Health Professions Loan Assistance Program Information

Health care professionals (physicians, psychiatrists, dentists, dental hygienists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives) in Wisconsin can receive up to $100,000 in education loan assistance through the Health Professions Loan Assistance Program (HPLAP).

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 since the HPLAP was established in 1990. Information on a community’s HPSA status can be found on the federal Health Resources and Services Administration’s HPSA site.  Applicants generally must be working in a HPSA to be eligible for a HPLAP award.  Providers must agree to work three years in an eligible underserved rural or urban community.  Awards are federal and state income tax exempt.

Rural Physician Supplemental Award

Physicians practicing in a rural* community are also eligible for an additional award.  In 2010 the Wisconsin legislature established the Hospital Assessment Supplementary Loan Assistance Program (HASLAP), which grants physicians practicing in a rural community up to $50,000 in funds. Physicians practicing in rural communities qualify for this funding whether or not the worksite is located in a HPSA.  So a physician could qualify for either program (rural but not HPSA, or HPSA but not rural) for a maximum $50,000 award.  If, however the physician qualifies for both programs (practicing in a rural HPSA), their total maximum award is $100,000.

* For the purposes of this award, the state legislature defined "rural" as any of the following:

• A city, town, or village that has a population of less than 20,000 and that is at least 15 miles from any city, town, or village that has a population of at least 20,000.  
• An area that is not an urbanized area, as defined by the federal bureau of the census.

More Information

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

Selecting the link below will allow you to create a secure application. Once created, 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 or 800-385-0005 (ext. 21).

HPLAP Application
    ·Sample Application (pdf)

If you are interested in applying for this competitive program, complete the online application and submit the following information in hard copy 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 their commitment to your retention.
• A copy of your employer's policy for accommodating patients unable to pay full price for services, if they have such a policy.
• A supplemental employer’s form (available in the application).
• A signed copy of the online application.

Other Loan Assistance Programs

Indian Health Service’s Loan Repayment Program (LRP)

• Indian Health Service’s LRP is a competitive program that awards up to $24,000 a year for a two year commitment to work in a Service-approved site. Eligible professions include physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, optometrists, therapists, psychologists, social workers, environmental health, and other allied health professions.  Additional information is available on their website.

National Health Service Corps (NHSC)

• The Health Resources and Services Administration’s NHSC is a competitive program that awards up to $60,000 in education loan repayment funds for health care providers who agree to work for two years in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). This program is similar to Wisconsin’s Health Professions Loan Assistance Program and is open to physicians, dentists, advance practice nurses (NPs, PAs, CNMs), dental hygienists and mental health professionals. Information on the federal program is available on the NHSC website. The NHSC is administered by the WI Department of Health Services; additional information is available on their website.

Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP)

• The Health Resources and Services Administration’s NELRP is a competitive program that repays 60% of the qualifying loan balance of eligible registered nurses, certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs) nurse practitioners (NPs) and clinical nurse specialists. Those selected for funding must agree to work for 2 years at a critical shortage facility. Participants may be eligible to work a third year and receive an additional 25% of their qualifying loan balance. More information on the NELRP website, including the application and information on critical shortage facilities.