§7693 — Title 38 Veterans' Benefits | U.S. Code

Summary

You can get help repaying certain student loans through the Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program if you will be eligible to be appointed to work in one of the covered medical specialties, you owe any principal or interest on loans used to pay for the education that qualified you for that job, and you are either a recent graduate who matched into an accredited residency in a covered specialty or a physician in training with more than 2 years left in that training. The Secretary can give priority to people training in rural programs, programs run by Indian tribes or the Indian Health Service, programs tied to underserved Department facilities, and to veterans. The program covers tuition, other reasonable school costs (fees, books, equipment, lab costs), and reasonable living expenses.

Title 38, §7693

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)An individual is eligible to participate in the Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program if the individual—

(1)will be eligible for appointment under section 7401 of this title to work in an occupation described in section 7692 of this title;

(2)owes any amount of principal or interest under a loan, the proceeds of which were used by or on behalf of that individual to pay costs relating to a course of education or training which led to a degree that qualified the individual for the position referred to in paragraph (1); and

(3)is—

(A)recently graduated from an accredited medical or osteopathic school and matched to an accredited residency program in a medical specialty described in section 7692 of this title; or

(B)a physician in training in a medical specialty described in section 7692 of this title with more than 2 years remaining in such training.

(b)In selecting individuals for participation in the Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program under this subchapter, the Secretary may give preference to the following:

(1)Individuals who are, or will be, participating in residency programs in health care facilities—

(A)located in rural areas;

(B)operated by Indian tribes, tribal organizations, or the Indian Health Service; or

(C)affiliated with underserved health care facilities of the Department.

(2)Veterans.

(c)For purposes of subsection (a)(2), costs relating to a course of education or training include—

(1)tuition expenses;

(2)all other reasonable educational expenses, including expenses for fees, books, equipment, and laboratory expenses; and

(3)reasonable living expenses.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–251 substituted “will be eligible for appointment” for “is hired”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Preference Pub. L. 115–182, title III, § 303(d), June 6, 2018, 132 Stat. 1467, as amended by Pub. L. 115–251, title II, § 211(b)(6)(A), Sept. 29, 2018, 132 Stat. 3176, provided that: “In granting preference under section 7693 of title 38, United States Code, as enacted by subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall determine whether a facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs is underserved based on the criteria developed under section 401 of this Act [38 U.S.C. 8110 note].”

§7693 Eligibility; preferences; covered costs