Student loan forgiveness (NHSC)

Specialties NP

Published

Anyone have any experience getting their student loans paid off using the National Health Service Corps? I was offered a position recently that is eligible for this benefit, however I worry about all the penalties should you be unable or unwilling to complete your 2 year commitment.

Specializes in FNP.

I believe I read somewhere that you could have only one obligation at a time

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When and how do you find NP jobs in the loan repayment program? I don't graduate from my FNP program until Dec 2012, but I REALLY need the loan repayment!! What are your recommendations for when to apply & where to find the jobs? Thanks!!!

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

Google "National Health Service Corps"to get to their website. They will list jobs that qualify for loan forgiveness. Just keep in mind that you may have to re-locate to find a job that qualifies. Also check with your state BON or NP association to see if there are any state programs available.

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Specializes in FNP.

You can also do a search to look at clinics that might qualify (my state's ambassador suggested I look at those with scores 14 and above) though may not have NP positions open currently.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Urgent Care.

i have looked into this program. a couple things i found out when reading the details that are extremely important to know before making a commitment are:

nhsc lrp applicants must have qualifying educational loans.(1) qualifying educational loans


  1. an nhsc lrp participant will receive loan repayment funding to be applied to theprincipal, interest, and related expenses of outstanding government (federal, state, orlocal) and commercial loans for undergraduate or graduate education obtained by theparticipant for school tuition, other reasonable educational expenses, and reasonableliving expenses.

  2. the educational loans must be obtained prior to the date the participant submits his/heronline application to the nhsc lrp.

  3. if an nhsc participant obtains additional educational loans toward another healthprofessions degree (after submission of his/her initial application) and subsequentlyreapplies to participate in the nhsc lrp in his/her new health profession, the qualifyingeducational loans incurred subsequent to the initial application submission may berepaid.

(2) consolidated/refinanced loans


  1. the consolidated/refinanced loan must be from a government (federal, state, or local)
    or commercial lender and must include only qualifying educational loans of the
    applicant.

  2. if an otherwise eligible educational loan of the applicant’s is consolidated/refinanced
    with ineligible (non-qualifying) debt of the applicant, no portion of the
    consolidated/refinanced loan will be eligible for loan repayment.

  3. eligible educational loans consolidated with loans owed by any other person, such as a
    spouse or child, are ineligible for repayment.

(3) what types of loans do not qualify for repayment?

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  1. loans for which the associated documentation does not identify the loan as applicableto undergraduate or graduate education.

  2. loans not obtained from a government entity or commercial lending institution. mostloans made by private foundations to individuals are not eligible for repayment.

  3. loans that have been repaid in full.

  4. parent plus loans.

  5. all co-signed loans.

  6. personal lines of credit.

  7. residency relocation loans.

  8. credit cards

    read carefully.

    information found on 7/8/12 from at: http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/downloads/lrpapplicationguidance.pdf






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Specializes in Family Practice, Urgent Care.

Bad fonting - sorry

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DON'T submit yourself to the "Ball & Chain" of NHSC. $60k is not worth all the headache and the mis-management of the program. I suffered through the deaths of 3 direct family members and needed to relocate to care for my father with 20 working days left on my contract. My suspension/waiver amounted to approximately 20 total days even though I exceeded my time working in rural care by 6+ months. NHSC is the most heart-less organization I have ever been involved with. DON'T, DON'T, DON'T sign up, you can find a position elsewhere that will pay similar AND you can take a tax deduction. They are very limited in site transfers. You would be better off in the military for a compassionate reassignment. DO NOT SIGN UP FOR NHSC LOAN-REPAYMENT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!

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Only $60K ?? that is highway robbery!!! RN's make more than that. Thanks for sharing- I have been researching this and am so thankful I found your post!

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