By committing to work in underserved communities, psychologists, counselors, therapists, and clinical social workers may qualify for up to $250,000 of student loan repayment through the National Health Service Corps (NHSC).
Find out whether NHSC loan repayment could help reduce your student debt. Compare programs, award amounts, service commitments, work sites, and application requirements.
What Is the National Health Service Corps?
The NHSC is a federal program that provides financial support to eligible medical, mental health, and dental professionals who sign a contract to practice in medically underserved areas. For mental health professionals, financial support is offered in the form of loan repayment programs (LRPs).
Unlike the better-known Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, NHSC loan repayment applies to private commercial loan balances and requires a minimum service commitment of just two years, making it an especially appealing option for graduates.
| Feature | NHSC | PSLF |
|---|---|---|
| Applies to federal Direct Loans? | Yes | Yes |
| Applies to private commercial loans? | Yes | No |
| Service commitment | 2-6 years | 10 year minimum |
| Schedule commitment | Half- or full-time | Full-time only |
| Employer requirements | Various sites in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) | U.S.-based government organizations or qualifying nonprofits |
| Award amounts | $25,000-$250,000, depending on program and length of service | Unlimited, applying to federal Direct Loan balances only |
| How benefits are awarded | Funding and award availability vary by application cycle. Eligible applicants are not guaranteed a contract. | Not competitive. Borrowers who meet all program requirements qualify for forgiveness of their remaining eligible balance. |
The NHSC is administered by the Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW), part of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). PSLF is administered by the U.S. Department of Education.
How NHSC Loan Repayment Programs Work
The NHSC connects behavioral health providers with underserved communities. Once a contract is finalized, participants receive a lump-sum award within about 90 days. This award can be used to pay down qualifying loans. In exchange, recipients complete their contracted service commitment.
Applications to NHSC are competitive, and contracts are not guaranteed. Your likelihood of receiving a contract offer depends on the number of eligible applicants, available funding, and various selection factors, including your commitment to serving communities in need.
In this section, we review available NHSC LRPs, eligible professional disciplines, and award amounts.
NHSC Programs for Mental Health Professionals
The NHSC currently operates three different LRPs that eligible mental health professionals can apply for, while the BHW offers two closely-related LRPs. Each LRP works to support a different underserved population or health specialty.
NHSC LRP: Prioritizes expanding outpatient behavioral health services to people living in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs)
NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce LRP: Prioritizes recruitment and retention of professionals to help treat opioid addiction in HPSAs
NHSC Rural Community LRP: Prioritizes placing professionals in approved outpatient substance use disorder treatment facilities in rural HPSAs
BHW Pediatric Specialty LRP: Prioritizes child and adolescent behavioral health, including substance use disorder prevention and treatment, in approved outpatient and school-based sites.
BHW Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) LRP: Prioritizes placement of substance use disorder treatment clinicians in HPSAs and rural counties where drug overdose deaths exceed national averages, as reported by the CDC.
Which Mental Health Professionals Qualify for Loan Repayment?
The NHSC and BHW offer LRP options for most mental health professionals, including:
Additional eligibility requirements for each LRP commonly include:
U.S. citizen or U.S. national status
Completed training in an eligible discipline
License to practice in the state in which you are applying to serve
Student loan debt related to your eligible mental health discipline
How Much Funding Can You Receive?
The amount you can receive in loan repayment varies by program, length of service commitment, and whether you plan to work full or half time. View current award amounts for mental and behavioral health professionals in the table below. Keep in mind that NHSC and BHW award amounts and availability are subject to change depending on federal legislation and budget cycles.
| Program Name | Commitment | Award Amount | Eligible Disciplines |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHSC LRP | 2 years | $50,000, full-time; $25,000, half-time | LCSW, LPC, MFT, psychologist |
| Substance Use Disorder Workforce LRP | 3 years | $75,000, full-time; $37,500, half-time | LCSW, LPC, MFT, psychologist, SUD counselor |
| Rural Community LRP | 3 years | $100,000, full-time; $50,000, half-time | LCSW, LPC, MFT, psychologist, SUD counselor |
| Pediatric Specialty LRP* | 3 years | $100,000, full-time | LCSW, LMSW, LPC, MFT, psychologist, SUD counselor |
| STAR LRP* | 6 years | $250,000, full-time | LCSW, LMSW, LPC, MFT, psychologist, SUD counselor, psychology doctoral interns |
* Programs operated by the Bureau of Health Workforce
If you participated in the flagship NHSC LRP and still have a loan balance to repay following your initial service commitment, you may be eligible to sign a one-year continuation contract. For the 2026 cycle, one-year continuation service contracts offered $10,000-$20,000 in additional loan repayment.
How to Apply for NHSC Loan Repayment
Application periods vary by program and year. NHSC LRPs generally share an application cycle, while the BHW's Pediatric Specialty and STAR LRPs operate on separate schedules. Typical steps to apply to NHSC and BHW loan repayment include:
Step 1: Find a qualifying job and site.
LRP applicants must be employed at an approved site or have accepted a position with a start date by the LRP's specified deadline.
Step 2: Apply for loan repayment.
Complete an online application on the BHW website, provide employment verification, and supply documentation of your education, training, credentials, and qualifying school loans. You will also supply an essay, CV, and recommendation letters for consideration.
Step 3: HRSA ranks and selects applicants.
Various selection factors and funding priorities are taken into consideration. Eligibility and a completed application do not guarantee funding.
Step 4: If selected, sign the contract.
Your service obligation begins when HHS countersigns it. Work performed before that date does not count toward the required service term.
All three NHSC LRPs use the same online application, but applicants can apply to only one program per application cycle. If you qualify for multiple LRPs, compare award amounts, service commitments, site requirements, and program priorities before choosing which one to apply to.
If you are not accepted for your desired LRP, you can reapply during the next cycle.
What Sites Qualify for NHSC Loan Repayment?
NHSC and BHW LRPs support employees at approved sites in underserved communities, including:
Community and Behavioral Health Settings: Community health centers, rural health clinics, public health clinics, school-based clinics, mobile units, and qualifying private practices
Tribal and Federal Settings: Indian Health Service and Tribal facilities, correctional facilities, and certain federal health sites
Hospital-Affiliated Outpatient Settings: Qualifying outpatient clinics connected to hospitals, critical access hospitals, or rural emergency hospitals
Behavioral Health and Treatment Settings: Outpatient behavioral health clinics, rehabilitation programs, psychiatric facilities, SUD treatment programs, and recovery centers
Residential and Justice Settings: Group or residential care facilities, youth detention programs, and local jails
Other Eligible Sites: Faith-based organizations, urgent care facilities, emergency departments, prevention coalitions, and VA facilities
Eligible sites vary by program. The Pediatric Specialty LRP and STAR LRP allow the broadest range of work settings, including some inpatient, residential, faith-based, and urgent- or emergency-care settings.
You can find NHSC-eligible sites and opportunities using the HRSA's Health Workforce Connector.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can change employers or work sites during your service commitment with prior approval from the NHSC. Your new site must be NHSC approved, and your work must remain in the profession for which you applied.
