California Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development

Healthcare Workforce Development Division

State Loan Repayment Program FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Who may participate in the program?
• What types of loans are eligible?
• How do I get a health professional loan repayment application?
• When is the SLRP application deadline?
• What are the site requirements?
• How can my site become an eligible site?
• How does my clinic get a Health Professional Shortage Area designation?
• What are the differences between the National Health Services Corps (NHSC)/Federal Loan Repayment Program (FLRP) and the State Loan Repayment Program?
• How much money can I receive?
• Can you help me find a job at an eligible site?
• What is the best way to contact SLRP for more information?

Q1. Who may participate in the program?

A. Physicians (MD and DO) practicing in general internal medicine, family practice, general pediatrics, and obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN); physician assistants; nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives; general practice dentists (DDS or DMD), dental hygienist; psychiatrists; clinical or counseling psychologists; clinical social workers; marriage and family therapists; mental health counselors; psychiatric nurse specialists; and licensed professional counselors.

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Q2. What types of loans are eligible?

A. Government and commercial loans incurred for the purpose of obtaining a health professional education. Qualifying commercial lending institutions are those that are subject to examination and supervision, in their capacity as lenders, by an agency of the United States or of the State in which the institutions have their principal place of business.

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Q3. How do I get a health professional loan repayment application?

A. An application can be download from the NHSC/SLRP website: http://www.oshpd.ca.gov/HWCDD/stateloan/index.htm

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Q4. When is the SLRP application deadline?

A. The application period is August 1 through October 1 of each year.

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Q5. What are the site requirements?

A. To be eligible, sites must be 1) a public or private non-profit and be located in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) or an Automatic Facility HPSA, 2) willing to commit to two-year employment, match the State award, 3) pay prevailing wages, and 4) enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the State of California.

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Q6. How can my site become an eligible site?

A. A site application can be downloaded from the NHSC/SLRP website: SLRP Information Page The application needs to be filled out and submitted to the address listed on the application.

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Q7. How does my clinic get a Health Professional Shortage Area designation?

A. Contact the Shortage Designation Program, at (916) 326-3732 or (916) 326-3733.

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Q8. What are the differences between the National Health Services Corps (NHSC)/Federal Loan Repayment Program (FLRP) and the State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)?

A. The major difference is the site requirements; the FLRP requires the site to have a HPSA score of 14 or above, while the SLRP does not look at the score. Additionally FLRP pays 100 percent of the award while the SLRP requires the site to match the State award (50/50).

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Q9. How much money can I receive?

A. For a minimum 2 year commitment, you can receive up to $50,000. For an additional 3rd and/or 4th year commitment you can receive up to $35,000 for each year.

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Q10. Can you help me find a job at an eligible site?

A. You can obtain a list of eligible sites on our website, SLRP Certified Site Lists. You need to contact the sites in the areas you wish to work. We do not do job placement.

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Q11. What is the best way to contact SLRP for more information?

A. You can contact the Program Administrator by e-mail SLRP@oshpd.ca.gov or by phone (916) 326-3745.

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