PrintNew Registered Nurses still have access to Canada Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Newly registered nurses continue to be able to take advantage of a federal program that forgives a significant portion of student loans for nurses who are prepared to work in rural communities.
An application to the Canada Student Loan Forgiveness Program for nurses, nurse practitioners, family doctors and residents may be made after the applicant has completed working one full year in a designated rural or remote community.
If you are a nurse or nurse practitioner who qualifies, you could receive up to $20,000 in Canada Student Loan forgiveness over a maximum of five years ($4,000 per year).
A designated community is defined by the government as a municipality located outside census metropolitan areas, census agglomerations (geographic units) with an urban core population of 50 000 or above, and provincial capitals.
There are more than 4,200 designated rural and remote communities in Canada with populations below 50,000. Designated locations include communities that provide health services to First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations.
Applicants can verify if their community is designated by using the program’s postal code look-up tool.
The federal government also provides assistance to former students who are having trouble repaying their student loans under a related program.
The Canada Student Loan Forgiveness Program began accepting applicants in April 2013.
