Virginia Loan Repayment Programs

The application cycle is open from January 9, 2025, to March 31, 2025. 

Due to technical issues, the VA-SLRP application will open on January 9, 2025, instead of January 1st. VDH is committed to ensuring that the rollout of the application on the agency’s new online system is as seamless as possible. This slight delay in opening the application portal will enable us to do just that.

For questions related to program eligibility and processing timelines, please get in touch with the Workforce Incentive Program Team by calling (804)-864-7435 or emailing incentiveprograms@vdh.virginia.gov.

Quick Links

Virginia State-Loan-Repayment-Program-VA-SLRP-Guidelines

Applications and Forms

The Commonwealth of Virginia (the Commonwealth) currently participates in the Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service (BCRS) Grants to States for Loan Repayment. This VA-SLRP is operated by the Virginia Department of Health-Office of Health Equity (VDH-OHE) providing an incentive to qualified medical, nursing, dental, behavioral health, and pharmaceutical (pharmacists) professionals in return for a minimum of two (2) years of service at an eligible practice site in one of the federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in a qualified field of practice in Virginia. VA-SLRP requires a dollar-for-dollar match from the community/Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia will now pay the full match for eligible applicants who are selected by the advisory committee. The maximum award for a four (4) year commitment is $140,000 and shall be for a qualifying educational loan. After the application deadline, a thorough review is conducted in order of the application receipt date to determine initial eligibility; an advisory committee determines final eligibility. Priority VA-SLRP awards are given based on the HPSA scores for counties/cities/populations in Virginia and HRSA requirements, as well as the scoring rubric for equitable distribution. All approvals are based on the availability of funds. The participant shall meet and fulfill all requirements to be eligible for the VA-SLRP.

Other Programs

National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program

The NHSC Loan Repayment program is fully funded by federal dollars. This program requires that the practice location be in a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). The Virginia Department of Health, Office of Health Equity serves only in the role of receiving practice site applications from the NHSC portal, reviewing eligibility requirements for NHSC practice sites, and making recommendations to NHSC of eligible facilities that want to become NHSC practice sites. Health Professionals interested in becoming a recipient of the NHSC program must apply directly to NHSC.

Virginia Physician Loan Repayment Program (different from the Virginia State Loan Repayment Program)

Currently, state funding is not available to administer this loan repayment program.

Once the portal is open, if you have technical questions about navigating the application system, please get in touch with the Workforce Incentive Program Team by calling (804)-864-7435 or emailing incentiveprograms@vdh.virginia.gov.

Last Updated: November 6, 2025