Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (Nurse Corps LRP) provides loan repayment assistance to professional registered nurses (RN), including advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), in return for a commitment to work full-time in eligible health

The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (Nurse Corps LRP) provides loan repayment assistance to professional registered nurses (RN), including advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), in return for a commitment to work full-time in eligible health care facilities with a critical shortage of nurses or serve as a nurse faculty in an eligible school of nursing. Nurse Corps LRP decreases the economic barriers associated with pursuing careers at Critical Shortage Facilities or in academic school of nursing.

Individuals who satisfy the following criteria are eligible to apply: (1) have received a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, an associate degree, a diploma, or a doctoral degree in nursing; (2) have outstanding qualifying educational loans leading to a degree or diploma in nursing; (3) a U.S. citizen (either U.S. born or naturalized), U.S., national or a lawful permanent resident of the United States; (4) employed full-time (32 hours or more per week) at a critical shortage facility (CSF) or employed as a full-time nurse faculty member at an accredited, public or private school of nursing; (5) have completed the nursing education program for which the loan balance applies; (6) have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered, unrestricted license in the State in which they intend to practice or be authorized to practice in the State under the Nurse Licensure Compact; and (7) submit a complete application, including a signed contract to work full-time as a registered or advanced practice nurse for 2 years at an eligible health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses or an accredited, eligible school of nursing. Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Government and Native American Organizations may apply if they are otherwise eligible.

Beneficiaries include registered nurses who have received a diploma, an associate degree, a baccalaureate degree or a graduate degree in nursing from an accredited school of nursing.

The program offers registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) substantial financial assistance to repay a portion of their qualifying educational loans in exchange for full-time service either at a Critical Shortage Facility or an eligible school of nursing. Nurse Corps LRP participants enter into a two-year contract agreeing to provide full-time service at an approved Critical Shortage Facility or an eligible school of nursing. In return, Nurse Corps LRP will pay participants a total of 60 percent (30 percent for each year) of their total outstanding qualifying nursing education loan balance. Eligible participants may apply for an optional third year service commitment, for which the Nurse Corps LRP will award an additional 25 percent of the participant's original total qualifying educational loan balance, bringing the total to 85 percent of eligible loan balances.

The program offers registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) substantial financial assistance to repay a portion of their qualifying educational loans in exchange for full-time service either at a Critical Shortage Facility or an eligible school of nursing. Nurse Corps LRP participants enter into a two-year contract agreeing to provide full-time service at an approved Critical Shortage Facility or an eligible school of nursing. In return, Nurse Corps LRP will pay participants a total of 60 percent (30 percent for each year) of their total outstanding qualifying nursing education loan balance. Eligible participants may apply for an optional third year service commitment, for which the Nurse Corps LRP will award an additional 25 percent of the participant's original total qualifying educational loan balance, bringing the total to 85 percent of eligible loan balances.

RNs and APRNs must provide full-time service at a public or private Critical Shortage Facility for a minimum of 32 hours per week or provide full time service (as defined by the employer) as a nurse faculty member for a minimum of 9 months per service year at an accredited public or private eligible school of nursing, for a period of two consecutive years beginning on the effective date of the contract.

Funding preference is defined as the funding of a specific category of group of approved applicants ahead of other categories or groups of approved applicants. As provided in section 846(e) of the PHS Act, as amended, a funding preference is given to eligible applicants with the greatest financial need. Awards are made to the highest ranked applicants until funds are expended.

Funding preference will be given to applicants with the greatest financial need, defined as those qualified applicants whose debt-to-salary ratio (i.e. total qualifying educational loan balance divided by base annual salary) is 100 percent or greater. Qualified applicants are grouped into funding categories, then preference tiers and awards are made in order of decreasing debt-to-salary ratio beginning with Tier 1, until all funds are expended. Award notifications are sent by email no later than September 30 of each year.

Notification to all applicants are made no later than September 30th of the application year.

Renewals for the third year of service will be considered based on the availability of funds.