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Loan Repayment & Scholarship Programs for Provider Recruitment

There are a number of federal and state student loan repayment and scholarship programs that are designed to encourage health professionals to work in areas that have shortages of providers.  These programs include:

• National Health Service Corps (NHSC)
• Wisconsin Health Professions Loan Assistance
• Nursing Education Loan Repayment (fed. HRSA)

NHSC programs include:

Loan Repayment - Repayment of student educational loans for certain health professionals (primary care, dental and mental health) in exchange for working at a clinic in a high-need shortage area for at least two years. - Clinics must provide financial access to care and meet other NHSC site requirements.

Student Scholarships - Payment of tuition, fees and certain other educational expenses for students in certain health professions education programs (dentists, psychiatrists, and primary care physicians, advanced practice nurses, and physician assistants), in exchange for working at a clinic in a high-need shortage area at least two years. - Clinics must provide financial access to care and meet other NHSC site requirements.

The Wisconsin Primary Care Program coordinates NHSC recruitment assistance in the state by helping:

• Disseminate information about NHSC resources to clinics, clinicians, and other state partners, 
• Clinics submit their site applications to NHSC, 
• The NHSC verify the eligibility of site applications from clinics,
• Clinicians identify vacancies eligible for loan repayment or scholar placements.

For more information about eligibility and applications for National Health Service Corps recruitment assistance, contact: 

Wisconsin's Health Professions Loan Assistance Program: (exit DHS)
Repayment of a portion of student educational loans for primary care providers, dentists and hygienists, and psychiatrists who agree to work in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas in Wisconsin for up to three years.

Nursing Education Loan Repayment: (exit DHS)
The federal Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program is a competitive program that can repay up to 60% of the qualifying loan balance of registered nurses selected for funding in exchange for 2 years of service at a critical shortage facility.  Participants may be eligible to work a 3rd year and receive repayment of an additional 25% of the qualifying loan balance.

Last Revised: June 24, 2008