North Carolina launches Program to Alleviate Mental Healthcare Workforce Shortage with Up to $50,000 in loan Repayment
RALEIGH, NC – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is launching a new Licensed Workforce Loan Repayment Program aimed at bolstering the state’s mental health, substance use disorder, intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) workforce. The program,opening for applications December 1,2025,will offer up to $50,000 in student loan repayment assistance to qualified professionals in exchange for a three-year service commitment in designated rural or underserved areas of the state.
This initiative arrives as North Carolina, like much of the nation, faces a critical shortage of behavioral health providers. Recent data from the American Psychological Association indicates a growing mental health crisis, with over one-third of young adults aged 18-29 reporting their mental health as “onyl fair/poor,” a figure mirrored by one in four adults aged 30-49. Together, a separate APA survey revealed that a majority of psychologists are currently unable to accept new patients, exacerbating access challenges. The NCDHHS program seeks to address both issues by incentivizing professionals to practice in areas were their services are most needed and encouraging retention within the public sector.
The program specifically targets licensed,non-physician mental health professionals,including Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW),Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (LCMHC),Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialists (LCAS),Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT),and licensed Psychologists and Psychology Associates. To qualify, applicants must hold a valid and current North Carolina license, commit to working at least 32 hours per week, and be employed by an approved agency serving a patient population that is at least 40% Medicaid, uninsured, or underinsured.
the NCDHHS emphasizes that the Loan Repayment Program is designed not only to attract qualified professionals but also to retain them, ensuring continued access to vital services in communities facing the greatest need. Further details and the request portal will be available beginning December 1,2025,at the NCDHHS website: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/mental-health-developmental-disabilities-and-substance-use-services/strengthening-north-carolinas-mental-health-substance-use-idd-and-tbi-workforce/licensed-workforce-loan-repayment-program.
