National Health Service Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs

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Is anyone familiar with Alabama's National Health Service Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs? I stumbled across it tonight. I am currently a student in an ADN program with a BS in Biology/Chemistry. I will be getting a BSN through an RN to BSN online program. Then...I have to decide if I am going to go on for CRNA or NP. Just thinking of options for the future for paying for that expensive grad school. I live in Huntsville and will be staying in this area. The current idea is to drive back and forth to UAB for 10 months for the CRNA program until I can finish the rest here in Huntsville. So Alabama's National Health Service Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs, thoughts? I had never even heard of it. Thanks in advance!!!

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Hey, I went to college in Alabama and did a med school internship at UAB. They told us during the internship that if we guaranteed 3-5 years working in a rural medically underserved area in Alabama that the government (sounds like the program you mentioned) would pay off our student loans. I don't know how this applies to CRNA though.

I'm starting CRNA school next month and am highly interested in ways to pay off the debt quickly, so more info on this topic would be appreciated.

Maybe the question should be to all the CRNA's out there, how did you pay for your CRNA school debt, what do you recommend in retrospect?

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First decide which your going for those are two way different career paths.

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Specializes in Step-down ICU.

Your odds/chances of getting the Nurse Corps Loan repayment is better for NPs than CRNAs. Research and choose the best route for you.

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Specializes in Step-down ICU.

In retrospect I would have joined the military on the front end and have them pay for it. There are very limited loan repayment options for CRNAs. The reality is,most just work a ton of extra shifts or a second job. They put every single extra dime into their loan repayments. Some will even recommend living like a student for a few years until your loans are paid. Also keep in mind, CRNAs are NOT able to write off any interest for loans. Be sure you're well informed and do your homework on the profession, and the debt you will be assuming.

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The National Health Services Corps does not provide any funding for CRNAs. Their focus on primary care and mental health services for underserved areas. The only APRNs eligible are FNP, AGNP (primary care), PNP (also primary care), PMHNP, and CNM.

There may be state programs for loan repayment but there is very little in the way of loan repayment/free rides for CRNA; the trade off of being the highest paid APRN.

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Currently, federal loan repayment is not offered for crna loans. í ½í¸’

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