North Carolina State Loan Repayment Program

North Carolina State Loan Repayment Program is sponsored by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Administered by the NC DHHS Office of Rural Health, this program provides education loan repayment to mental health providers and other health professionals who commit to practice in rural or underserved areas of North Carolina.

Licensed Workforce Loan Repayment Program | NCDHHS The NC Licensed Workforce Loan Repayment program will help recruit and retain licensed providers for Mental Health, Substance Use and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Traumatic Brain Injury services in rural, underserved areas of North Carolina.

Application Review Update The NC Licensed Workforce Loan Repayment Program is temporarily pausing new applications while we review and process the large number of applications already received. If additional funding becomes available, updates will be posted on this webpage. Please monitor this webpage for updates.

Individual application status updates will be sent directly to applicants by email. Due to the high volume of inquiries, we are unable to respond to individual status requests. The $20 million investment from NCDHHS will be available to providers who agree to practice for three years in one of North Carolina’s high-need rural, medically underserved communities .

Once enrollment opens in December 2025, the following eligible providers, including those with associate-level licenses, may apply for up to $50,000 in educational loan repayment: Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialists (LCAS) Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (LCMHC) Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) Licensed Psychologists & Psychological Associates Prepare Your Documents Before You Apply Before starting your application for the NC Licensed Workforce Loan Repayment Program – MH, SU, IDD & TBI, please ensure you have the following required documents ready for upload: Proof of Licensure in North Carolina Educational Loan Service Statement Loan Repayment Employment Verification – This form must be printed, completed by your agency administrator, and signed before uploading.

We strongly encourage applicants to gather and prepare these documents in advance. Before you begin, we also recommend reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to better understand eligibility, documentation requirements, and the application process. Detailed instructions—including what information must be included in each document, acceptable file formats, and how to upload—are provided within the application portal.

live in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas lack child and adolescent psychiatrists among rural youth compared to urban youth among licensed Mental Health, Substance Use, IDD, and TBI providers for licensed positions in community agencies What are the requirements? How much is the repayment? Are providers who deliver IDD services eligible?

Are LME/MCOs eligible sites for the NC Licensed Workforce Loan Repayment Program? How do I know if my agency qualifies? What is the application process?

What happens if I change jobs? What if I leave before completing three years? Can I use this program with other loan repayment programs?

Are licensed providers who work in Division of State Operated Healthcare Facilities (DSOHF) eligible for the NC Licensed Workforce Loan Repayment Program? Who do I contact with questions?

Eligible providers include Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (LCMHC), Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialists (LCAS), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Licensed Psychologists, and Licensed Psychological Associates. What are the requirements?

Have a valid North Carolina license in good standing Work full-time/part-time (totaling at least 32 hours/week) Provide services in Mental Health, Substance Use, IDD, or TBI Work at an eligible agency in a rural, underserved area Agency must serve at least 40% Medicaid, uninsured, or underinsured individuals Be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident Have educational loan debt related to your current profession How much is the repayment?

You can receive up to $50,000 over the course of three years. Payments are made every six months after you complete a service period. Are providers who deliver IDD services eligible?

Yes. The program includes providers who deliver services for mental health (MH), substance use (SU), intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Are LME/MCOs eligible sites for the NC Licensed Workforce Loan Repayment Program?

Yes, LME/MCOs are not excluded if they will meet the eligible site criteria, which is: Agency must be in a rural or underserved area, be in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), and serve at least 40% Medicaid or uninsured populations. Use the Am I Rural?

Tool from the Rural Health Information Hub to check: Mental Health HPSA designation Medically Underserved Area/Population (MUA/P) status How do I know if my agency qualifies? Your agency must be located in a rural or underserved area, be in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), and serve at least 40% Medicaid or uninsured patients. Use the Am I Rural?

Tool from the Rural Health Information Hub to check: Mental Health HPSA designation Medically Underserved Area/Population (MUA/P) status To determine your county’s tier, visit the NC Department of Commerce – County Tier Designations and select your county from the dropdown menu. What is the application process? You will be able to apply once the program launches in December 2025.

NCDHHS will announce details when the program goes live. What happens if I change jobs? You can stay in the program if you move to another eligible agency without a break in service.

You must submit updated verification from your new agency. What if I leave before completing three years? There is no penalty for leaving early, but you will only receive repayment for the time you completed.

You may not reapply until you complete another six months of eligible service. Can I use this program with other loan repayment programs? Yes, but you cannot receive duplicate payments for the same service period.

The program is managed by the NCDHHS' Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services. Are licensed providers who work in Division of State Operated Healthcare Facilities (DSOHF) eligible for the NC Licensed Workforce Loan Repayment Program? Yes.

All NC DHHS State Operated Healthcare Facilities (DSOHF) are eligible sites for the Loan Repayment Program, regardless of their rural designation. This includes: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Centers (ADATCs): State Developmental Centers: Caswell Developmental Center J.

Iverson Riddle Developmental Center Murdoch Developmental Center Neuro-Medical Treatment Centers: State Psychiatric Hospitals: Central Regional Hospital Residential Programs for Children: Whitaker Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility Who do I contact with questions? Email loanrepayment@dhhs. nc.

gov .