Alaska Supporting Health Care Access Through Loan Repayment
Throughout or page of student loan repayment assistance programs, you will find that many of these programs are offered specifically on a state level and to certain states. We are kicking this one off with Alaska. This page is going to focus on the Alaska Supporting Health Care Access Through Loan Repayment, also know as SHARP for short. The main purpose of the SHARP-I program it to not only help recruit but also to retain selected primary health care professionals. These professionals cover a host of different health-related paths but specifically, have a focus on areas of shortage within the medical space.
Eligibility?
In order to qualify for the SHARP program, you will need to be a qualifying medical professional servicing a shortage area. Read more on what careers qualify here.
How much should be expected through his award?
Within the SHARP program, there are two tiers. I will break down both of them below:
Tier – I (SHARP-I)
The total award amount goes up to $35,000 per year. There is also a higher level which is quite a bit harder to fill but comes in at $47,000 per year.
In order to qualify for this tier, you will need to be in one of the following career fields;
- Pharmacist
- Dentist (DDS or DMD)
- Primary Care Physician (this can include MD or DO) and also includes Psychiatrists
Tier – II (SHARP-II)
The award amount for this tier is $20,000 per year, with a higher tier that is harder to fill which provides assistance in the amount of $27,000 per year.
In order to qualify for this tier, you will need to be in one of the following career fields;
- Nurse Practitioner
- Physician Assistant
- Registered Nurse
- Certified Nurse Midwife
- Psychologist (this includes both Ph.D. or PsyD)
- Clinical Social Worker (this includes LCSW)
- Psychiatric Nurse Specialist (this includes PNS)
- Licensed Professional Counselor (this includes LPC)
- Marriage & Family Therapist (this includes MFT)
- Registered Clinical Dental Hygienist
What Loans Qualify for this program?
The following loans with qualify for this program. If you have another loan and are curious if it may be able to qualify outside of these current loans, please reach out to Robert Sewell who’s contact information is below.
- Stafford Student Loans
- Grad PLUS Student Loans
- Consolidation Loans
- Consolidated Student Loans
- Perkins Student Loans
- Private Student Loans
How to apply?
Applicants who are interested in applying for this program should reach out to the SHARP Inquiry email. You can email him here: (sharp.inquiry@alaska.gov). For further information regarding this program, please head over to the following link or fill out the following form.
Questions?
If you still have questions or would like to know more information please reach out to us here or you can go back to the Student Loan Repayment Assistance Programs page.