Updated: Dec. 1, 2025
The South Carolina Office of Rural Health helps match medical professionals to opportunities across the state, visit their website to learn more.
Physician Incentive Programs
South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium (AHEC) administers the state’s financial incentive programs for clinicians who practice in rural and underserved communities. South Carolina AHEC Recruitment and Retention Programs provide financial incentives to health care professionals who practice in rural and underserved areas to improve the distribution of providers statewide. Visit AHEC’s website for more information.
National Health Service Corps
NHSC Student Loan Repayment
Licensed clinicians can receive student loan repayment assistance through the NHSC Loan Repayment Program. Providers must be in an eligible discipline serving in a discipline-related Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) at an NHSC-approved site. There are multiple programs with differing application deadlines and requirements.
Please refer to HRSA’s website for more information and to sign up to receive updates for the program(s) you’re eligible for.
NHSC Scholarships
The NHSC Scholarship Program awards scholarships to students pursuing an eligible training or degree program for a primary care health profession. In return, scholars commit to providing primary care health services after graduation at an NHSC-approved site in a HPSA with a score that meets their service obligation by program, year, and discipline. Please refer to HRSA’s website for more information.
Becoming an NHSC-Approved Site
An NHSC-approved site is a health care facility that provides complete outpatient services to people living in HPSAs, meets NHSC eligibility requirements, and has received official approval through the Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW).
Each year, NHSC awards a limited number of scholarships and school loan repayments to applicant health care providers—including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, dental hygienists, mental health professionals, and certified nurse midwives—who commit to serving for at least two years at an approved site that meets the minimum HPSA score required for the provider's discipline and cohort year.
Site Application Process
Sites seeking NHSC approval must submit a Site Application through the BHW Customer Service Portal. Each physical location or mobile unit must submit a separate application. Approved sites are typically required to reapply every 3-4 years to maintain their status.
Sites must remain in a HPSA and continue to meet NHSC requirements throughout the approval period to remain eligible.
Important Note: Some site requirements, such as the sliding fee discount program, must be in place for at least six months before applying, and six months of supporting data must be submitted with the application. It’s strongly recommended that sites begin preparing their application at least 12 months in advance.
Before applying, carefully review the NHSC Site Reference Guide, Site Agreement, and all relevant materials for the application year.
For technical assistance, contact the SC Primary Care Office (PCO) at neelyk@dph.sc.gov before submitting the application. Applications cannot be edited once submitted.
Site Points of Contact (POCs)
NHSC requires each site (except solo private practices) to assign at least two points of contact (POCs). These roles must be covered:
- Administrator
- Personnel Verifier
- Recruiter
To be eligible to submit a site application, a POC must:
- Hold a leadership or management role within the organization
- Be able to respond to questions about the site’s operations and policies Once a site is approved, POC details will be listed publicly on the Health Workforce Connector.
Once a site is approved, POC details will be listed publicly on the Health Workforce Connector.