Rhode Island Health Professional Loan Repayment Program

Rebeca Vasquez
rebeca.vasquez@health.ri.gov

The Rhode Island Health Professional Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP) offers loan repayment assistance to primary care, dentistry, and behavioral health professionals that have made a commitment to practice in healthcare shortage communities in Rhode Island.

Full-time participants must sign a 2-year service agreement.

Requirements:

• Be a United States citizen or national (U.S. born or naturalized)
• Have completed health educational training in an accredited graduate training program and possess a valid and unrestricted license to practice the profession in Rhode Island
• Be employed at or have accepted employment to provide ambulatory outpatient healthcare services in HPLRP approved site that is located in a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)
• Not have any other existing service obligations with other entities
• Not be in breach of any other health professional service obligation
• Be free from judgments arising from federal debt
• Commit to providing a 2-year service obligation

Approved professions:

• MD: Allopathic medicine
• DO: Osteopathic medicine
• DDS/DMD: General and pediatric dentistry
• NP: Nurse practitioner
• CNM: Certified nurse-midwife
• PA: Physician assistant
• RDH: Registered dental hygienist
• HSP: Health service psychologist (Clinical and counseling)
• LCSW: Licensed clinical social worker
• PNS: Psychiatric nurse specialist
• LPC: Licensed professional counselor
• LMHC: Licensed mental health counselor
• MFT: Marriage and family therapist
• Master's level alcohol and substance use counselors
• RN: Registered nurse
• RD: Registered dietitian
• Pharm: Pharmacist

Practice sites must:

• Be located in a federally designated HPSA in Rhode Island
• Be a public or private nonprofit outpatient facility
• Pay the provider a prevailing wage
• Use a sliding fee discount program to ensure patients have access to all primary care services for the site type regardless of their ability to pay

Consult the eligibility guidelines for full eligibility information.

Amount of funding varies per applicant.

Links to additional guidance, program guidelines, required forms, and the online application are available on the program website.

Applicant webinar #1
(Registration required)
October 7, 2026
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Eastern

Applicant webinar #2
(Registration required)
November 4, 2026
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Eastern