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National Health Service Corps Scholarship is here for interested and eligible candidates, It has come as an answer to many. Get on with it quickly.
National Health Service Corps Scholarship
NHSC scholarships are federally funded and administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Scholarships pay tuition, fees, and other educational costs as well as provide a living stipend in return for a commitment to work at least two years at an NHSC-approved site in a medically underserved community. For each year of financial support (up to four years), the student agrees to serve one year (minimum two years) at an NHSC-approved site in a high-need urban, rural, or frontier community across the nation.
Service begins upon graduation (and completion of primary care residency training for doctors and dentists). NHSC helps scholars find a practice site that is right for them. When in service, scholars earn a market-rate salary, paid by the employing facility.
Eligibility For NHSC Scholarships
Applicants must be:
- U.S. citizens (U.S.-born or naturalized) or U.S. nationals.
- Full-time student at an accredited school in an U.S. state or territory.
- Enrolled or accepted in the following primary health care disciplines:
- Primary care physician (DO or MD)
- Primary care physician assistant (PA)
- Dentist (DDS or DMD)
- Family nurse practitioner (NP)
- Certified nurse-midwife (CNM);
Financial Benefits
Funding for a maximum of four (4) years paid directly to PCOM:
- Tuition
- Required School Fees
- Reasonable educational costs
- Monthly living stipend (paid directly to the student)
Scholarship payments other than the living stipend are federal income tax-free.
Service Commitment
One-year service commitment per scholarship year or partial scholarship year; two-year minimum and four-year maximum.
Service Site
NHSC scholars must practice at an NHSC-approved site in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) that is determined annually. NHSC sites are located in 50 states, DC, and other territories and may be a:
- Federal-qualified health center
- Rural health clinic
- State or federal correctional facility
- Community outpatient facility
- Critical access hospital
- School-based health program
- And more
NHSC Scholarship Application Process
The NHSC scholarship program accepts applications once each year. The scholarship program application opens in the spring of each year and applications are usually due by late April each year. Sign up to receive an email from the NHSC when the application program opens.
Applicants chosen to receive the scholarship are notified no later than September 30.
The NHSC scholarship application process is highly competitive. Each year, there are more than 1,800 applications from hundreds of schools from across the country. Approximately 10 percent of the applicants receive the scholarship award.
In order to be considered for the scholarship, applicants must above all demonstrate a commitment to primary care and to delivering it in underserved communities, along with an interest to serve beyond completion of their NHSC service requirements. Other major selection factors are excellent academic performance; a history of honoring prior legal obligations; demonstration of financial need; and applicants being from a disadvantaged background.
Links to Guide
✓NHSC Application Program and Guidance Document (PDF)
✓FAQs
NHSC Scholarship Program
The National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program (NHSC SP) awards scholarships to students pursuing eligible primary care health professions training.
In return, scholars commit to providing primary care health services in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs)
How long will I have to serve?
You commit to a minimum of two years of full-time service.
You must serve at an NHSC-approved site in an HPSA. The total number of years you serve will depend on the number of school years of NHSC SP support you received. (This cannot exceed four school years.)
What are the benefits of becoming an NHSC scholar?
Service
You will join thousands of current and former NHSC clinicians who provide primary healthcare services to communities in need.
Payment of Educational Expenses
We provide financial support for full-time enrollment in an eligible primary care health professions degree training program for up to four school years:
- Payment of tuition and eligible fees;
- An annual payment for other reasonable educational costs (PDF – 310 KB); and
- Monthly stipends to assist with living expenses while pursuing your health professions degree educational training program.
Note: You will not receive financial support during postgraduate training.
What to Know Before Applying for a Scholarship on NHSC
Start the application process early. Allow time to collect all required and supplemental documentation.
The answers in your application must match your supporting documents.
You must submit a complete online application by the application deadline.
We will not:
- Accept requests to update a submitted application.
- Permit you to submit materials after the deadline.
- Fill in any missing information or contact you regarding missing information.
What Does it Mean to complete an application?
A complete application consists of:
- Online application;
- All required supporting documents; and
- Additional supplemental documentation (if applicable).
Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) Customer Service Portal
When you apply, you will do so within the BHW Customer Service Portal. So, you must first create a profile.
Review the Application Sections
The following provides an overview of the application requirements. Refer to the NHSC Scholarship Program Application and Program Guidance for the complete set of requirements and instructions.
Online Application
In the BHW Customer Service Portal, you will complete each of the following sections:
- Eligibility Screening
If you do not pass this initial screening portion of the application, you cannot continue with the application. - General Information
Provide your name, social security number, mailing and email addresses, and other contact information. - Degree Information
Provide information pertaining only to the degree or certificate program for which you are applying for an NHSC Scholarship. - Background Information
Provide answers relating to your educational background, individual and family background, and emergency contact information. - Letters of Recommendation
Submit two letters of recommendation, each on letterhead or that include the institutional phone number/email with either a handwritten or digital signature:
- One letter from the Department Chair, faculty advisor, or faculty member of your current health professions program or most recent academic program; and
- One additional letter of recommendation from an individual—but not a family member—who is familiar with your professional, community, and/or civic activities, especially related to underserved communities.
Recommendations should include a description of the recommender’s relationship to you, and a discussion of your
- education/work achievements;
- ability to work and communicate constructively; and
- an assessment of your characteristics, interest, and motivation to serve in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs)
Note: You must certify to the accuracy, truthfulness, and completeness of your application and information you enter in the online application
Required Supporting Documentation
You must upload all supporting documents at the time of the online application submission. Each document must include your name, discipline and the last four digits of your social security number.
- Proof of status as a United States citizen or United States national
Acceptable documents: birth certificate, current U.S. passport’s ID page, or a certificate of citizenship or naturalization.
Unacceptable documents: driver’s license, permanent resident card, marriage license, or social security card. - Authorization to Release Information Form
Authorizes entities to disclose information about you, should we select you, and you accept, a scholarship award. It must be dated and include your handwritten or digital signature. - Acceptance Report/Verification of Good Standing
You must submit a report from your school verifying your acceptance or enrollment in a fully accredited program and stating you are in good standing. You and the school official must sign the report by hand or with a digital signature. - Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Outline relevant work/volunteer experience in five pages or fewer. - Essays
Respond to three essay questions, and uploaded in three separate documents. Each essay must be 500 words or less. - Transcript
You must submit transcript(s) from the last degree earned and the current degree program. An unofficial transcript is acceptable and must display the applicant name, school name, and grade point average (GPA). You should enter the cumulative GPA for their last degree earned to the application. - Current Tuition and Fee Schedule
Provide the current, or most recent, tuition and fees schedule published by the school.
Additional Supporting Documentation (if applicable)
We may require you to submit additional documents if your responses on the online application indicate that they’re relevant.
Only submit these if we list them on the “Supporting Documents” page of the online application.
- Verification of Disadvantaged Background
A school official must complete the Verification of Disadvantaged Background (PDF – 406 KB).
Learn more about disadvantaged background qualifications. - Statement Regarding Existing Service Obligation
Statement from the entity for which you have an existing service obligation stating that:
- There is no potential conflict in fulfilling the NHSC SP obligation; and
- You will serve the NHSC SP obligation first.;
A Point to Note After you Apply
You will receive a receipt of submission once you submit the online application.
You’ll be able to view the overall status of your application and download a copy of your submitted application, including supporting documents.
How We Notify You about Awards
If we select you for a scholarship award, we will notify you via email or letter no later than September 30.
To accept the award, you must respond by the deadline in the notice of award email/letter.
If you don’t respond by the deadline, your offer of award expires and we will offer it to someone else.
For those that respond by the deadline, we will ask you to:
- Sign the NHSC SP contract;
- Complete the online banking form for direct deposit; and
- Complete the W-4 form.
Note: You must decline the award if you will not begin classes on or before September 30 of your application year or you will be on a leave of absence from school through September 30 of your application year.
Do not miss this golden opportunity, it might not come again soon and this can be an avenue to change your life forever. Grab it in harness.