Are you considering post-graduate employment at a Health Center and applying for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment or Scholarship Program? Let NNOHA introduce you to the programs and address frequently asked questions!
General Overview
The NHSC awards scholarships and loan repayment to primary care providers in NHSC-eligible disciplines. NHSC providers, in turn, commit to serving for at least two years at an NHSC-approved site located in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). Many choose to continue serving at their sites beyond the initial NHSC service commitment.
Loan Repayment
In the NHSC Loan Repayment Program, participants must first apply for, and accept, a position at an NHSC-approved site of their choosing, and then apply to the NHSC. Once accepted, members are able to follow their passion for helping those in need without having to worry about enormous student loans: providers have the opportunity to pay off all of their debt. Both dentists and registered dental hygienists are eligible to apply.
Scholarships
The NHSC Scholarship Program pays students’ tuition, books, and other costs, and provides a living stipend, while students train to become a primary care provider in an NHSC-eligible discipline, including dentistry (DDS or DMD). To receive a NHSC Scholarship, students must be enrolled in an accredited medical, dental, nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or physician assistant training program. Upon graduation, NHSC Scholars serve as primary care providers in an NHSC-approved site for two to four years, depending on their service contract. Please note that dental hygiene students are not eligible to apply.
NHSC-Approved Sites
NHSC-approved sites are health care facilities that provide outpatient, ambulatory, and primary health ser-vices in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), which are communities with limited access to care. Examples of approved sites include Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), FQHC Look-Alikes, Rural Health Clinics and Indian Health Service sites.
Strengthening and growing our primary care workforce is crucial to keeping this nation healthy. As more Americans gain access to health care, it is critical that there are qualified health care providers to serve them. The NHSC, through its providers and sites, plays an important role in helping to address the country’s pri-mary care shortage.
For a list of NHSC-approved sites, visit: http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/sites/becomenhscapprovedsite/typesofsites/index.html.
To learn more about the Loan Repayment Program and estimate your loan repayment, visit: http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/index.html.
For more information on the Scholarship Program, visit: http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/scholarships/index.html.
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