The Program was established by Act 787 of 2001 to increase the number of primary care nurse practitioners practicing in rural Arkansas communities, nurse educators teaching in Arkansas nursing schools, and advanced practice nurses working in the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). Students who receive graduate nursing loans during graduate school may have these loans converted to scholarship grants according to the terms of the loan. Nurse practitioner students can fulfill the payback terms by practicing full time as a primary care nurse practitioner in a rural community in Arkansas (defined below) or by working at the ADH. Nurse educator students can fulfill the payback terms by teaching full time in an Arkansas nursing school.

The Nurse Practitioner applicant must be enrolled full time each semester of funding (9 credit hours or 18 contact hours/week) to receive the full amount of funding. Nurse Practitioner Students enrolled in less than 9 credit hours or less than 18 contact hours/week are not eligible for funding. 

The Master’s Education Specialty applicant must be enrolled full time each semester of funding (9 credit hours or more) to receive the full amount of funding. If enrolled for at least 6 or more credit hours per semester, the Master’s Education applicant qualifies for half funding.