How It Works

The program makes awards based upon available state appropriations each year to Mental Health practitioners in West Virginia. The award amount will be up to $10,000 (depending on outstanding federal student loan debt) for one year of full-time service or two years of part-time service for eligible mental health professionals. The award may be renewed up to two years (total of three awards) based on availability of funds and continued eligibility for the loan repayment program.

The full amount of the award shall be disbursed to the federal loan servicer upon the receipt of verification of one year of full-time employment or two years of part-time employment in an approved site, beginning from the date of the award agreement. The WV Higher Education Policy Commission shall approve the disbursement of the funds.

To be eligible for the Mental Health Loan Repayment Program, applicants must be able to meet the following criteria:

• Certify the applicant possesses federal student loan debt in an amount equal to or exceeding the proposed award amount
• Be a graduate of an accredited program at an institution of higher education, having obtained a degree preparing them for licensure and is currently licensed as one of the following:
  • Licensed doctoral clinical psychologist
  • Master’s level licensed psychologist
  • Licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW)
  • Licensed certified social worker (LCSW)
  • Licensed graduate social worker (LGSW)
  • Licensed professional counselor (LPC)
  • Licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT)
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Other mental health disciplines identified by the WV Higher Education Policy Commission as experiencing a shortage of practitioners may be included in the future. Please reach out to mhlrp@wvhepc.edu for more information.
• Be employed in an eligible underserved area providing individual and group therapy or counseling for most of their practice. Their employment site MUST meet ONE of the following criteria: 
  • Employer is in a geographic Mental Health HPSA. Counties in the state that currently have a geographic HPSA designation can be found at https://data.hrsa.gov/topics/health-workforce/shortage-areas/hpsa-find
  • Employers have a facility based HPSA designation. Facility-based HPSA designations are given to the following kinds of facilities:
    • Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
    • Rural Health Clinics
    • Correctional facilities
    • State Mental Health Hospitals
    • Free clinics
    • A list of all facilities that have facility based HPSA designations can be found at https://data.hrsa.gov/topics/health-workforce/shortage-areas/hpsa-find.
  • Any site that can provide proof that more than 50% of insurance payers over the past 6 months are on low-income programs like Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, VA Benefits, sliding scale or free services.
• Be a West Virginia Resident
• Be employed full time or part time at an eligible practice site

Visit our Service Obligation page for details and information.

You may be eligible for other scholarship and loan repayment programs. Click HERE to learn more!

Check out our FAQs page or email mhlrp@wvhepc.edu.