Health Professions Loan Assistance Program Information

Health care professionals (physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives) in Wisconsin can receive up to $50,000 in educational loan assistance through the Health Professions Loan Assistance Program (HPLAP).

Since the HPLAP was established in 1990 by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health, over 150 primary care professionals practicing in Wisconsin's federally-designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) have received over $5 million in loan repayment awards. Information on a community’s HPSA status can be found on the federal Health Resources and Services Administration’s HPSA-finder site. An applicant must be working in a HPSA to be eligible for a HPLAP award.

The links below contain the most recent information on the program:
Health Professionals Loan Assistance Program
Dental Professionals Loan Assistance Program

Paper applications will no longer be accepted. By following the application link below, you will be forwarded to a page to set up a secure application. Once you set up this account, you can save your progress on the application, and return to it at any time. There are instructions in the “Help” file of the application. If you have further questions, contact Kevin Jacobson at 608-261-1888 (direct line), or via the Office of Rural Health’s toll-free number, 800-385-0005 (ext. 21).

HPLAP Application

If you are interested in applying for this competitive program, complete the online application and submit the following information in hard copy by November 1 to Kevin Jacobson, Wisconsin Office of Rural Health, 310 N. Midvale Blvd. Suite 301, Madison, WI 53705.

  • Copies of the promissory notes on each eligible loan.
  • Copies of the current balance of each eligible loan.
  • Proof of your education/training (copy of your diploma, letter from the school stating dates of attendance and program completion or transcripts that state dates of attendance and program completion).
  • A letter from your employer detailing the community’s commitment to your retention.
  • A copy of your employers policy for accommodating patients unable to pay full price for services, if they have such a policy.
  • A signed copy of the online application.

For other loan programs, please see Other Loan Assistance Programs.