus on the African American and Spanish-speaking communities.

    Recruit on Black Health? Claim this listing free.

  • Federally Qualified Health Center

    West Oakland Health Council, Inc.

    Oakland, CA

    FQHC founded during the Civil Rights and Black Power movements; operates five clinic sites across Oakland and Berkeley providing primary, pediatric, dental, optometry, podiatry, and behavioral health care.

    Recruit on Black Health? Claim this listing free.

List sourced from HRSA's Find a Health Center tool and state directories. We curate a representative set, not the full grantee list. To add or correct an organization, email hello@blackhealth.org.

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Sources

Last reviewed against primary sources: May 17, 2026. Program rules and award amounts change. Always confirm directly with the agency before applying.