The short answer
New York has 2 loan repayment programs a dentist can apply to, and 1 is open as of September 26, 2026. Federal programs (NHSC, IHS and the military) also work here.
Apply now: Primary Care Service Corps (PCSC) Loan Repayment Program - Round 8
- Primary Care Service Corps (PCSC) Loan Repayment Program - Round 8: Issued August 27, 2026; questions due September 14, 2026; applications due October 27, 2026 4:00 PM (Addendum #1 dated September 2, 2026).
New York programs for dentists
Each program below is described from its official page. Terms change every cycle, so confirm the numbers and deadline there before you apply.
Primary Care Service Corps (PCSC) Loan Repayment Program - Round 8 (SOI #20820)
New York State Department of Health, Office of Health Care Workforce Innovation
- Dentists
- Eligible · hygienists eligible too
- What it pays
- Up to $72,000 for full-time dentists; up to $36,000 for registered dental hygienists and for dentists practicing half-time (SOI Award Limits: $36,000 unless NP/PA/midwife or 'a full time dentist, in which case the award limit is $72,000 for a three-year contract'); not to exceed the individual's qualifying educational debt. Total SOI funding up to $504,990.
- Commitment
- Three-year commitment (contract term July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2029). Full-time dentist: minimum 40 hrs/week (at least 32 direct patient care), 45 weeks/yr. Half-time classification for dentists/hygienists: at least 20 hrs/week (not to exceed 39), 45 weeks/yr.
- Where you can work
- Must practice at an Active NHSC Approved Site with a HPSA score of 1 or more for the clinician's discipline (dental HPSA for dentists) on the date of award; primary care/outpatient setting. Clinician must have begun employment at the intended worksite on or before July 1, 2026 (Addendum #1).
- Applying
- Issued August 27, 2026; questions due September 14, 2026; applications due October 27, 2026 4:00 PM (Addendum #1 dated September 2, 2026).
- Taxes
- Round 8 SOI Attachment 10 (Tax Issues): PCSC funds 'may be currently exempt from federal and state taxes'; recipients 'should not be issued a 1099 statement'; cites ACA Sec. 10908 / IRC 108(f)(4).
- Specialists
- Only dentists who will provide general or pediatric dentistry are eligible; 'Any time spent providing other services, such as endodontic, periodontics or orthodontic care, is ineligible for loan repayment funds.' Hygienists must provide general or pediatric dental hygiene services.
Official sources: health.ny.gov (Revised: August 2026), health.ny.gov (Date of Issue: August 27, 2026; Addendum), health.ny.gov (Date of Issue: March 20, 2025 (Round 7; ). Checked Sep 26, 2026.
Health Care Access Loan Repayment (HEALR) Program
New York State Department of Health (1115 Medicaid Waiver workforce initiative)
- Dentists
- Eligible
- What it pays
- Dentists (DMD, DDS): Up to $100,000 per awardee; final awards based on total eligible outstanding student loan debt.
- Commitment
- Four years full-time (minimum 35 hours/week; may combine part-time positions at multiple eligible organizations to total 35).
- Where you can work
- NYS Medicaid-enrolled provider/organization/practice where at least 30% of patient panel are Medicaid members and/or uninsured, OR contracted with a state-designated Social Care Network providing HRSN services. Personal practice panel meeting 30% also qualifies.
- Applying
- Individual application portal open until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, 2026 (employer portion until March 31, 2026). Contracts estimated late summer 2026.
- Taxes
- 'may be currently exempt from federal and state taxes'; should not be issued a 1099 by NYSDOH; cites ACA Sec. 10908 amending IRC 108(f)(4).
Official source: health.ny.gov (Revised: September 2026). Checked Sep 26, 2026.
HRSA's SLRP contact link for NY points to Doctors Across New York (DANY), which is physician-only (Physician Loan Repayment/Practice Support; Cycle XI closed, Cycle XII forthcoming; 3-year obligation, max $120,000) - not dentist-eligible, so not recorded. A NY dentist loan repayment bill (S5339/A2339, up to $1.2M/yr for FY2025-2028) appeared in search results but no enacted program page was found; not recorded.
Federal programs that also work in New York
- NHSC Loan Repayment Program: up to $50,000 for two years full time at an approved site, tax-free. Funded only through Dec. 31, 2026 under current law.
- Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program: up to $50,000 for two years at IHS, tribal and urban Indian sites.
- Military scholarships and loan repayment.
How these fit with your other loan choices
- PSLF: if the site is a nonprofit or government employer, the same years can count toward PSLF. If you’re sure to reach PSLF, a repayment award mostly shrinks what PSLF would have forgiven.
- RAP: award payments lower your balance, not your RAP payment, which is based on income. Estimate your RAP payment.
- Refinancing: most programs repay federal and private qualifying education loans; check whether yours counts before you refinance.
What to do next
- Check whether your job, or the one you’re considering, is at an eligible site (most programs require a shortage area, and many require a nonprofit or public employer).
- Read the official page for each program above and note the next deadline.
- Compare the award with what staying on RAP or PSLF, or refinancing, would cost you: run your numbers.
Program details come from each program’s official page, checked September 26, 2026. We don’t earn anything from loan repayment programs. General education, not advice. Found an error? Tell us.