There are a large number of student loan programs at the period of the 2019 year, many of which are offered to nurses, as the nursing industry continues to play an essential role in the medical field. As more and more Americans need medical care, the number of nurses continues to grow. Moreover, most of the student loan forgiveness programs for nurses have flexible conditions for the provision and payment of credit, significant opportunities and a rather broad range of applications to lower or even avoid student debt. At the moment, student loan forgiveness programs for nurses are the most common and have more resources. We will provide you with the features, differences and conditions have the most flexible and accessible debt forgiveness programs that deserve your attention. Some of them offer concessional loans to compensate for your initial college expenses, while others provide forgiveness of loans after graduation.
The NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program
Previously, the program was called the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP). It exists to finance the education of registered nurses who work in underserved hospitals. The hospitals where people do not have easy access to medical services are underserved hospitals.
These conditions were created to motivate professionals to move to the weak areas of the country, which people have needs in better medical conditions and professionals. Thus, if you work for two years in such a place, you will receive forgiveness in the amount of 60% of loans, and if you work for one more year at the same conditions, you will have the additional amount of forgiveness – which will be 25%.
The Perkins Loan Discharge or Loan Cancellation
While many people consider this program as the “Teacher Loan Cancellation Program“, it can also be used by nurses and licensed medical professionals.
The main condition that differentiates it from other student loan forgiveness programs for nurses is the availability of a Perkins credit. It means that if you already have such credit and you are a nurse or licensed medical specialist, feel free to take your chance. In this case, having a Perkins loan, you can get forgiveness of both the original loan and the interest after working in your sphere for five years
For the use of this type of forgiveness certain positions have been identified which are listed below:
- Registered Nurses (RNs)
- Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
- Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)
- Medical Assistants (MAs)
- American Registered Nursing Practitioners (ARNPs)
For licensed medical professionals working in the field of therapy, medical technology, oral hygiene, and others, there is also such a list:
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapist Assistants
- Physician Assistants
- Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapist Assistants
- Dental Hygienists
- Dental Assistants
- Dental Lab Technicians
- Respiratory Therapists (Entry Level)
- Respiratory Therapists (Advanced)
- Perfusionists
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Medical Assistants
- Orthoptists / Prothetists
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Clinical Lab Technicians with Associates Degrees or Certificates
- Medical Lab Technicians with Associates Degrees or Certificates
To receive benefits, you should be certified, registered or licensed by a public institution to which you are providing your services.
In this program, your debt is charged for each year of working in the requested field.
- 15% of the Principal Loan + Interest Cancelled after 1 and 2 Years of Full-Time Employment
- 20% of the Principal Loan + Interest Cancelled after 3 and 4 Years of Full-Time Employment
- 30% of the Principal Loan + Interest Cancelled after 5 Years of Full-Time Employment
Reviewing such data, you can see, that your debt can be repaid at a rate of 100% within just five years.
The NHSC Nurse Corps Scholarship Program
The mentioned program is designed more to avoid the process of debt rather than the full repayment of the loan. Thus, you can qualify for complete coverage of your expenses by obtaining a monthly scholarship. Following the program, you can not only cover the costs of tuition and school fees but also get the right to cover expenses that are not paid by most scholarships. Such additional costs may include repeated coursework, an increase in tuition fees, attendance at more than one school, summer school courses and books, tools for clinical supplies, uniforms, computers, travel expenses, and even insurance.
The NHSC scholarship even includes a monthly award of $ 1,344 for the 2017-2018 school year, which means that not only all your nursing education expenses will be covered, but you will also be paid to attend school.
To receive NHSC scholarships, you must agree to serve for two years in a “critical shortage area,” which is a place with a shortage of medical workers.
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Since the introduction of the loans forgiveness program for students by Obama in 2007, the Forgiveness of Public Service loans program since its inception has been considered as one of the best forgiveness benefits available to everyone but not just for nurses.
Following this student loan forgiveness program, you will receive full forgiveness of federal student loans for fulfilling the qualifying role of “Public Service.” The primary condition is that you are paying your student loans every month according to your income within ten years without limiting the amount of money that can be forgiven.
The strength of this program is the complete forgiveness after making your 120th timely payment of your debt, regardless of how much more you have to pay.
The NHSC Loan Repayment Program
This program offers you up to $ 50,000 in just two years of service in comparison with other student loan forgiveness programs for nurses. The primary condition is that you will have to work in NHSC-approved places that urgently need additional assistance. The NHSC Loan Repayment Program is for medical, dental and psychiatric primary health care workers who work full or part-time, in places that are areas of a shortage of medical workers.
If you work at a half-time rate, you can receive up to $ 30,000 for forgiveness for two years of work, and in case of full employment, the amount raises to $ 50,000. After completing your two-year service commitment, you have a chance to sign up for additional contract renewals and continue to until all your loans are fully forgiven.
The Government Employee Student Loan Forgiveness Program
This program works on the principle that if you work full time in government, you have the right to forgiveness PSLF and get access to the loan forgiveness program.
If you work as a federal employee for the United States Government (as a Federal Employee), or a State Government, you have a chance to use it. For a full-time public servant, you have the right to repay 100% of the remaining balance of the student loan after you have completed 120 full, timely payments to this balance. The unique feature is that even if your monthly fee was defined as $ 0, you still have the same conditions.
This article is written to help with student loan debt and make a chance to reduce student loan payment you have. You should set aside a sufficient amount of time before tackling the question of choosing the appropriate debt forgiveness program since each of the student loan forgiveness programs for nurses provided have special qualification requirements and application deadlines. Read all program information to confirm your eligibility, apply as soon as possible after checking all available student loan forgiveness programs for nurses and do not forget to include all individual details.
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