National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program

The purpose of the NHSC SP is to enter into contracts with students who are in medical dental, or nursing school to provide scholarship assistance in return for a commitment to provide primary health services in eligible communities of need designate

The purpose of the NHSC SP is to enter into contracts with students who are in medical dental, or nursing school to provide scholarship assistance in return for a commitment to provide primary health services in eligible communities of need designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).

At the time of application, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national. The applicant must be enrolled and/or accepted for enrollment and in good academic standing in an accredited school in a State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. Territory as a full-time student in a course of study leading to a health professional degree. The applicant must be eligible for Federal employment, be free of any Federal judgment liens, not be excluded, debarred, suspended or disqualified by a federal agency, and have no conflicting service obligation. The applicant must submit an application and a signed contract to the NHSC agreeing to accept payment of scholarship and provide full-time primary health services in a HPSA.

The participant must maintain full-time enrollment, with good academic standing in an accredited school in a State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. Territory as a full-time student in a course of study leading to a health professional degree. The participant must maintain eligibility for Federal employment, be free of any Federal judgment liens, not be excluded, debarred, suspended or disqualified by a federal agency, and have no conflicting service obligation.

Service-obligated scholarships for full-time students of allopathic (M.D.) and osteopathic (D.O.) medicine, dentistry, primary care nurse practitioner, nurse midwifery, and primary care physician assistants. Other health disciplines may be included if needed by the National Health Service Corps. Scholarships pay tuition and required fees to the school, a monthly stipend to students for living expenses and a single annual payment to the student to assist with other reasonable educational expenses. Reasonable expenses may include books, supplies, equipment, uniforms, travel for the provision of clinical services, etc. The program requires 1 year of service for each year of scholarship support, with a minimum 2-year service commitment after graduation, or post graduate training and/or licensure. A maximum of 4 years of support may be awarded. Service sites are selected by the scholarship recipient from the list of high priority sites in HPSAs identified by the NHSC. Refer to the NHSC Scholarship Application and Program Guidance for specific requirements. (http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/downloads/spapplicationguide.pdf).

NHSC SP - Each award covers 1 to 4 years of support, as requested. No awardees may receive more than 4 years of support.

By statute, first priority will be given to any applicant for such assistance who has previously received a scholarship under this section or under section 758 of the PHS Act. Second priority given to all students who have characteristics which increase the probability they will continue professional practice in a HPSA when they complete their service obligation, and the third priority will be given to students who are from a disadvantaged background.

NHSC SP awards are very competitive; the Program anticipates more applicants for scholarship awards than there are funds available. All qualified applications are forwarded to an objective review committee and scored numerically. Based on the advice of the objective review committee, the HRSA program official with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions.

Notification to successful and rejected applicants is made no later than September 30th of the application year.

Renewal applications are not necessary for students in compliance; contracts may be multi-year funded through graduation (1 to 4 years, if the applicant signs the contract through the graduation date). Continuation contracts are offered to students whose contracts have expired, contracts of four years or less, and/or for those who have not received the maximum four years of support allowed by statute.