National Health Service Corps (NHSC) - About Sites

NHSC Site Application Cycle

 

The 2026 New Site Application Cycle is open through May 19, 11:59 p.m. ET.    

Photo promoting NHSC to sites with picture of woman health care worker

Facilities can visit the Health Resources & Services Administration website to learn about program requirements, access the site reference guide, and see the NHSC Site Agreement.  

Eligible Sites 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Certified Rural Health Clinics
  • Provider-Based
  • Independent
Community Outpatient Facilities
  • Hospital-Affiliated
  • Non-Hospital-Affiliated
State Prisons
  • Must be medium or maximum security.
  • Must have at least 250 inmates
  • The ratio of the number of internees per year to the number of FTE primary care physicians serving the institution must be at least 100:1
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Facilities
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - Certified Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs)
  • Office-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) Facilities
  • Non-Opioid Outpatient SUD Treatment Facilities
Other Eligible Site Types
  • Critical Access Hospitals (CAH)
  • Rural Emergency Hospitals (REH)
  • Free Clinics
  • Mobile Units
  • Private Practice (Solo or Group)
  • School-Based Clinics
  • State or Local Health Departments

Auto Approved Sites 

American Indian Health Facilities
  • Indian Health Service American Indian/Alaskan Native Health Facilities
  • Tribal/638 health facility
  • Dual-Funded (Tribal Health Clinic and Federally Qualified Health Centers-Funded)
  • Urban Indian Health Program
  • IHS hospitals
Federal Prisons
  • Must be medium or maximum security
  • Must have at least 250 inmates
  • The ratio of the number of internees per year to the number of FTW Primary Care Physicians serving the institution must be at least 100:1
Federally Qualified Health Centers
  • Community health center
  • Migrant health
  • Homeless program
  • Public housing program
  • School-Based program
  • Mobile clinic

 

Documents

Each document has been prepared in accordance with the site reference guidelines.

These documents have been developed or reviewed by the Washington State PCO to assist healthcare facilities in their application process. You are welcome to use the fillable PDFs as needed, but please remove the highlighted disclaimer at the bottom and/or top of each page once prepared for your organization. 

Fillable PDFs

Sliding Fee Schedule 

  • A Site Reference Guide compliant, fillable PDF, Sliding Fee Schedule for your use as needed. 

 

Sliding Fee Program Patient Application 

  • A Site Reference Guide compliant, fillable PDF, Sliding Fee Program Patient Application for your use as needed. 

 

Sliding Fee Policies and Procedures  

  • A Site Reference Guide compliant, fillable PDF, Sliding Fee Policies and Procedures for your use as needed. 

 

Public Notice Signage 

  • A Site Reference Guide compliant fillable PDF Public Notice Signage for your use as needed. 

 

MOUD Attestation 

  • A Site Reference Guide compliant fillable PDF MOUD Attestation for your use as needed. 

 

Proof of Access to Ancillary, Inpatient, and Specialty Services (for non-behavioral health sites)

  • HRSA offers a fillable template for non-behavioral health sites to certify their site operates as part of a comprehensive system of care that ensures care coordination and continuity. 

 

Workforce Recruitment and Retention Plan 

  • HRSA provides a sample Recruitment and Retention plan that sites can use as a template. 

 

Behavioral Health Documentation Tips

Documentation of On-site Behavioral Health Services

  • This document contains examples of documentation that can be used to show core and non-core, on-site Behavioral Health services.

 

Documentation of Off-site Behavioral Health Services

  • Sites enter the names, addresses, and services provided for each entity they partner with to provide non-core Behavioral Health services to their clients. This document shows an example of how sites can enter this information on their application. 

 

Examples

Sliding Fee Schedule 

  • An example of how our Sliding Fee Schedule fillable PDF/Word template can be used. 

 

Sliding Fee Program Patient Application 

  • An example of how our Sliding Fee Program Patient Application fillable PDF/Word template can be used. 

 

Sliding Fee Policies and Procedures 

  • An example of how our Sliding Fee Policies and Procedures fillable PDF/Word template can be used. 

 

Public Notice Signage

  • A close-up and public view photo of your Public Notice Signage must be submitted within your application. This document contains an example of each photo that would be considered compliant. 

 

Non-Discrimination Signage 

  • An example of how our Non-Discrimination Signage fillable PDF/Word template can be used. 

 

MOUD Attestation 

  • An example of how our MOUD Attestation fillable PDF/Word template can be used. 

 

Helpful Links

National Health Service Corps | NHSC (hrsa.gov)

NHSC Program Fact Sheets | NHSC (hrsa.gov)

Become an NHSC Site | NHSC (hrsa.gov)

BHW Program Portal User Guide for Site POCs (hrsa.gov) (PDF)

National Health Service Corps Site Reference Guide (hrsa.gov) (PDF)

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

When does the recertification application cycle open?

HRSA postponed the 2025 recertification cycle and extended the eligibility for all non-auto-approved NHSC sites by one additional year as long as they maintain all NHSC site requirements. Sites can log into the HRSA BHW Portal to view their adjusted expiration date. 

The NHSC site recertification application cycle is anticipated to resume in 2026. Typically, the recertification cycle is open in Fall. 

Who is the recertification application cycle for?

Your site would recertify during the recertification cycle if your site is coming up on the three-year application approval end date. You can check your site approval end date by logging into HRSA BHW Portal. Auto-approved site types do not need to recertify because their NHSC site approval does not expire. Feel free to reach out at pco@doh.wa.gov with questions. 

How long is the application cycle?

During a typical cycle, sites have four to six weeks to submit their site application. 

How should my site prepare for the application?
How will I know if my site has been approved?

NHSC will notify you through the BHW portal. Once approved, NHSC will also provide your site with information on posting open job positions on the Health Workforce Connector. 

Will my site approval expire?

Once approved by NHSC, non-auto-approved sites are eligible for four years. Auto-approved sites do not expire as long as eligibility is maintained. All sites must remain in a HPSA and maintain program compliance to continue to meet NHSC eligibility requirements. 

HRSA postponed the 2025 site recertification cycle and extended the eligibility of all non-auto-approved sites by one year.  This extension was made in December 2025 and sites can log into the HRSA BHW Portal to view their adjusted expiration date. 

Why isn't my facility listed as a NHSC site?
  • Your site may not be located in a Health Professional Shortage Area. 
  • Your site does not meet all of the NHSC requirements. 
  • Your site may not have submitted an NHSC site application. 
  • The site approval expired and has not been recertified.