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The Health Care Professional Incentive Program was established to recruit and retain health care professionals in high-need areas in Iowa. The program provides awards to individuals who agree to practice in eligible practice areas for up to five years of full-time employment, or seven year of part-time employment. Eligible health care professionals can elect to receive the award as an income bonus paid directly to the recipient or as a payment on a qualifying federal student loan. The award is paid in increments at the end of each successive year of qualifying employment.
Back to topEligible Health Care Occupations
| Occupation | Targeted number of awards | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (includes all categories) | 14 | $ 105,000 |
| Licensed Professional Counselor (Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, Mental Health Counselor) | 8 | $ 50,000 |
| Nurse Educator | 5 | $ 50,000 |
| Occupational Therapist | 3 | $ 70,000 |
| Physical Therapist | 10 | $ 70,000 |
| Physician Assistant (includes all categories) | 7 | $ 100,000 |
| Physicians (MD and DO) | 19 | $ 200,000 |
| Registered Nurse | 8 | $ 60,000 |
| Social Worker (licensed social workers qualified to provide mental health counseling) | 8 | $ 50,000 |
| Total | 82 |
Eligibility Criteria
- Be licensed to practice and employed in an eligible health care profession and eligible practice area within 6 months of signing a program agreement
- Practice in an eligible practice area for five years on a full-time basis, or seven years on a part-time basis (average 30 hours/week)
- Cannot have previously been awarded under any of the following programs:
- Primary Care Provider Loan Repayment Program (administered by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services),
- Rural Iowa Primary Care Loan Repayment Program (administered by the Iowa Department of Education),
- Health Care Professional Recruitment Program (administered by the Iowa Department of Education),
- Health Care Award Program (administered by the Iowa Department of Education),
- Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program (administered by the Iowa Department of Education).
Eligible Practice Areas
Eligible counties include: Adair, Adams, Allamakee, Appanoose, Benton, Buena Vista, Butler, Carroll, Cedar, Chickasaw, Clarke, Clayton, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Fremont, Greene, Grundy, Guthrie, Hamilton, Iowa, Keokuk, Lucas, Lyon, Madison, Mills, O'Brien, Osceola, Pocahontas, Ringgold, Tama, Taylor, Wayne, Winnebago, Worth.
Back to topEmployment Obligation
The obligation is fulfilled by serving clients in eligible practice areas on a full-time basis for five consecutive years or on a part-time basis for seven consecutive years. Progression toward completion of the obligation is verified annually.
Full-time employment is at least 2,080 hours of work in a calendar year, including all paid holidays, vacations, sick time, and other paid leave.
Part-time employment is at least 1,560 hours of work in a calendar year, including all paid holidays, vacations, sick time, and other paid leave.
Back to topAward Amount
Awards are payable in annual installments at the end of each year of qualifying employment. The eligible recipient can choose to receive the award as an income bonus or a payment on a qualifying federal student loan**. Income bonus payments to individuals are considered taxable income and the State of Iowa will issue a 1099-MISC for tax filing purposes. Details regarding the taxability of loan repayment benefits can be found on the IRS website.
| After completing full-time employment | Payout |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | 20% of award |
| Year 2 | 15% of award |
| Year 3 | 15% of award |
| Year 4 | 15% of award |
| Year 5 | 35% of award |
Health care professionals who are working part-time will have a 7-year employment obligation and can receive pro-rated payouts for each of 7 years.
** Only federal Stafford, federal Grad PLUS or federal Consolidation loans are eligible for repayment.
Award Prioritization
If we are unable to award all applicants within an occupation category, new awards will be prioritized as follows:
- Eligible applicants who are in their final year of a program of study, clinical, or residency program that leads to full licensure to practice in the state of Iowa and who will practice on a full-time basis in an eligible practice area.
- Eligible applicants who are fully licensed in the state of Iowa to be a health care provider, who agree to continue or begin full-time practice in an eligible practice area within six months of signing a program agreement.
- Eligible applicants who are in their final year of a program of study, clinical, or residency program that leads to full licensure to practice in the state of Iowa and who will practice on a part-time basis in an eligible practice area.
- Eligible applicants who are fully licensed in the state of Iowa to be a health care provider, who agree to continue or begin part-time practice in an eligible practice area within six months of signing a program agreement.
If needed, applicants in each priority group will be prioritized by the date an application was submitted.
Back to topProgram Agreement
If selected for an award, the recipient will sign a program agreement that includes an employment start date within 6 months of the agreement signature date;
After a recipient signs a program agreement to practice in an eligible practice area, subsequent changes to eligible health care occupations and to eligible practice areas will not impact the recipient’s continued eligibility for the program.
How to Apply
Submit the application on or before March 31, 2026.
Back to topImportant Dates
February 1, 2026: Application opens
March 31, 2026: Application closes
July 2026: All applicants will be notified whether they are selected for an award