Students pursuing primary care health professions training may be eligible to apply to the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program (NHSC SP).
Awarded scholars provide primary care health services in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
To be eligible for an NHSC scholarship, you must be:
For the 2024-2025 school year, we will consider scholarship awards only for students with classes that begin on or before September 30, 2024.
You are a full-time student if you are enrolled for a sufficient number of credit hours in any academic term to complete the course of study within the number of academic terms normally required at your school.
We don't count courses which aren't required or related to your qualifying degree program towards the hours required for full-time status.
U.S. territories include:
A school of allopathic or osteopathic medicine, pursuing a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree.
Must be: Accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (sponsored by the American Medical Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges) or the American Osteopathic Association, Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.
A school of dentistry, pursuing a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (D.M.D.) degree.
Must be: Accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation.
A school or program of nurse practitioner education, pursuing a postgraduate degree or postgraduate certificate.
Must be: Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Must lead to national certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, or the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board as a nurse practitioner in one of the following specialties:
A school or program of nurse-midwifery education, pursuing a postgraduate degree or postgraduate certificate.
Must be: Accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives, Division of Accreditation.
Must lead to national certification by the American Midwifery Certification Board.
A school or program of primary care physician assistant education, pursuing a postgraduate degree or postgraduate certificate.
Must be:
Must lead to national certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Most NHSC scholars serve their obligations as salaried, non-federal employees of public or private entities approved by the NHSC SP.
Some vacancies require federal employment, including a security clearance. You must be eligible for a Commissioned Officer of the Public Health Service or a federal civil service appointment.
You are not eligible for a scholarship if you have an existing obligation to a federal, state, or other entity for professional practice or service after academic training.
You may become eligible if the entity to which you owe the obligation provides a written statement satisfactory to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) showing:
Yes, military reservists are eligible to participate if in a reserve component of the Armed Forces including the National Guard. However, your military training or service will not satisfy the NHSC SP service commitment.
We consider you ineligible if you are:
Find out more on how to apply. And learn how we determine who receives scholarship awards.