Application Cycle for 2024: Delayed

The Bachelor of Science Nursing Loan Repayment Program is delayed and will not be launched in May as originally planned.

Background and Mission:

The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) works to increase and diversify California’s healthcare workforce by providing loan repayments and scholarships to health professional students and graduates who provide direct patient care in those communities. BSNLRP is funded through a $10 surcharge from renewal and licensure fees collected by the Department of Consumer Affairs for Registered Nurses in California. The purpose of this program is to increase the number of appropriately trained nurses providing direct patient care in a qualified facility or area in California.

Awardee Program Requirements Loan Repayment Program:

In exchange for a 12-month service obligation to serve medically underserved areas and/or in a qualified facility in California, eligible registered nurses may receive a loan repayment of up to $15,000. Awardees are expected to meet program requirements for the duration of the BSN loan repayment program.

Awardee is defined as an applicant who has been selected to receive the BSN loan repayment program award and who has signed their Grant Agreement. Failure to comply with these requirements may lead to disqualification and termination from the program. Awardees may be considered in breach of their Grant Agreement if they are unable to comply with the terms of their contract. If an awardee does not meet the terms of their contractual obligations, they may not be eligible for the annual payment.

Below is the list of program requirements awardees are expected to comply with:

• Maintain a current and unrestricted license and be in good standing with the California Board of Registered Nursing.

• Have a Bachelor of Nursing degree.

• Have existing qualifying educational loan debt incurred while pursuing a degree to practice as a Registered Nurse.

• Keep said educational loans in good standing.

• Must not participate or have an existing service obligation with another entity, including other HCAI funded programs.

• Must not be in breach of any other HCAI/health professional service obligation.

• Submit progress reports, in the form required by HCAI, demonstrating compliance with program requirements and their agreement/contract.

• Maintain 32 hours or more per week of direct patient care during the entirety of the contract period.

• To inform HCAI in writing within 30 business days of any change in contact information (mailing address, telephone number, email address, etc.), or any change in circumstances impacting an awardee’s eligibility to receive or participate in the BSNLRP program.

• Complete and submit an application through the HCAI eApp Funding Portal by June 14, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. (DELAYED)

Eligible Practice Site:

An applicant must provide direct patient care in one of the following eligible geographic areas or approved site designations:

• California Nursing School

• Health Professional Shortage Area – Primary Care (HPSA-PC)

• Rural Health Clinic

• Children’s Hospital

• Public School Facility

• Skilled Nursing Facility

• Clinics providing Reproductive Health and abortion-related services

• Medically Underserved Area (MUA)

• State-Operated Health Facility

• Correctional Facility

• Native American Health Center

• Substance Use Facility

• County-Operated Health Facility

• Primary Care Shortage Area (PCSA)

• Veteran’s Facility

• Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)

• Registered Nurse Shortage Area (RNSA)

If you are providing services via telehealth, your employer must have a physical office in California, and it must be one of the eligible geographic or site designations listed above.

Loan Repayment FAQ: https://hcai.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Program-FAQ.pdf