Veterinary Loan Repayment Information

Site eligibility is based on the following criteria:​

1. Size of the community; ​
   1. First priority is given to rural communities having a population under 5,000; ​
   2. Second priority is communities with a population between 5,000 to 10,000; 
   3. Third priority is communities with a population greater than 10,000.
2. Number of veterinarians practicing in the community and the surrounding area;​
3. Access by residents to veterinarians practicing in the community and the surrounding area; and ​
4. the degree to which residents support the addition of a veterinarian within the community.​

The applicant must: ​

1. Have graduated from an accredited college of veterinary medicine; ​
2. Be fully licensed to practice food animal veterinary medicine in North Dakota; and ​
3. Be employed full-time in a private practice veterinary medicine clinic and commit to two, three, or four years of service in one or more selected communities.​

Providers participating in the loan repayment program can enter into an agreement to practice up to four years and receive the following loan repayment assistance for outstanding educational loans from institutional lending agencies of the United States, Canada, or other countries.​

The North Dakota State Board of Animal Health reviews and prioritizes all applicants and presents recommendations to the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services.

Applicants are reviewed and prioritized based on personal statements, professional letters of recommendation, letters of community support, and if they are practicing in areas of greatest need.​

1. The veterinarian has completed the service requirements of the contract. ​
2. The veterinarian is unable to complete the service requirement of the contract because of a permanent physical disability. ​
3. The veterinarian demonstrates to the State Health Council extreme hardship or shows other good causes justifying the release. ​
4. The veterinarian dies.