Connecticut Student Loan Repayment Program
The Connecticut Student Loan Repayment Program (CT SLRP) is a federal program that provides funding to states to support loan repayment assistance for primary medical, mental/behavioral, and dental clinicians who serve in underserved communities. The program is administered by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), and provides funding to states, territories, and the District of Columbia, which then use the funds to establish loan repayment programs eligible providers.
The purpose of SLRP is to increase access to primary health, mental, and dental care in HPSAs and to address the health professional shortages that cause disparities in access to health care in Connecticut. Repayment of educational loans in exchange for a period of employment is a significant incentive for eligible clinicians to work in HPSAs.
The Connecticut State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) will begin offering up to $25,000 student loan repayment awards, per year, towards public and/or private student loans, for a total of $50,000 after two years. In exchange, Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and state eligible providers will deliver full-time, direct patient care A part-time award is also available, which offers up to $12,500 per year towards public and/or private student loans, for a total of $25,000 after two years.
Eligible HPSA and state providers work in the disciplines of Primary Care, Behavioral Health, and Dental Health. Eligible provider types include Medical Doctors, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, Psychiatric Nurse Specialists, Physician Assistants, Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Professional Counselors, and Registered Nurses. This service must be provided at a qualifying employer in a Health Professional Shortage Area or at a qualifying state agency.
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), correctional facilities, and state/county mental hospitals provide comprehensive primary care services in areas designated by the federal government as Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) and as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
On behalf of the State of Connecticut, the University of Connecticut Area Health Education Center (CT AHEC) will administer the SLRP. For more information and to apply, please click here to go to the CT AHEC SLRP website.
For questions about CT SLRP, please contact the CT Primary Care Office at DPH-PCO@ct.gov.
Connecticut applicants are also advised to seek opportunities with Health Resources and Services Administration, National Health Service Corps Progarms: http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/