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Yes—nurses may qualify for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) or, if they meet separate requirements, HRSA’s Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program. Eligibility depends on factors such as the nurse’s employer, loan type, repayment history, workplace, and service commitment—not simply on having a nursing job.
How nurses can qualify for PSLF
PSLF can forgive the remaining balance on eligible Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments while you work full-time for a qualifying government or nonprofit employer. The program’s employment test focuses on who employs you, not your nursing specialty or job title. Federal Student Aid’s PSLF guidance explains the requirements and provides tools to check an employer.
Check your employer
Eligible employers include U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal governments and qualifying nonprofit organizations. A public hospital or nonprofit health system may qualify, but a hospital’s name, patient population, or public-service mission does not establish eligibility by itself. Check the legal employer—the organization that employs you—using the PSLF Employer Search.
A nurse working for a for-profit employer does not qualify for PSLF on the basis of nursing work alone. The employer must meet the program’s rules.
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Check your loans, work status, and payments
- Loans: PSLF applies to qualifying Direct Loans. If you have another type of federal loan, Direct Consolidation may be relevant, but consolidation can affect your payment count. Review your account-specific guidance before consolidating.
- Employment: You must work full-time for a qualifying employer while making the payments counted toward PSLF.
- Payments: You need 120 qualifying monthly payments. They do not have to be consecutive. The repayment rules can depend on your loan’s disbursement date and circumstances, so check current guidance rather than relying on a fixed list of plans.
Verify and track eligibility
Use the PSLF Help Tool to check employer status, generate forms, and support submission. Federal Student Aid recommends certifying employment annually and when you change employers. Confirm that your loan and payment records are being counted; working as a nurse for a qualifying organization does not, by itself, establish that every payment qualifies.
Nurse Corps: a nursing-specific repayment option
HRSA’s Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program is a separate, service-based program for qualifying registered nurses (RNs), advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and nurse faculty. Applicants must have qualifying nursing education from an accredited school in a U.S. state or territory, qualifying nursing education loans, and an eligible work placement. RNs and APRNs serve at an eligible critical shortage facility; nurse faculty serve at an eligible school of nursing. See the HRSA program overview and its application guidance for current requirements.
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Repayment and service commitment
Under HRSA’s published 2026 terms, awardees receive 60% of their total outstanding qualifying nursing education loans over a two-year service contract. After that contract, a participant may be eligible for a third year and an additional 25% of the original qualifying balance. That can bring total repayment to up to 85% if the extension is granted and its requirements are met; it is not automatic. HRSA says Nurse Corps funds are subject to federal income and employment taxes.
Service requirements differ by placement. HRSA’s service requirements page, last reviewed in December 2025, specifies at least 32 hours per week for at least 45 weeks per service year for critical-shortage-facility participants. Nurse faculty must work full-time as defined by their employer for at least nine months per service year. Participants must maintain appropriate licensure, serve at the approved site in the selected category, and complete regular service verification. A transfer requires prior approval. See HRSA’s Nurse Corps service requirements.
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HRSA states that the 2026 Nurse Corps application cycle is closed. Check its application page for the next cycle and sign up for program notices if available. An eligible role or workplace does not guarantee an award.
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PSLF and Nurse Corps compared
| Factor | PSLF | Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program |
|---|---|---|
| What determines eligibility | Qualifying employer, Direct Loans, full-time work, and qualifying payments under program rules | Nursing role, qualifying nursing education debt, eligible site or faculty position, and service requirements |
| Who may qualify | Full-time employees of qualifying government or nonprofit employers, including nurses | Eligible RNs, APRNs, and nurse faculty |
| Service or payment structure | 120 qualifying monthly payments while meeting employment and other requirements | Two-year service commitment; a third year may be available |
| Potential loan benefit | Forgiveness of the remaining eligible Direct Loan balance after program requirements are met | Under HRSA’s 2026 terms, 60% over two years and a possible additional 25% of the original qualifying balance for a third year |
| Next step | Check your employer, loan, and payment records with Federal Student Aid tools | Review HRSA’s current eligibility rules, approved placements, and application-cycle status |
Other repayment options depend on your role and location
HRSA also lists National Health Service Corps repayment programs and a Students to Service program that may fit some nurse practitioners or students in eligible disciplines. These are distinct programs with their own rules for discipline, training, service site, and award. State programs and employer-sponsored benefits may also be available, but vary by state, employer, role, and location. Ask your employer’s benefits office, check your state health department, and review HRSA’s program information before assuming an option applies to you.
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