The NC Licensed Workforce Loan Repayment program will help recruit and retain licensed providers for Mental Health, Substance Use and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Traumatic Brain Injury services in rural, underserved areas of North Carolina. 

40%

of North Carolinians

live in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas

22

NC counties

have no psychiatrists

68

NC counties

lack child and adolescent psychiatrists

2 x

higher suicide rate

among rural youth compared to urban youth

30%

annual turnover

among licensed Mental Health, Substance Use, IDD, and TBI providers

25-35%

vacancy rate

for licensed positions in community agencies

The $20 million investment from NCDHHS will be available to providers who agree to practice for three years in one of North Carolina’s high-need counties, as indicated on the map of eligible counties. Once enrollment opens in December 2025, the eligible providers below will be able to apply for up to $50,000 for education loan reimbursement:

  • Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialists (LCAS)
  • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (LCMHC)
  • Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)
  • Licensed Psychologists & Psychological Associates  

Loan Repayment Program Frequently Asked Questions

Tab/Accordion Items

Eligible providers include Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (LCMHC), Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialists (LCAS), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Licensed Psychologists, and Licensed Psychological Associates.

  •  Have a valid North Carolina license in good standing
  • Work full-time/part-time (totaling at least 32 hours/week)
  • Provide services in Mental Health, Substance Use, IDD, or TBI
  • Work at an approved agency in a rural or underserved area
  • Agency must serve at least 40% Medicaid, uninsured, or underinsured individuals
  • Be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
     

You can receive up to $50,000 over the course of three years. Payments are made every six months after you complete a service period.

Yes. The program includes providers who deliver services for mental health (MH), substance use (SU), intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Your agency must be located in a rural or underserved area, be in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), and serve at least 40% Medicaid or uninsured patients.

Use the Am I Rural? Tool from the Rural Health Information Hub to check:

  • Rural designation
  • HPSA designation

To determine your county’s tier, visit the NC Department of Commerce – County Tier Designations and select your county from the dropdown menu.

You will be able to apply once the program launches in December 2025. NCDHHS will announce details when the program goes live. 

You can stay in the program if you move to another eligible agency without a break in service. You must submit updated verification from your new agency.

There is no penalty for leaving early, but you will only receive repayment for the time you completed. You may not reapply until you complete another six months of eligible service.

Yes, but you cannot receive duplicate payments for the same service period.

The program is managed by the NCDHHS' Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services.

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