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.
About the Program
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 rural and medically underserved communities. Once enrollment opens in December 2025, the following eligible providers, including those with associate-level licenses, may apply for up to $50,000 in educational loan repayment:
- 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
Prepare Your Documents Before You Apply
Before starting your application for the NC Licensed Workforce Loan Repayment Program – MH, SU, IDD & TBI, please ensure you have the following required documents ready for upload:
- Proof of Licensure in North Carolina
- Educational Loan Service Statement
- Loan Repayment Employment Verification – This form must be printed, completed by your agency administrator, and signed before uploading.
We strongly encourage applicants to gather and prepare these documents in advance.
Before you begin, we also recommend reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to better understand eligibility, documentation requirements, and the application process.
Detailed instructions—including what information must be included in each document, acceptable file formats, and how to upload—are provided within the application portal.
of North Carolinians
live in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas
NC counties
have no psychiatrists
NC counties
lack child and adolescent psychiatrists
higher suicide rate
among rural youth compared to urban youth
annual turnover
among licensed Mental Health, Substance Use, IDD, and TBI providers
vacancy rate
for licensed positions in community agencies
Loan Repayment Program Frequently Asked Questions
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
- Have educational loan debt related to your current profession
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
- Mental Health HPSA designation
- Medically Underserved Area/Population (MUA/P) status
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.
Email loanrepayment@dhhs.nc.gov.