Healthcare Worker Loan Relief Program of the Commonwealth
Sierra Williams
606.439.3557
slwi258@uky.edu
The Healthcare Worker Loan Relief Program of the Commonwealth will provide loan repayment for specific healthcare professionals who agree to practice in eligible areas of Kentucky for at least two years. Eligible practice sites must be public or nonprofit private entities located in a federally-designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) in Kentucky.
Applicants must:
- Be U.S. citizens (either U.S. born or naturalized) or U.S. nationals and live in Kentucky
- Have been trained and licensed to provide direct patient care in one of the program's eligible disciplines and specialties
- Have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered, unrestricted professional license, certificate, or registration in Kentucky
- Be employed at an eligible site, or have accepted an offer of employment at an eligible site where service will begin no later than December 31, 2026
- Work in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)
- Practice 24-40 hours a week up to 4,160 hours over a 2-3 year period, providing primary health services at an eligible site
- Participate or be eligible to participate as a provider in the Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs, as appropriate
Eligible professions include:
- Physicians (MD/DO)
- Optometrists (OD)
- Ophthalmologists (MD/DO)
- Audiologists (AuD)
- Physician assistants (PA)
- Nurse practitioners (NP)
- Certified nurse-midwives (CNM)
- Registered nurses (RN)
- Dentists (DDS/DMD)
- Registered dental hygienists (RDH)
- Licensed clinical social workers (LCSW)
- Licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCC)
- Health service psychologists (HSP)
- Marriage and family therapists (MFT)
- Psychiatric nurse specialists (PNS)
- Alcohol and substance use clinicians
- Pharmacists (RPh/PharmD)
Other specialties will be considered.
Funding will be awarded in a tiered format, based on provider type, level of loan indebtedness, and sponsor match level.
Maximum award amounts for a 2-year commitment:
- Physicians, Dentists, Pharmacists: $100,000
- Physician assistants, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, Behavioral and Mental Health Specialists: $60,000
- Registered nurses, registered dental hygienists, Alcohol and Substance Use Disorder Counselors: $40,000
- Additional specialties dependent upon specialization
Links to application instructions and the online application are available on the program website.
Related Content
Organizations (1)
- University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health, view details
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