Loan Forgiveness for Service in Areas of National Need

Note: This program is subject to annual appropriations approved by the U.S. Congress. Details of the program are subject to final regulations that may be developed by the U.S. Department of Education. Until these regulations are published, we cannot offer additional information on the criteria for this loan forgiveness program or the application process. Please bookmark this page and return to it in the future for updated information.

Who is eligible?

Certain full-time employees serving in the following defined areas of national need.

• Early childhood educators.
• Nurses serving in a clinical setting or on the faculty of an accredited nursing school.
• Foreign language specialists teaching a critical foreign language in an elementary or secondary school or postsecondary institution, or serving in a U.S. government agency in a position requiring the use of a critical foreign language.
• Librarians serving public libraries or school libraries located in low-income communities.
• Highly qualified teachers serving students with limited English proficiency, low-income communities and underrepresented populations.
• Speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
• Public-sector employees including:
  • Public safety workers, including first responders, firefighters, police or other law enforcement or public safety officers.
  • Emergency management workers, including emergency medical technicians.
  • Public health practitioners.
  • Public interest legal professionals, including prosecutors, public defense attorneys or those providing legal services to low-income communities at a nonprofit organization.
• Nutrition professionals, serving as dieticians for special supplemental nutrition programs for women, infants and children.
• Medical specialists participating in graduate medical education training or fellowships in areas of need.
• Mental health professionals providing services to children, adolescents or veterans.
• Dentists, in practice or serving on dental school faculty.
• Employees working in applied sciences, technology, engineering or mathematics.
• Physical or occupational therapists providing services to children, adolescents or veterans.
• Superintendents, principals and other administrators serving schools in low-income areas.

How much of the outstanding loan amount can be forgiven?

• Up to $2,000 for each school, academic or calendar year of qualified full-time employment after Aug. 14, 2008, up to a maximum aggregate amount of $10,000.
• The program forgives only the eligible outstanding balances of qualified federal education loans. Amounts previously paid by the borrower will not be refunded.
• Loan forgiveness will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis up to the amount appropriated.