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H H S Department of Health and Human Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration

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Bureau of Clinician Recruitment & Service

The Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service (BCRS) addresses the nationwide shortage of health care providers through scholarship and loan repayment programs that help underserved communities and shortage facilities recruit and retain qualified health professionals. 

Each year, BCRS accepts applications from students and clinicians and selects qualified individuals to receive financial assistance in exchange for service where they are needed most. 

National Health Service Corps

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) assists Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in every U.S. state and territory to meet their need for primary care medical, dental, and mental and behavioral health clinicians. Over it's 40-year history, the NHSC has offered scholarship and loan repayment support to more than 29,000 health professionals committed to service to the underserved. 

The scholarship pays tuition, fees, other education costs and provides a living stipend. 

The loan repayment program provides $50,000 for 2 years of full-time  or 4 years of half-time service, with the potential for additional funding for additional service. NHSC clinicians expand access to high quality health services and improve the health of underserved people.

Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program

The Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP) eases the student debt burden of registered nurses who work in health centers, rural health clinics, hospitals and other types of facilities currently experiencing a critical shortage of nurses. NELRP repays 60 percent of the outstanding balance in exchange for 2 years of full-time service at an eligible facility. Participants may be eligible to receive an additional 25 percent of the original loan balance for an additional year of full-time service in a critical shortage facility. A funding preference is given to RNs with the greatest financial need.

Nurse Scholarship Program

The Nurse Scholarship Program (NSP) offers scholarships to individuals attending accredited registered nurse (RN) training programs located in the U.S. in exchange for at least 2 years of service upon graduation at anyone of a number of types of health care facilities currently experiencing a critical shortage of nurses. A funding preference is given to qualified applicants who have zero Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) and who are enrolled full-time in an undergraduate nursing program.

Faculty Loan Repayment Program

The Faculty Loan Repayment Program (FLRP) is a loan repayment program for health professions graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds who serve as faculty at an eligible health professions college or university. In exchange for at least 2 years of service, the Federal government pays up to $40,000 of the outstanding principal and interest on the individual's health professions education loans. The employing institution matches the loan repayment unless it is determined the matching requirement would impose an undue financial hardship on the institution. 

Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program

The Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP) improves the health of the Native Hawaiian population by supporting Native Hawaiian health professions students in return for their service after graduation in  a medically underserved area in the state of Hawai`i. The scholarship pays tuition, books, other education costs and provides a monthly stipend.

Exchange Visitor J-1 Visa and Visa Waiver Program

The Exchange Visitor Program promotes mutual understanding between the people of the United States (U.S.) and the people of other countries by educational and cultural exchanges, under the provisions of U.S. law. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services manages the  Program as it pertains to health research and clinical care. 

A J-1 visa is the temporary, non-immigrant training visa issued to exchange visitors participating in cultural, educational, scientific, training and clinical programs. HHS accepts applications to request waivers of the two-year J-1 visa foreign residency requirement for health care services needed in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). Upon approval of the J-1 visa waiver, physicians are granted a H-1B (temporary, non-immigrant working) visa and must agree to deliver primary health care services for three years in a HPSA or in a Medically Underserved Area/Population.

The HRSA Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service reviews and provides recommendations on J-1 clinical care waivers referred by the HHS Office of Global Health Affiars.

Did You Know?
  • More than 30,000 clinicians have served in the National Health Service Corps since it began in 1972.
  • About 4 million people receive health care from NHSC clinicians each year.
  • More than 4,000 registered nurses have helped to alleviate the critical shortage of nurses while reducing their student debt through the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program since 2002.