Health care employees are eligible for a public service student loan discharge of all their federal student loans. The student loan law uses the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine whether a qualifying occupation is eligible for a public service discharge.
The following is a list of eligible health care employees who are eligible for a public service student loan discharge:
Athletic Trainers;
Attendants;
Anesthesiologists;
Audiologists;
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians;
Chiropractors;
Dentists;
Dental Assistants;
Dental Hygienists;
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers;
Dietetic Technicians;
Dietitians and Nutritionists;
Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics;
Healthcare Support Workers;
Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners;
Health Technologists and Technicians;
Home Health Aides;
Laboratory Animal Caretakers;
Massage Therapists;
Medical Assistants;
Medical Equipment Preparers;
Medical Transcriptionists;
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists;
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians;
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians;
Nuclear Medicine Technologists;
Nursing Aides; Orderlies;
Obstetricians and Gynecologists;
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists;
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians;
Occupational Therapists;
Occupational Therapy Assistants;
Occupational Therapy Aides;
Optometrists;
Orthodontists;
Orthotists and Prosthetists;
Pediatricians;
Pharmacists;
Pharmacy Aides;
Pharmacy Technicians;
Physician Assistants;
Physical Therapists;
Physical Therapist Assistants;
Physical Therapist Aides;
Prosthodontists;
Psychiatrists;
Psychiatric Aides;
Psychiatric Technicians;
Radiation Therapists;
Radiologic Technicians;
Radiologic Technologists;
Recreational Therapists;
Registered Nurses;
Respiratory Therapists;
Respiratory Therapy Technicians;
Speech-Language Pathologists;
Surgeons;
Surgical Technologists;
Veterinarians;
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians;
Veterinary Assistants;
If your occupation is listed above, please understand that there are reporting requirements that you should follow in order to take advantage of the public service discharge program.
For more information, please visit the following website managed by the Office of the U.S. Department of Education:
http://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/charts/public-service
As an undergraduate at Pennsylvania State University, I served as an infantry soldier in the Pennsylvania National Guard and as a cadet in the R.O.T.C. My major in Criminal Justice led me to attend the New England School of Law in Boston. Once there, I honed in on bankruptcy law and was a scholarship recipient for “Securities Regulation.” I followed that with an internship at the Boston Stock Exchange and a clerkship for McGarthy & Ged. During this time, I learned how to help people find financial relief through legal action.
Physical Therapy is considered public health for reasons of public service loan forgiveness then? I have not been able to get a clear answer from many places that i requested that info. Even my loan service provider did not know.
Is there a direct link to where that info is on the Bureau of Labor Statistics site? Thankyou!
The key to remember with the PSLF program is that the employer’s 501(c)3 status is the key to participating
in the program. For instance, a physical therapist working for a private corporation is not eligible to participate in PSLF. However, a physical therapist working for a hospital/charity/goverment entity or any other 501(c)3 employer is eligible to participate in PSLF.
If you need assistance with the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, please contact the office.
The job I was hoping would fall under this plan does not then. It is a job at a hospital that is non-profit but the Physical Therapists technically work for a different company as of a few years ago. The company that the PTs work for is owned by the owners of the hospitals in the area but is for profit. Guess IBR and a huge tax bill in 25 years when what is left on the loans is forgiven is the only realistic option.