The National Health Service Corps is now accepting applications for its Scholarship Program.

The competitive federal program provides scholarships to students pursuing primary care health professions training to become physicians, dentists, nurse midwives, physician assistants or nurse practitioners. In exchange, program participants commit to providing primary care health services in an underserved community, following graduation, for a minimum of two years.

The scholarship award covers tuition and eligible fees, other reasonable costs (including books, instruments or clinical supplies, and uniforms) and a monthly stipend. Scholarship support may be available for up to four years.

Program applicants must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time student in an accredited degree or certificate program. Applicants must begin taking classes in their program on or before Sept. 30.

The deadline to apply is May 5.

For more information, visit nhsc.hrsa.gov or contact Michael McGill at the Kentucky Office of Rural Health (michael.mcgill@uky.edu, 606-439-3557).

The Kentucky Office of Rural Health, established in 1991, is a federal-state partnership authorized by federal legislation. The UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health, located in Hazard, serves as the federally-designated Kentucky Office of Rural Health. KORH works directly with clinicians, clinic and hospital administrators, policymakers and other stakeholders to improve the accessibility of health care services for the Commonwealth’s rural and underserved residents. The office connects communities and health care organizations to local, state and federal resources while working toward long-term solutions to financial, quality improvement and workforce challenges.