Apply to the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program

Eligible substance use disorder (SUD) treatment clinicians and community health workers can apply to the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP).

Why should I apply? 

We offer up to $250,000 in educational loan repayment. 

What do you expect from me in return?

If you receive an award, you must work full-time for six years in a STAR LRP-approved facility. 

Am I eligible?

Review our STAR LRP requirements.

You must be: 

1. A United States citizen, national, or permanent resident; 
2. Fully licensed, credentialed in an eligible discipline, a registered SUD professional; and 
3. A full-time employee at a STAR LRP-approved facility. 

What criteria do you use to determine whether I’m at a facility eligible for STAR LRP approval? 

We use our STAR LRP County Overdose Mortality Rate spreadsheet (XLSX - 152 KB) to find out if your facility is in a county that meets the program's criteria (>3228.43 deaths per 100,000).

*Note: The STAR LRP uses the three-year average from the 2018-2020 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) County Overdose Mortality Rate data to determine the rate for facility eligibility. The public-facing CDC data is a five-year average.

Can I apply if my facility is below this year’s Overdose Mortality Rate threshold? 

You should be employed at, or have accepted a position at a STAR LRP–approved facility that is located in:

• Either a county (or a municipality, if not contained within any county) where the mean drug overdose death rate per 100,000 people over the past three years for which official data is available from the state, is higher than the most recent available national average overdose death rate per 100,000 people, as reported by the CDC, OR 
• In a mental health professional shortage area. 

For the Fiscal Year 2023 application cycle, the STAR LRP will use 32.4 as the most recent available national average overdose death rate per 100,000 people, as reported by the CDC. 

You can find your county’s mortality rate using our STAR LRP County Overdose Mortality Rate spreadsheet (XLSX - 152 KB).
 

Is my discipline eligible?

Review our list of eligible disciplines to see if you qualify. You must be working in a full-time SUD job.

How do I apply?

To apply, do these two things:

1. Read the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery LRP (STAR LRP) Application and Program Guidance (APG) (PDF - 506 KB). 
2. Submit your application through the Customer Service Portal.

Verify your employment

• You will be required to verify your employment at a STAR LRP-approved facility to complete your application.
• Review our STAR LRP Frequently Asked Questions page to assist you with this process.

How can I receive funding priority?

We have two tiers for award funding priority. First, you must be an eligible clinician.

Tier 1

You work at a STAR LRP-approved facility. The facility is in a county where the drug overdose death rate for the past three years is higher than the most recent national average. 

Tier 2

You work at STAR LRP-approved facility. That facility is in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area (MHPSA).

Which factors do you use to rank me? 

After funding priority, we will select applicants according to the duration of tenure at the STAR LRP-approved facility. 

Why is the STAR LRP important?

There’s a need for SUD treatment health care workers across the United States. 

The STAR LRP:

• Supports treatment teams
• Complements other SUD loan repayment programs
• Expands the eligible pool of disciplines and treatment facilities

How to connect with us

Call: 1-800-221-9393 | TTY: 1-877-897-9910
M - F | 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET (except federal holidays) 
Use our contact form