Health-related professions are among the fastest growing and personally rewarding career fields. North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is working to recruit and retain health care providers in the state, especially in underserved and rural areas, by offering student loan repayment help for qualifying health, behavioral health and dental professionals.
The Primary Care Office in HHS is accepting applications now through March 31, for three support for service programs: North Dakota Healthcare Professional Loan Repayment Program, ND Federal Loan Repayment Program and Dental Loan Repayment Program. Health care students graduating this year, new health care graduates and established health professionals with student loan debt are encouraged to apply.
Recognizing access issues and challenges rural areas have recruiting and retaining health, behavioral health and dental health professionals, the 2023 North Dakota Legislature approved $2.6 million in state and federal funding to sustain student loan repayment programs. This included $2 million in federal funding and $600,000 in state general funds.
These programs assisted 116 eligible North Dakota health professionals with their student loan obligations in 2024. Participating health, behavioral health and dental professionals worked in 28 counties across the state.
“We encourage our partners to help raise awareness about these programs and the investment being made to support access to care and meet the health needs of North Dakotans,” said HHS Interim Commissioner Dirk Wilke. “Recruiting and retaining a trained, qualified health care workforce, including in rural and underserved areas, is vital to reaching our goal of being the healthiest state in the nation.”
Professions eligible for the support-for-service programs include physicians, registered nurses, pharmacists, clinical psychologists, dentists and dental hygienists, and advanced practice providers such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners and others. In addition, these behavioral health professions also qualify: licensed addiction counselors, licensed professional counselors, licensed clinical social workers, registered nurses and behavioral analysts.
Student loan assistance ranges from $22,000 to $50,000 depending on the service commitment and health profession. An employer match may be required. Service contracts vary from two to five years.
Individuals should refer to each loan repayment program for eligibility details. Program details and application links are online on the HHS North Dakota Health Services Corp webpage: hhs.nd.gov/health/primary-care-office/nd-health-service-corps.
Heath care students graduating this year, new health care graduates and established health care professionals with questions can contact the state’s HHS Primary Care Office at (701) 328-8674, 711 (TTY), or doh-pco@nd.gov.
Individuals can find additional health care workforce recruitment and retention resources online at loveyoutostay.nd.gov. This workforce-focused webpage includes information about partnering state agencies and organizations that can connect health professionals to promising career opportunities in North Dakota.