Nursing Program: News Release
Oct. 31, 2005
Ministry of Advanced Education
Loan Forgiveness Program to Assist Nurse Practitioners
VICTORIA - B.C.'s student loan forgiveness program has been expanded to
include nurse practitioners who choose to practise in rural and remote
areas of the province, announced Advanced Education Minister Murray
Coell.
Students graduating from accredited schools as nurse practitioners are
now eligible to have their B.C. student loans forgiven over three years
if they agree to work in a publicly funded facility in an area of the
province that is currently underserved.
"Through these incentives, the expanded loan forgiveness program will
bring health-care professionals to regions of the province that are
currently underserved,"
said Coell. "We're developing
post-secondary programs that will assist students and strengthen the health-care system."
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with the education and skills
to provide a broad range of health-care services, such as diagnosing,
prescribing, ordering diagnostic tests and managing common acute
conditions and chronic illnesses. Like all registered nurses, they work
closely with other health-care professionals, including physicians,
pharmacists, other nurses and physical therapists, to keep families and
communities healthy.
"Loan forgiveness is a
great way for us to ensure all British Columbians have access to the
care they need, when and where they need it," said Health Minister
George Abbott.
"This incentive is already available to other health professionals like
doctors and nurses. It makes good sense to extend it to nurse
practitioners, as their specialized skills can make a significant
contribution to communities throughout the province."
The loan forgiveness program was announced in August 2000 for graduates
from accredited schools in nursing (including licensed practical
nursing), and medical, midwifery and pharmacy schools, who began their
programs on or after Aug. 1, 2000. Their B.C. student loan debts will be
reduced by 33 per cent for each of the three years they work in an underserved community.
In
December 2004, the program was expanded to include graduates from
speech language pathology, occupational therapy, audiology and
physiotherapy, who, if working with children in underserved
communities, would be eligible.
For more information on the loan forgiveness program for nurses, please
visit
www.aved.gov.bc.ca/studentservices/student/finish/debt_red/bc_nurse.htm.
About the BC Student Loan Forgiveness Program Expansion
- B.C.'s unique loan forgiveness program is being expanded to include students who graduate as nurse practitioners.
- Graduates are not required to make principal or interest payments
on their B.C. student loans while they are participating in the loan
forgiveness program.
- To be eligible for the B.C. loan forgiveness program, graduates must:
- Be employed (full-time, part time, and/or casual/on call) at a
publicly funded facility in a designated underserved community within
B.C.
- Have started their final year of study on or after Aug. 1, 2000
(for nurses, including licensed practical nurses and nurse
practitioners, doctors, midwives and pharmacists)
- Have an outstanding B.C. student loan in good standing
- Have graduated from an accredited post-secondary institution
- Not be in full-time studies.
Paul Woolley
Communications Director
MInistry of Advanced Education
250 952-6508
250 213-1171 (cell)
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