Loan Repayment Programs

Updates and important dates:

• The 2024 Loan Repayment Cycle has closed. 

• We appreciate the interest and dedication of all applicants in supporting healthcare across Georgia.

  • We want to assure you that every application is being thoroughly reviewed. If any information is missing, we will promptly reach out to applicants for clarification.

• The next loan repayment cycle is expected to open in September/October 2025.

  • Please revisit this page for updates and application details as the new cycle approaches.

GBHCW Loan Repayment Programs

The GBHCW administers service-cancelable loan repayment programs for physicians, dentists, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, behavioral health providers and nurse faculty.

The programs assist in paying any debt incurred for tuition, fees, and other expenses associated with the completion of the aforementioned degrees for practitioners who agree to practice full-time in an underserved, rural county in Georgia with a population of 50,000 or less.

• Georgia Physician Education Loan Repayment Program (GPELRP)
• Physicians for Rural Areas Assistance Program (PRAA)
• Dentists for Rural Areas Assistance Program (DRAA)
• Georgia Dentist Education Loan Repayment Program (GDELRP)
• Physician Assistant Loan Repayment Program (PALRP)
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Loan Repayment Program (APRNLRP)
• Nurse Faculty Loan Repayment Program (NFLRP)
• Georgia Behavioral Health Provider Loan Repayment Program (GBHPLRP)

Here are resources to determine the eligibility of a county you may be interested in servicing:

• Loan Repayment Programs Eligibility Map
• Health Outcomes Link

Georgia Physician Education Loan Repayment Program (GPELRP):

• A service-cancelable loan of $150,000.  Payment made annually over a four-year duration to licensed physicians
• Assists physicians in repaying outstanding medical education loan debt
• Physicians must provide direct patient care in medically underserved, rural areas of Georgia
• "Full-time" practice is a minimum of 40 hours per week (of which 32 hours must be direct patient contact while the remaining hours can be administrative)
• Funding for this program is provided solely by the State of Georgia
• The application deadline has been extended to November 10th and must be completed via the online system

Click here to view the Information Sheet and Eligible Counties Map for the Physician Education Loan Repayment Program.

Check back soon to review GPELRP application details, including program requirements and materials.

Physicians for Rural Areas Assistance Program (PRAA):

• A service-cancelable loan of up to $25,000 per year to licensed physicians
• Assists physicians in repaying outstanding medical education loan debt
• Physicians must provide direct patient care in medically underserved, rural areas of Georgia
• "Full-time" practice is a minimum of 40 hours per week (of which 32 hours must be direct patient contact while the remaining hours can be administrative)
• Contracts are awarded for one year and are renewable for an additional three terms (for a maximum of four years and $100,000)
• Funding for this program is provided solely by the State of Georgia
• The application deadline has been extended to November 10th and must be completed via the online system.

Click here to view the Information Sheet and Eligible Counties Map for the Physicians for Rural Areas Assistance Program.

Check back soon to review PRAA application details, including program requirements and materials.

Dentists for Rural Areas Assistance Program (DRAA):

• A service-cancelable loan of up to $25,000 per year to licensed dentists
• Assists dentists in repaying outstanding dental education loan debt
• Dentists must provide direct patient care in medically underserved, rural areas of Georgia
• "Full-time" practice is a minimum of 40 hours per week (of which 32 hours must be direct patient contact while the remaining hours can be administrative)
• Contracts are awarded for one year and are renewable for an additional three terms (for a maximum of four years and $100,000)
• Funding for this program is provided solely by the State of Georgia
• The application deadline has been extended to November 10th and must be completed via the online system.

Click here to view the Information Sheet and Eligible Counties Map for the Dentists for Rural Areas Assistance Program.

Check back soon to review DRAA application details, including program requirements and materials.

Georgia Dentist Education Loan Repayment Program (GDELRP):

• A service-cancelable loan of up to $150,000 to licensed dentists or fourth-year dental students over four years
• Assists dentists or fourth-year dental students in repaying outstanding dental education loan debt
• Dentists must provide direct patient care in medically underserved, rural areas of Georgia
• "Full-time" practice is a minimum of 40 hours per week (of which 32 hours must be direct patient contact while the remaining hours can be administrative)
• Contracts are awarded for a four-year term 
• Funding for this program is provided solely by the State of Georgia
• The application deadline has been extended to November 10th and must be completed via the online system.

Click here to view the Information Sheet and Eligible Counties Map for the Georgia Dentist Education Loan Repayment Program.

Check back soon to review GDELRP application details, including program requirements and materials.

Physician Assistant Loan Repayment Program (PALRP):

• A service-cancelable loan of up to $10,000 per year to licensed physician assistants
• Assists PAs in repaying outstanding PA education loan debt
• PAs must provide direct patient care in medically underserved, rural areas of Georgia
• "Full-time" practice is a minimum of 40 hours per week (of which 32 hours must be direct patient contact while the remaining hours can be administrative)
• Contracts are awarded for one year and are renewable for an additional three terms (for a maximum of four years and $40,000)
• Funding for this program is provided solely by the State of Georgia
• The application deadline has been extended to November 10th and must be completed via the online system

Click here to view the Information Sheet and Eligible Counties Map for the Physician Assistant Loan Repayment Program.

Check back soon to review PALRP application details, including program requirements and materials.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Loan Repayment Program (APRNLRP):

• A service-cancelable loan of up to $10,000 per year to licensed advanced practice registered nurses
• Assists APRNs in repaying outstanding APRN education loan debt
• APRNs must provide direct patient care in medically underserved, rural areas of Georgia
• "Full-time" practice is a minimum of 40 hours per week (of which 32 hours must be direct patient contact while the remaining hours can be administrative)
• Contracts are awarded for one year and are renewable for an additional three terms (for a maximum of four years and $40,000)
• Funding for this program is provided solely by the State of Georgia
• The application deadline has been extended to November 10th and must be completed via the online system

Click here to view the Information Sheet and Eligible Counties Map for the Advance Practice Registered Nurse Loan Repayment Program.

Check back soon to review APRNLRP application details, including program requirements and materials.

Nurse Faculty Loan Repayment Program (NFLRP):

• A service-cancelable loan of $25,000.  Payments made over two years.  Selected NFLRP Recipients may receive the lesser of 50% of the outstanding student loan balance or $25,000 over two years. 
  • Year 1 amount = lesser of 40% of total award or $10,000
  • Year 2 amount = lesser of 60% of total award of $15,000
• Must possess a Masters or Doctoral Degree in Nursing.
• Must be currently employed and have been employed for 1 year as faculty in the University System of Georgia, an institution subject to paragraph (10) of subsection (a) of Code Section 20-3-250.3, or Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia in a position that requires an advanced degree in professional nursing.
• The application deadline has been extended to November 10th and and must be completed via the online system.

Click here to view the Information Sheet for the Nurse Faculty Loan Repayment Program.

Check back soon to review NFLRP application details, including program requirements and materials.

Georgia Behavioral Health Provider Loan Repayment Program (GBHPLRP):

• A service-cancelable loan of up to $150,000 to mental health or substance use professionals to repay outstanding education debt in return for practicing in Georgia.
• The award amount varies based on behavioral health occupation.
  • Psychiatrists: $150,000
  • Psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, and licensed marriage and family therapists who hold doctoral degrees in behavioral health: $80,000
  • Clinical nurse social workers, licensed professional counselors, licensed specialists in school psychology, and licensed marriage and family therapists who do not hold doctoral degrees: $40,000
  • Licensed chemical dependency counselors who hold associate degrees, or any other behavioral health licensee not listed above: $10,000
• Assists Mental Health or Substance Use Professionals in repaying outstanding educational loan debt
• "Full-time" practice is a minimum of 40 hours per week (of which 32 hours must be direct patient contact while the remaining hours can be administrative)
• Contracts are awarded for a four-year term
• Funding for this program is provided solely by the State of Georgia
• The application deadline has been extended to November 10th and must be completed via the online system

Check back soon to review GBHPLRP application details, including program requirements and materials.

If you have questions about any loan repayment program listed here, please contact: