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North Carolina · 2026 Guide

Healthcare loan repayment in North Carolina.

North Carolina's signature program is the NC Primary Care Physician Incentive, offering up to $100,000 tax-free over 4 years for physicians at independent private practices in the 80 Tier 1 and Tier 2 rural distressed counties. The Forgivable Education Loans for Service program also funds students in critical-shortage health professions.

State programs

2 state-funded programs.

NC Primary Care Physician Incentive

(NC PCPI)

NC Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Rural Health

Up to $100,000 tax-free over up to 4 years for primary care physicians at independent private practices in NC's Tier 1 and Tier 2 rural counties.

Award

Up to $100,000 tax-free over a 4-year commitment. Minimum 32 hours/week direct patient care at an eligible on-site clinical practice. Up to 16 awards per Medicaid region.

Application cycle

Verify current cycle at NCDHHS ORH page.

Eligible: Family medicine, general internal medicine, general surgery (critical-access hospitals only), general pediatrics, OB/GYN, psychiatry physicians at independent private practices in NC Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties

Tax: Tax-free per NCDHHS ORH program description. Verify federal characterization of any state-funded portion.

Open application page Sources: NCDHHS ORH: Medical/Dental/BH recruitment and incentives · NCDHHS: 2025 expansion press release

NC Forgivable Education Loans for Service

(FELS)

NC State Education Assistance Authority / College Foundation of NC

Up to $7,000/year for Certificate/Associate/Bachelor's programs, up to $14,000/year for Master's and Doctoral degrees in critical shortage health professions. Each academic year of loan equals 1 year of full-time service in NC.

Award

Up to $7,000/year for Certificate/Licensure, Associate, and Bachelor's programs. Up to $14,000/year for Master's and Doctoral degrees. Forgiveness: 1 academic year of loan = 1 year FT employment in a critical-shortage profession in NC.

Application cycle

2026-2027 application opens January 12, 2026.

Eligible: Critical shortage health professions (see CFNC approved program list)

Open application page Sources: CFNC: FELS program · CFNC: FELS 2025-2026 approved programs (PDF)

Federal programs in North Carolina

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

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NHSC LRP

NHSC Loan Repayment Program

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NHSC SUD LRP

NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program

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NHSC Rural LRP

NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program

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NHSC S2S

NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program

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NURSE Corps LRP

NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program

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IHS LRP

Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program

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FLRP

HRSA Faculty Loan Repayment Program

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PS LRP

HRSA Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program

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Conrad 30 J-1 visa waiver

For international medical graduates serving in North Carolina

Slots per year
30
Application window
FFY 2025-2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). Applications not accepted before October 1. NCDHHS encourages applicants to use the ARC or HHS J-1 waiver programs first (no fee, unlimited slots).
Submission
PDF emailed to karen.gliarmis@dhhs.nc.gov.
Open Conrad 30 page

Qualifying employers in North Carolina

6 organizations that may qualify you for these programs.

Federally Qualified Health Centers, Indian Health Service sites, and public hospitals in North Carolina 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

    Carolina Family Health Centers, Inc.

    Wilson, NC

    HRSA-funded FQHC providing primary care to underserved residents of Wilson and surrounding eastern North Carolina counties on a sliding fee scale based on ability to pay.

    Recruit on Black Health? Claim this listing free.

  • Federally Qualified Health Center

    CommWell Health

    Newton Grove, NC

    501(c)(3) FQHC established in 1977; provides patient-centered medical, dental, behavioral health, and support services across six southeastern NC counties with strong service to agricultural-worker populations.

    Recruit on Black Health? Claim this listing free.

  • Federally Qualified Health Center

    C.W. Williams Community Health Center, Inc.

    Charlotte, NC

    FQHC founded in 1981 in Mecklenburg County by Dr. C.W. Williams and other African American community leaders (including the first African American county commissioner); provides primary, preventive, and ancillary care on a sliding fee scale.

    Recruit on Black Health? Claim this listing free.

  • Federally Qualified Health Center

    Lincoln Community Health Center, Inc.

    Durham, NC

    FQHC operating in Durham since September 1971, founded by Dr. Charles DeWitt Watts (the first African American board-certified surgeon in North Carolina); HRSA FY2025 and FY2022 Quality Award recipient providing pediatrics, family medicine, dental, and behavioral health.

    Recruit on Black Health? Claim this listing free.

  • Federally Qualified Health Center

    Piedmont Health Services, Inc.

    Carrboro, NC

    North Carolina's first FQHC grantee organization (operating for over 50 years); 10 community health centers across four NC counties serving Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Lee, Orange, Person, and Randolph residents.

    Recruit on Black Health? Claim this listing free.

  • Federally Qualified Health Center

    Quality Comprehensive Health Center

    Charlotte, NC

    501(c)(3) community health center in Charlotte that receives HHS funding and holds PHS-deemed status; sliding-fee program serving underserved patients regardless of insurance status.

    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.