Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the Faculty Loan Repayment Program?

The Faculty Loan Repayment Program (FLRP), housed within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), was established and is governed by the Federal Public Health Service Act, as amended, to repay the educational loans of eligible applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds who agree to serve as faculty at eligible health professions schools.*  The FLRP seeks to increase the number of faculty from disadvantaged backgrounds in eligible health professions disciplines** who act as role models and mentors for students from similar backgrounds. *Eligible health professions schools are defined by Section 738 of the Public Health Service Act as medicine, nursing, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, allied health, podiatric medicine, optometry, veterinary medicine, or public health, or schools offering graduate programs in behavioral and mental health. **Eligible health professions are defined by Section 738 of the Public Health Service Act as medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, nursing (RN only), or another health profession.

What is the definition of a Disadvantaged Background?

As defined by HHS, an individual from a disadvantaged background is one who comes from an environment that has inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skill, and abilities required to enroll in and graduate from a health professions school, or from a program providing education or training in an allied health profession; or comes from a family with an annual income below a level based on low income thresholds according to family size published by the U.S. Bureau of Census, adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index, and adjusted by the Secretary, HHS, for use in health professions and nursing programs.

What is the maximum amount of loan repayment that a participant can receive?

The FLRP will pay up to $40,000 for 2 years of service ($20,000 for each year of service), based on the participant's outstanding balances of qualifying educational loans.  If the total amount of the participant's qualifying educational loans is less than $40,000, the FLRP will pay the remaining balance of the total qualifying educational loans.

How many years of service are FLRP participants obligated to complete?

FLRP participants are obligated to complete two (2) consecutive years of service as a faculty member at an accredited eligible health professions college or university.  Duties must consist primarily of teaching in a classroom.

Who is eligible for the FLRP?

Individuals who can provide certification from a school that he/she was identified as having a disadvantaged background based on environmental and/or economic factors, are faculty members at an accredited health professions college or university, and have a degree in the following health professions are eligible to apply:  allopathic and osteopathic medicine; dentistry; optometry; pharmacy; podiatric medicine; veterinary medicine; nursing (RN only); public health; baccalaureate or graduate degree programs in these allied health disciplines - dental hygiene, medical laboratory technology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, radiologic pathology, speech pathology, audiology, and registered dietitians; graduate programs in the behavioral and mental health disciplines of clinical psychology, clinical social work, professional counseling, and marriage and family therapy.

Is there a citizenship requirement for FLRP eligibility?

Yes. Applicants for the FLRP must be citizens of the United States (either U.S. born or naturalized).

What types of loans are eligible for repayment under the FLRP?

Loans qualifying for the FLRP include government (Federal, State, or local) and commercial loans for actual costs paid for tuition and reasonable educational and living expenses such as related to the undergraduate or graduate education of the participant for the health professions degree in which they will serve.

What loans are ineligible for repayment under the FLRP?

Loans that do not qualify for FLRP repayment include: loans for which the associated documentation does not identify the loans as applicable to undergraduate or graduation education; loans not obtained from a government entity or commercial lending institution; most loans made by private foundations or individuals are not eligible for loan repayment; loans, or that portion of loans, obtained for educational or living expenses which exceed the school's estimated standard student budget in the year the loan was made and the student is unable to substantiate that the excess educational and/or living expenses were reasonable; loans that have been repaid in full; loans for residency relocation; PLUS loans (made to parents); and personal lines of credit.

Are consolidated and/or refinanced loans eligible for FLRP loan repayment?

If eligible educational loans are consolidated and/or refinanced, the original loan documentation must be submitted to establish the educational purpose and contemporaneous nature of such loans.  The consolidated/refinanced loan must be from a government (Federal, State, or local) or commercial lender and be for the applicant's qualifying educational loans only.  If an eligible educational loan is consolidated/refinanced with any other ineligible educational loan of the application, no portion of the consolidated/refinanced loan will be eligible for loan repayment.

Am I ineligible for the FLRP if my school cannot meet the matching loan repayment requirement?

It is a statutory requirement of the FLRP that the employing institution enter into an agreement with the participant to make loan repayments for the participant's educational loans in an amount equal to the amount of such payments made by HHS (FLRP) to the participant or request and be granted a full or partial waiver of this matching requirement.  Documentation of undue financial hardship must be submitted by the employing institution to support the waiver request.

Will I still be considered for the FLRP if my school can provide some funds towards the matching requirement but not the full match?

The school may request a partial waiver of the statutory matching requirement and provide documentation of undue financial hardship that shows a partial waiver is warranted.

What are the critical deadlines for the 2009 FLRP?

July 7, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. ET for the electronic submission of the online application and the Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service (BCRSIS) online banking form.  July 7, 2009 (postmarked) for the FLRP printed and signed online application, the BCRSIS receipt of submission, and all the supplemental documentation.

How can I obtain a 2009 FLRP application?

Applicants can visit our website at http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/dsa/flrp/ to obtain and complete a FLRP application online and the BCRSIS banking information, and then mail the required supporting documentation to the Faculty Loan Repayment Program, Division of Applications and Awards, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8-37, Rockville, MD 20857.

What information is required for a FLRP application package to be considered complete?

The applicant must electronically submit the online application and BCRSIS banking information by July 7, 2009 by 5:00 p.m.ET, and submit a signed, hard copy of the completed online application, BCRSIS receipt of submission, along with the required supplemental forms and documentation as specified in the 2009 Applicant Information Bulletin by July 7, 2009 (postmarked).

What will render a FLRP application package incomplete?

The factors that will render an application ineligible for funding may include, but are not limited to, the following:  incomplete online application; incomplete application package; employment with a non-accredited college or university; credit check showing default on Federal payment obligations; or performing primarily research and not teaching in a classroom.

What happens if a FLRP application arrives after July 7, 2009?

Application packages that are postmarked after July 7, 2009, will be ineligible and not be considered.

Will I receive a confirmation stating that my application package has been received and is completed?

Applicants will receive an email notification that the package is received and the status. 

When and how will the loan repayment funds be disbursed?

Payment in the form of a lump sum will be electronically issued into the participant's banking account (identified in the BCRSIS banking submission at the time of application) approximately 90 days after the contract start date.

What should I do if I do not receive my FLRP loan repayment funds within approximately 90 days?

If loan repayment funds are not received within 90 days of the contract start date, the participant should email the FLRP at flrp@hrsa.gov.

Are there any restrictions on how I can expend the FLRP loan repayment funds?

Yes, the funds provided under the FLRP must be used to repay qualifying educational loans within 30 days after receipt of funds.

I am having trouble accessing banking email and/or logging into the BCRIS system.  Who do I contact?

Please contact the HRSA Call Center at 1-800-221-9393 (TTY: 1-877-897-9910) for assistance from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET or email at callcenter@hrsa.gov.

Do I have to pay taxes on the FLRP loan repayment award?

FLRP participants will receive a tax liability benefit equal to 39% of the loan repayment amount.  Loan repayments and the 39% tax liability benefit are regarded as income by the IRS and are subject to Federal taxes.  FLRP will send the 39% tax liability benefit directly to the IRS, and this will represent the amount withheld by HHS to pay the participant's Federal income tax and Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax for the FLRP benefits received.  All FLRP payments made and the Federal taxes withheld will be reported to the participant and the IRS on a form W-2 after the end of the tax year.  Participants should check with their State or local tax authority concerning their tax liability for these payments.

What is my contract start date?

The effective start date of the contract is the date the contract is countersigned by the Secretary of HHS or her designee, or the employment start date, whichever is later.  The applicant's signature alone on the contract does not constitute a contractual agreement.  Once approved for an award, participants will be mailed a letter that specifies their contract start and end dates.

Will I receive a copy of the ratified contract and/or an award letter?

Once the FLRP contract is countersigned by the Secretary of HHS or her designee, the participant will receive a copy of the signed contract with their award letter.

Can a FLRP participant work part-time?

Preference is given to applicants who work full-time.  To the extent that funding is available, applicants who work part-time will be funded second.

If accepted into the FLRP, what am I required to do?

Every FLRP participant must sign a contract agreeing to provide two (2) years of service as a faculty member at an accredited eligible health professions college or university.  Duties must consist primarily of teaching in a classroom.  Additionally, every FLRP participant must complete and submit a verification form for each six (6) months of service.  The form, which is signed by the participant and an appropriate official at the school, will verify the participant's compliance/non-compliance with the service obligation.

What should I do if I want to leave my current institution and work at another college or university?

If a participant is unable to complete his/her 2 year service obligation at the employing institution identified in the application, he/she must notify the Division of Scholar and Clinician Support (DSCS), Clinician Service Support Branch (CSSB), immediately in writing, before the participant leaves his/her current employing institution and the reason he/she wants to transfer.  Participants should not leave their initial service institution without prior written approval from the DSCS/CSSB.  A participant may contact DSCS/CSSB by calling the HRSA Call Center at 1-800-221-9393 (TTY: 1-877-897-9910) from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET or email callcenter@hrsa.gov.

Under what circumstances can I cancel or withdraw my FLRP contact?

The contract is cancelled in the event of the death of the participant.  An applicant may withdraw his/her application any time prior to the Secretary or her designee signing the contract by contacting flrp@hrsa.gov.  Once the contract is countersigned by the Secretary or her designee, the applicant incurs a legal obligation to provide the services or face monetary damages for breach of the service obligation.

Under what circumstances can I suspend or waiver my FLRP contract?

Suspension-A suspension of the FLRP obligation may be granted if compliance with the obligation would be (1) temporarily impossible or (2) would temporarily involve an extreme hardship such that enforcement of the obligation would be temporarily unconscionable.  Such instances include: medical and personal reasons; maternity leave; and call to active duty in the Armed Forces.  The service end date will be recalculated upon resumption of service.  Waiver - A waiver may be granted if compliance with the obligation (1) is impossible or (2) would involve extreme hardship and if enforcement of the obligation would be unconscionable.

How can I update my information?

A FLRP applicant or participant may update his/her contact information by completing the Change of Address Form found in the Applicant Information Bulletin.  The completed Change of Address Form should be mailed to the FLRP, Division of Application and Awards, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8-37, Rockville, MD 20857.  If the applicant or participant must update his/her banking information, please down load a Direct Deposit form at https://www.fms.treas.gov/eft/1199a.pdf and mail it to the FLRP or fax it to the FLRP at 301-594-4981.  Please notify the FLRP that you must update your banking information by contacting us at flrp@hrsa.gov.

After I have successfully completed my 2-year obligation, then what?

Participants of the FLRP who are in good standing may have the opportunity to apply for a new 2-year contract provided they still have unpaid qualifying educational loans.  Regardless, participants in good standing will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Division of Scholar and Clinician Support.

Who do I contact to learn more about the Faculty Loan Repayment Program or to check the status of my application?

Please email the FLRP at flrp@hrsa.gov.