Join the Colorado Health Service Corps

 
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Application Basics

The clinicians participating in the Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) work to increase access to health care for Coloradans where the greatest need exists. The CHSC program is seeking more clinicians who have the ability, compassion, and commitment to work with medically underserved populations to join us. The application cycle for CHSC is open every March and September. During those months, your application can be completed here.

The next application round will be open from March 1st through March 31st, 2025.

CHSC Eligibility

You may be eligible to apply for repayment of qualified student loans if you practice in a health professional shortage area, delivering health care services to medically underserved patients. To serve in CHSC, a clinician must see underserved patients at an approved clinical site for the entire service obligation.

Award Amounts

Full-time Obligation

  • $120,000 for physicians and dentists.

  • $90,000 for physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, clinical pharmacists, licensed mental health providers, licensed addiction counselors, dental hygienists and certified addiction counselors.

3/4-time Obligation

  • $90,000 for physicians and dentists.

  • $67,5000 for physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, clinical pharmacists, licensed mental health providers, licensed addiction counselors, dental hygienists and certified addiction counselors.

Part-time Obligation

  • $60,000 for physicians and dentists.

  • $45,000 for physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, clinical pharmacists, licensed mental health providers, licensed addiction counselors, dental hygienists and certified addiction counselors.

Addiction Counselor Scholarship Program

You may be eligible to apply to receive a scholarship for addiction counseling training. The scholarship must be applied to the cost of tuition and fees up to $5,000, however, the award will not exceed the cost of any clinical addiction counseling training program. Visit the Addiction Counselor Scholarship page for more details and eligibility.

Eligible Primary Care Professions

  • Allopathic and Osteopathic Physician (MD or DO)

    • Family Medicine

    • Internal Medicine

    • Psychiatry

    • Child Psychiatry

    • Geriatrics

    • Obstetrics/Gynecology

    • Pediatrics

    • Addiction Medicine or Pain Management

  • Advanced Practice Nurse (APN)

    • Family Nurse Practitioner

    • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

    • Certified Nurse Midwife

    • Gerontology Nurse Practitioner

    • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

    • Substance Use Disorder and Pain Management Specialist

  • Physician Assistant (PA)

    • Family Medicine

    • Internal Medicine

    • Pediatrics

    • Psychiatric

    • Geriatrics

    • Women’s Health

    • Substance Use Disorders

  • Clinical Pharmacist (PharmD)

Dental clinician examining a patient
Medical professional speaking with a young patient

Eligible Oral Health Professions

  • Dentist (DDS or DMD)

    • General Dentistry

    • Pediatric Dentistry

  • Dental Hygienist (RDH)

Colorado landscape

Eligible Behavioral Health Professions

  • Psychologists (Ph.D. or Psy.D)

    • Clinical Psychology

    • Counseling Psychology

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

  • Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)

  • Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC)

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)

Service Obligation Requirements

You must:

  • agree to work for a term of three years at the approved site.

  • work part time, 3/4 time, or full time with a minimum of clinical contact hours.

  • meet the hourly requirements for direct clinical care during the entire service obligation.

Visit the CHSC eligibility page for additional eligibility details.

Approved Sites

There are more than 540 CHSC-certified sites across Colorado. You can find a list here, as well as more information about eligibility for site certification.

  • Approved sites:

    • Are located in a designated health professional shortage area.

    • Provide comprehensive primary medical, oral health, behavioral health, pain management, or substance use disorder treatment services.

    • Accept all patients regardless of ability to pay and offer a sliding fee scale for those at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

    • Accept patients on public insurance (including Medicare, Medicaid, and CHP+) or uninsured patients.

Want to know more?