Application Process

How to Apply

The NHSC Scholarship Program accepts applications once a year from students who are enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, in an accredited health care professions academic program pursuing a career in an NHSC-eligible discipline.

You can apply at any time during your academic program. Use the checklist below to help make the online application process easier.

• Read the Application and Program Guidance

  This document describes the NHSC Scholarship Program in detail and gives you all the information you need to apply to become an NHSC Scholar. The Guidance may be updated for each application cycle.

  • Download the Application and Program Guidance (PDF – 795 KB)
    
  • Tips for Uploading/Entering Information
    
    • Please review your application and supporting documentation before submitting them. Once an application is submitted, you will not be able to make any changes to the application or supporting documentation.   
    • When uploading a document, please make sure the document does not exceed 5MB and is saved as a PDF or Word document. We also accept the following file types/formats, however, these may delay processing times: rtf, txt, msg, tif, png, jpg, jpeg, gif, bmp, xls, xlsx, ppt, and pptx.
    • When entering information, please make sure all dates are entered in MM/DD/YYYY.
• Check Eligibility

  Review the eligibility requirements. Make sure that you meet all of them and are eligible to apply.

  View Eligibility Requirements
  • U.S. citizen or national
  • Enrolled or accepted in the following primary care disciplines in an eligible degree program at a U.S.-accredited school:
    • Medicine (MD or DO)
    • Dentistry (DDS or DMD)
    • Nurse practitioner
    • Certified nurse-midwife
    • Physician assistant
• Types of NHSC-Approved Sites

  Upon graduation, NHSC Scholars complete their service at NHSC-approved sites in high-need urban, rural, and frontier communities across the nation. Many types of health care facilities are NHSC-approved sites.

  View Types of NHSC Sites
  • Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)
  • FQHC Look-Alike
  • Rural Health Clinic
  • Hospital-affiliated Primary Care Out Patient Clinic
  • Indian Health Service, Tribal Clinic, and Urban Indian Health Clinic (ITU)
  • State or Federal Correctional Facility
  • Private Practice (Solo/Group)
  • Other Health Facilities:
    • Community Mental Health Facility
    • Community Outpatient Facility
    • Critical Access Hospital
    • Free Clinic
    • Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Health Service Corps
    • Mobile Unit
    • School-based Health Program
    • State and County Department of Health Clinic
• Collect Required Documentation

  Several documents are required to complete the online application.

  View Required Documents
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship
  • Transcript
  • Resume detailing volunteer and work experience (no more than five pages)
  • Verifications and evaluations from your school
  • Essays
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Review and complete the required forms and documents below:
    • Acceptance Report/Verification of Good Standing (PDF - 589 KB)
    • Authorization to Release Information (PDF - 335 KB)
    • Receipt of Exceptional Financial Need (PDF - 508 KB)
    • Academic Letter of Recommendation (PDF - 433 KB)
    • Non-Academic Letter of Recommendation (PDF - 433 KB)
    • Verification Regarding Disadvantaged Background (PDF - 513 KB)
• Learn How NHSC Scholars are Chosen

  NHSC seeks to select participants in the scholarship program that demonstrate a long term commitment to providing care to underserved communities. Learn more in the Application and Program Guidance (PDF - 646 KB) .