Resources for Job Seekers

There are various loan repayment programs through HRSA’s National Health Service Corps (NHSC) for people already working in the medical field (comparison available here):

• Loan Repayment Program (LRP) provides an opportunity for medical professionals to pay off their student loans while providing care to communities in need. Providers participating in the LRP program receive loan repayment in addition to a competitivesalary from their employers (employers must be NHSC approved sites).
• Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Workforce Loan Repayment Program for providers at SUD facilities and the Rural Community Loan Repayment Program, which isspecifically for providers practicing at rural SUD sites.
• Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program includes multiple options specifically fornurses (see a comparison chart here).

Learn more about NHSC

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program awards scholarships to students pursuing an eligible training or degree program for a primary care health profession. In return, scholars commit to providing primary care health services in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).

In addition to loan repayment options, HRSA’s NHSC has several scholarship programs available to current students

• Student to Service Loan Repayment Program – For individuals currently in school to become a medical professional.
• Scholarship Program – Students pursuing careers in primary care can receive a scholarship now and serve later. The scholarship includes payment of tuition and required fees (tax-free), some other tax-free educational costs (books, etc.), and a monthly living stipend (taxable) for up to 4 years. Scholars commit to serve at a NHSC site upon completion of their training – one year for each year of support (at least 2 years). Full-time students pursuing careers as Physicians, Dentists, NPs, and PAs are eligible.
• Nurse Corps Scholarship Program – Provides eligible nursing students with financial assistance.

Learn more about the NHSC Scholarship Program

Wisconsin health care professionals (physicians, psychiatrists, dentists, dental hygienists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives) practicing in an outpatient setting can receive up to $50,000 in education loan assistance through the Health Professions Loan Assistance Program (HPLAP). To be eligible, providers must work full time in a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). All Wisconsin Community Health Centers a deemed HPSAs. Providers must agree to work three years in an eligible underserved rural or urban community.

Learn more about HPLAP

Wisconsin primary care physicians and psychiatrists practicing in an outpatient setting in a rural* community are eligible for an additional award. The Rural Physician Loan Assistance Program grants physicians practicing in a rural community up to $50,000 in loan assistance funds. Providers practicing in rural communities qualify for this funding whether or not the worksite is located in a HPSA.

“Rural” is defined as:

• A city, town, or village that has a population of less than 20,000 and that is at least 15 miles from any city, town, or village that has a population of at least 20,000, and
• That is not an urbanized area, as defined by the federal bureau of the census.

Learn more about the Rural Physicians Loan Assistance Program

Through this program, the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) provides financial assistance for up to 12 primary care physicians and 12 psychiatrists each year. Those eligible must have completed or will complete a graduate medical education program in Wisconsin in 2014 or later and intend to practice in an underserved area in Wisconsin.

Learn more about the State Loan Repayment Program

Through this program, the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) provides loans up to $3,000 per year for students enrollend in eligible nursing programs.

Learn more about the Nursing Student Loan Program

• Primary Care Program: Allied Health Professional (AHP) Education and Training Grant | Wisconsin Department of Health Services – Applications due in May of even years, which provide up to $125,000 per year for a health care entity and training institution to partner in developing or expanding training for professions such as therapists. Applicants are required to provide a match, which may be in-kind.
• Primary Care Program: Advanced Practice Clinician (APC) Training Grant | Wisconsin Department of Health Services – Applications due annually in May, which provide up to $50,000 for a health care entity and training institution to partner in developing or expanding training for Physician Assistants and/or Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. Applicants are required to provide a match, which may be in-kind.
• Apprenticeship – Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) – Details regarding Registered Apprenticeship Programs through DWD. Creating a registered apprenticeship program for training of health care professionals may provide benefits for CHCs including connection with potential employees seeking apprenticeships, funding, and support from DWD staff in development of an apprenticeship program. To get started, CHCs should connect with an apprenticeship navigator.
• Wisconsin Conrad 30 Waiver Program: General Information | Wisconsin Department of Health Services (J-1 Visa Waivers) – DHS administers 30 slots for thisnfederal program which waives the “home residence” requirement so that qualifyingbforeign-trained physicians can remain practicing in Wisconsin. Applications dueannually in September.
• Qualified Treatment Trainee (QTT) Grant Program – Offers up to $20,000 for agencies offering mental health services to supervise QTTs. Applications are due in September. Organizations that are DHS 35 Outpatient Mental Health Certified may be prioritized.

What is HRSA?
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is a federal agency. HRSA created the first workforce shortage financial support programs in the 1970s in response to growing primary health care workforce shortages.

What is NHSC?
National Health Service Corps (NHSC) provides financial support to health care professionals in exchange for working at an NHSC-approved site for a set number of years.

What is an NHSC approved site? How do I find them?
An NHSC site is registered with HRSA and provides outpatient, primary health care services to people in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). NHSC sites can be in both urban and rural areas.

Examples of NHSC sites are:

• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)
• Federally Qualified Health Center Look-a-Likes
• Certified Rural Health Clinics
• Indian Health Service, Tribal Clinic, and Urban Indian Health Clinics (ITU)

NHSC Approved Sites can be found here.