HPSA Score Requirements Rise in 2026 for NHSC Scholars
The HPSA score requirements for the class of 2026 National Health Service Corps Scholars are on the rise for all discplines, with physician assistants and dentists seeing the most dramatic change.
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program awards scholarships to students pursuing an eligible primary care health profession training or degree program. In exchange for a two to four year service commitment at an approved site, scholars receive payment to cover tution, fees, and other reasonable educational costs, as well as a monthly stipend while in school. Approved sites must meet the HPSA score requirements by class year.
For the 2026 class, the minimum scores for all disciplines saw an increase. Minimum scores for primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and psychiatrists increased two points from 19 to 21, while the score for certified nurse midwives increased three points from 16 to 19. Physician assistants and dentists saw the most significant changes, with the minimum HPSA scores for physician assistants climbing from 5 to 19 and the minimum score for dentists jumping from 3 up to 14.
| Discipline | CY 2026 |
| Primary Care Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) | 21 |
| Nurse Practitioner (NP) | 21 |
| Physician Assistant | 19 |
| Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) | 19 |
| Dentists (DDS & DMD) | 14 |
| Psychiatric (MD & DO) | 21 |
NHSC Scholars can search for eligible employment sites by visiting the Health Workforce Connector, a database of jobs at NHSC sites, or by reaching out to the Pennsylvania Primary Care Career Center, where a staff member will help you find job openings in Pennsylvania that meet your needs both personally and as an NHSC scholar. Contact us today at [email protected].