Minnesota Loan Forgiveness Program: Frequently Asked Questions

No, not all who apply will be selected. The number of people selected is based on available funding. Applications will be scored and reviewed by an independent panel of reviewers.

 Yes, there is an open application each year. 

All applicants will receive an email, selected or not, by May 2025. You may need to check your spam or junk mail.

If you are selected, you will be asked to sign a service contract where you commit to working at least two years or three years depending on your profession. Past work is not counted.

No, the requirement is that you are fully licensed and working in an eligible profession by fall of the following year, for example, an applicant who applies in fall 2025 must be licensed by fall 2026.

Do I need to be currently licensed to apply?
No. You must be fully licensed and working in an eligible profession by fall of the following year (e.g., if you apply in fall 2025, you must be licensed by fall 2026).

No, only currently listed professions are eligible. Eligible professions are determined by the state legislature. You may consider contacting your state legislators and letting them know loan forgiveness is important to you.

No, specialties including hospitalists and emergency medicine are not considered primary care.

Direct patient care means working with patients. It does not include other duties such as billing, supervising staff, administrative duties, policy development etc.

No, if you are a licensed clinical supervisor up to 20% of the 30-hour direct patient care requirement can be clinical supervision hours.

Telehealth appointments are eligible if the urban or rural mental health professionals also offers physical appointments to clients. Clients must be living in Minnesota.

Maybe. If you can meet the average of 30 hours direct patient care/week for 45 weeks per year for the length of the service commitment you would be eligible. Your employer needs to verify your hours at the end of each contract year, and if the hours are not met you will need to repay all funds.

My weekly hours vary. Am I eligible? 

Maybe. You must average 30 hours of direct patient care per week over 45 weeks per year during your service commitment. Your employer must verify your hours annually. If you fall short, you must repay all funds.

Yes, we will pause your contract for up to 12 months and then add the time on to the end of your contract, extending your end date.

Yes, as long as your new role and site still meet program eligibility requirements.

Estimate your total yearly patient case load, and then calculate the number of your patients that use state public programs or sliding fee scale. Divide the number of your patients using state public program or a sliding fee scale by your total yearly patient case load. If the result is 0.25 or higher you have met the 25% requirement. 

Example: You have 100 total yearly patients, and 35 of those patients use public programs or a sliding fee scale. 35/100=0.35 or 35%. This means you have met the requirement.

Look up by site address Find Shortage Areas by Address (hrsa.gov); look up by geographic, population or facility HPSA HPSA Find (hrsa.gov)

State Loan Repayment Program Minnesota State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) 

National Health Service Corps has several options National Health Service Corps | NHSC (hrsa.gov)

Minnesota Department of Human Services has options for those in long term care nursing MN Nursing facility employee scholarship program / Minnesota Department of Human Services

Yes, but please be aware that if your loans are forgiven by PSLF during the contract you will need to repay the unused funds given to you and you will still need to complete the service requirement.

health.loanforgiveness@state.mn.us