Primary Care Loan

The Primary Care Loan Program (PCL) is a low cost federal loan program for medical students committed to primary health care practice. The interest rate is five percent (5%) and begins to accrue following a one year grace period after you cease to be a full-time student. When compared to other federal student loans and private loans, the PCL provides significant savings.

The loan also offers deferment of principal and interest not found in other loan programs.

The maximum award for first and second year students is tuition plus $2,500. Amounts beyond this may be awarded to third and fourth year students.

  1. You must be enrolled as a full-time student in a degree program leading to a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy. You must be a United State citizen or eligible non-citizen.
  2. You must provide financial information about your parents. (To assist schools in allocating limited PCL funds, Health and Human Services requires parental financial information from all students to determine financial need without regard to age, race, gender, marital or independent status.
  3. You must demonstrate financial need.
  4. You must not owe a federal grant refund or be in default on any federal loan.
  5. You must maintain good academic standing.
  6. You must register with Selective Service if required by law.

Service Requirement

You must enter a residency training program in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, combined medicine/pediatrics, preventive medicine or osteopathic general practice. You must complete your residency program within four years of graduation. You must practice in primary health care until the loan is paid in full.

Failure to Fulfill Primary Health Care Obligation

At the point you fail to fulfill your service obligation, the original amount of each loan installment made to you will be recomputed at an interest rate of 12 percent from the date of issuance, compounded annually. The total amount remaining due will be payable within three years. If you pay a portion of your loan prior to breach of your service obligation, your penalty will be assessed on the original loan amount and not the balance outstanding.

For additional details, contact the WVSOM Financial Aid Office.