Jacqueline K. Santiago
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The Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program (LRP) offers to repay educational loans for eligible health professionals in order to meet the staffing needs of the Indian Health Service (IHS) in Indian health programs. Applicants sign contractual agreements for 2 years of service in a full-time clinical practice at an IHS facility or approved Indian health program.

Opportunities are based on staffing needs and the availability of funds. Distribution of LRP awards are based on a ranking system created to address these needs. IHS identifies hiring priorities for Indian health program facilities with the greatest staffing needs in specific health profession disciplines.

Successful applicants must begin their service obligation no later than September 30 of the fiscal year in which the LRP contract is signed.

Eligibility requirements include:

• Be enrolled in a course of study or program in an accredited institution and be scheduled to complete the course of study in the same year as the application is submitted
• In an approved graduate training program in a health profession
• Have a degree in a health profession and a license to practice in a state

Additional eligibility requirements

$24,283,777 is allocated to support approximately 539 competing awards of up to $45,040 in exchange for 2 years of service.

$14,203,650 is allocated to support approximately 575 competing awards averaging $24,702 per award for a one-year extension. One-year contract extensions receive priority consideration in any award cycle.

Links to additional guidance and the online application are available on the program website.

An award recipient may request a contract extension in the final calendar year of the service contract as long as there are outstanding qualified loans.