FAQs
VA Scholarships
How do I get help?
To better assist you with your specific questions we have created email groups to better target your questions. Therefore, please send you specific questions to the email group that best reflects your question.
HPSPApplications@VA.GOV – Questions regarding the application process.
HPSPFinance@VA.GOV – Questions regarding stipend payments, or anything finance related.
HPSPPlacements@VA.GOV – Questions regarding placement.
HPSPTeam@VA.GOV – General inquiries about HPSP.
How do I submit an application for this scholarship?
The VA utilizes an Application Management System (AMS) to facilitate the submission and review of each application package. Click “Apply Here” at the top of this page and you will be directed to set up your account and begin the application process.
What documents are required to be submitted for the scholarships?
These are the required items to be submitted for the Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP) and Visual Impairment and Orientation and Mobility Professional Scholarship Program (VIOMPSP).
- Application
- Academic Verification
- Recommendations
- Resume
- Transcripts
- Declaration for Federal Employment
- SF50 (for current or former VA employees)
- DD214 (for current or former military service members)
It is the student applicant’s responsibility to ensure all required documentation is submitted. Failure to submit all required documentation will result in the application not being considered.
How will applications be evaluated?
After application packages are received (including all required documents) the packages are reviewed to ensure requirements are met.
Applications are evaluated for the scholarship programs based upon how well the student applicant meets the scholarship qualifications.
Veterans will be considered first among all equally qualified student applicants.
When will my scholarship start?
The scholarship starts the first day of the next semester following the contract being signed by the VA Under Secretary of Health (USH) designee.
Can I change the start date on my tentative offer?
Your current start date was selected based off several factors including information received from school, and estimated time needed to complete onboarding. We will not change the start date at this time. However, if you complete the onboarding and THE CONTRACT IS SIGNED by the VA Under Secretary of Health (USH) designee we can consider updating the date after that is complete. The award does not cover any expenses prior to the contract being signed.
Do I have to claim my stipends on my taxes?
No, stipends are “Tax Free”
HPSP
How much is the stipend, and annual education expense payment for both full-time and part-time?
The monthly stipend is disbursed as long as you are in school at least one day during the month and not a full-time VA employee. The annual book stipend is equal to the monthly stipend and that amount can be found on the About HPSP page as this amount changes each year with cost of living increase
When will my stipend start?
Monthly stipends are automatically processed by a third party, VA Fiscal Office. This automated process is scheduled to occur during the initial 5 business days of the month. There are occasions that holidays or weekends can delay the payment. Due to the amount of students in the program (over 1000) we can not inquire about delayed payments until the 15th of the month. If you have not received payment by the 15th please email HPSPTeam@VA.Gov for assistance.
What is the deadline to apply for the HPSP scholarship?
The VA receives applications year around for the Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP) and Visual Impairment and Orientation and Mobility Professionals Scholarship Program (VIOMPSP). Any application cutoff deadlines will be displayed on the “Alert” banner located on the About HPSP and About VIOMPSP pages.
If I submit my application today and get the scholarship, how long would it take for the funds to be sent to my school?
There are many additional steps to the scholarship process after award of the scholarship, and some of those steps are dependent of you completing them such as completing a security background, finalizing agreements, and getting setup to receive payments. This process could take between 60-120 days.
If it will take about a month or so for the funds to be sent to my school, should I apply for a loan to avoid the late fee? Would the HPSP cover my loan or would the HPSP only cover my spring semester?
HPSP is not retroactive.
Would it be possible to apply for the scholarship now before having a GPA registered?
I am highly interested in learning more about the Veteran Affair Scholarships available. In the Fall, I am attending Florida Southern College School of Physical Therapy?
PT is not one of our offerings this year.
While I am a nurse in residency am I considered an employee?
No, while in residency both nurses in a Post Baccalaureate Registered Nurse Residency (PBRBR) and physician assistants residency are considered “Trainees” and not employees. The trainee will have access to some benefits and their salary is taxable. This does not apply to nurses in the Registered Nurse Transition to Practice (RNTTP) program. As a RNTTP participant, you are considered an “Employee” with all the benefits available to other employees.
Is there a specific PA Program I need to get accepted to be eligible for this scholarship?
How soon after graduation are scholarship recipients required to start working at a VA site? How many years is the commitment for Psychologists?
Year for year with a maximum of 4 years. You will have a job offer within 90 days.
How does job placement work? I completely understand that the scholarship exists to improve recruitment for difficult to fill positions but does the VA decide where you are placed? Or do recipients have some say in location? Also, are these positions full-salary positions or considered volunteer positions without pay?
We work with you at the time of placement, but HPSP exists to fill the hardest to recruit and retain locations across the US. The locations are constantly changing. Being mobile at graduation is a key component of accepting the scholarship if accepted.
I am attempting to apply for the VA scholarship, but how do I turn in my resume, Academic Verification Form, Evaluation & Recommendation Forms, Academic Transcript, and Declaration for Federal Employment?
A question I have regarding the service obligation is whether or not recipients have a choice in VA placement. For instance, would a recipient be offered several service location choices, or have to accept the only placement available regardless of location?
While we work with you, VA HPSP exists to improve access to healthcare for veterans in the hardest to recruit and retain location across the US. Depending on your specialty at the time of residency completion will determine the number of options.
I just recently applied to the scholarship program. Today I received an email saying I was not picked. I was wondering if someone could tell me why I was not picked and when can I apply again?
A selection committee of three evaluated your application in many distinct areas: Recommendations, Cumulative GPA, Awards, Professional Activities, Organizational Memberships, Responses to Essay Questions, Veteran Status, Graduation Date, University/College, and Total Required Funding. All these items are rolled into a scoring matrix and then you were Not Selected.
First, how much of a say do HPSP recipients have in where they work during the repayment period? I have family in this area and would prefer to find a position at a hospital nearby. Is there a list of VA hospitals that we would apply to or would we be assigned a hospital through some sort of placement system?
We work with you when it is time for placement but ultimately the needs of the VA will be first. HPSP exist to fill the hardest to recruit and retain locations across the US. This requirement may or may not align with your desires, but we will work with you within these confines. We support Fellowship attendance and will defer service obligation start till Fellowship is complete. Other loans you obtain on the outside are up to you. Just be advised that loans taken that directly have to be applied to tuition will lower the amount we can actually pay as HPSP is a top off type of scholarship.
I see in the requirements a mandatory recommendation from an academic or faculty reference. However, I have been out of an academic environment for a long time (nearly 10 and 15 years since my first graduate experience and undergrad, respectively). As such, I'm wondering if it would be acceptable to submit two recommendations of the types 'Employer (non-VA) Reference' and/or ''Other Reference'?
You can do that but the selection committee is expecting to see a recommendation from someone in academia. It may cost you some points in the overall scoring. and I would encourage you to seek out an Academic Reference from anyone you may know who works in the world of academia. Doesn’t have to be someone who trained/educated you. The reference score could have up to a 5 point deduction out of 100 points.
As a clinical psychology student, how many years of education does this scholarship cover?
At this time the scholarship covers three (3) academic years leading to a doctorate degree in clinical psychology. Currently, the internship year is NOT covered by the HPSP/Vet Center scholarships.
VIOMPSP
How can I submit and apply for the VIOMPSP program?
What is required to submit for a scholarship program?
These are the required items to be submitted for the Visual Impairment and Orientation & Mobility Professionals Scholarship Program (VIOMPSP):
- Application
- Academic Verification
- Recommendations
- Resume
- Transcripts
- Declaration for Federal Employment
- SF50 (for current or former VA employees)
- DD214 (for current or former military service members)
It is the student applicant’s responsibility to ensure all required documentation is submitted. Failure to submit all required documentation will result in the application not being considered.
How are applications be evaluated?
After application packages are received (including all required documents) the packages are reviewed to ensure requirements are met.
Applications are evaluated for the scholarship programs based upon how well the student applicant meets the scholarship qualifications.
Veterans will be considered first among all equally qualified student applicants.
VA-STEP
Are VA-STEP students paid?
Yes. VA-STEP students are paid as hourly, intermittent employees. VA-STEP students are not eligible for overtime pay, holiday pay, or shift differentials. The rate of pay changes each year.
Can VA-STEP students choose the unit where they work?
No. VA-STEP students may express a preference for a unit, but they will be placed according to preceptor availability and unit needs. VA-STEP students may rotate to other units for observational experiences.
I am in an accelerated BSN program. Can I apply for the VA-STEP program?
Students in an accelerated BSN program can apply for the VA-STEP program IF they meet the program requirements and are available to work full time from June – August of the program start year.
How can I make my application competitive?
First, assure you have submitted all the required materials. Seek recommendations from faculty or instructors who will give positive feedback about your performance in nursing school. Assure your resume reflects not only your clinical and health care experience, but also other paid employment, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities.
SELRP
How can I submit and apply for the SELRP program?
Am I eligible for SELRP in my final year of residency?
No, to qualify for SELRP you must have 2 training years remaining. If you are in your next to last year of training, we will count that as one year, and final year will count as your second year. However, should you become a Chief Resident or attend a Fellowship we may consider those training years as well.
If I graduated from a medical school outside of the U.S. am I eligible for SELRP?
Yes, However, you must have an Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate.
My residency is 4 years long. How much money can I receive?
Under SELRP a physician can receive $40,000 for each remaining PGY training year. If the residency is 4 years in length and the applicant is a PGY-1 they can receive $40,000 for their PGY-1, PGY-2, PGY-3, and PGY-4 for a total of $160,000. If the resident has already transitioned into their PGY-2 year they are now only eligible for $120,000 (PGY-2, PGY-3, and PGY4)
Do I have to claim the SELRP funds on my taxes?
Can I use the funds for current living expenses?
No, SELRP funds are a “Loan Repayment” and must be used to pay down medical school debt.
Do I have any input where I will be placed for my service obligation?
Yes, we use 3 factors to determine placement:
- VA needs
- Your specialty
- Your needs.
Because the need for physicians is everywhere, we will ask where you would like to go. We then reach out to that location to see if there is a need in your specialty. If there is – that is where you go. If not, we look elsewhere in accordance with your mobility agreement.
I’m in a residency not listed on the “About SELRP” page. Am I still qualified for SELRP?
How long does it take to complete an application?
How soon after I submit an application will I know if I was accepted for SELRP?
How soon after I accept the final offer will I receive funds?
After the final offer is signed by the Under Secretary of Health (USH) designee and you are officially in SELRP. Your final agreement is sent to finance to initiate the payment process. This could take 45-60 days to process as your account may still be in the vendorization process.
VET CENTER
When can I apply to the Vet Center scholarship?
You can apply at anytime as this application portal is open 365 days a year.
I'm applying for the Vet Center scholarship. Why do all the links refer to HPSP?
The Vet Center scholarship is managed by the VA’s Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP). The Vet Center/HPSP scholarship processes are identical except for the following items: Placement location (Vet Center vs VA hospital/clinic), and service obligation period. Therefore, the HPSP information will apply to the Vet Center scholarship unless otherwise indicated.
What is the service obligation for the Vet Center scholarship?
Six (6) years at a Vet Center location.
How does the placement process work for the Vet Center scholarship?
Placement will be decided when the participant is within six (6) months of graduation. At that time, participants will be provided a list of critical hard to fill vacancies. The participants will prioritize their desires and that information along with the needs of the VA will dictate the placement location.
As a clinical psychology student, how many years of education does this scholarship cover?
At this time the scholarship covers three (3) academic years leading to a doctorate degree in clinical psychology. Currently, the internship year is NOT covered by the HPSP/Vet Center scholarships.