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Application Periods, Forms and Process

Application Periods, Forms and Process

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services invites all eligible actively licensed nurses working at nonprofit eligible practice sites, or Schools of Nursing, to apply for the Nurse Loan Repayment Program (NLRP). Nurses' practice sites must be located at a priority location or Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and meet all requirements described under Program Requirements. This section outlines all information about NLRP application periods, forms and the application process up to the submission of the application package. To successfully compete in the application process, nurses and employers should carefully read the NLRP Application Announcement at the beginning of this website, all website sections and instructions for each application form.

Application Periods:

For subsequent application years, the NLRP Application Period Update will announce the dates of the upcoming annual application period. The dates of application periods change each year, so those interested in applying must read the new Update to make sure they know the correct dates for the coming year. Please note that applications will only be reviewed until a sufficient number of complete applications have been reviewed to obligate program funds.

NLRP Application Period Updates will also include program information, including NLRP policy, requirements and procedures necessary to compete successfully for loan repayment agreements. NLRP updates will be emailed to employers on the NLRP Bulletin once they are posted on the NLRP website. Employers who wish to be included on the NLRP Bulletin may email NLRP office staff at MDHHS-NLRP@michigan.gov.

Application Forms:

New application forms will be available on the NLRP website preceding each application period. These forms and the online form must be used to apply. Briefly, nurses must complete the online Nurse Application Part A form, Part B form, and employers must complete the online Practice Site Application and Declaration of Intent form. Loan repayment agreements for successful applicants will begin Oct. 1, following each application period.

Nurse Application, Part A must be completed online by the nurse applicant. The Nurse Application, Part B Form’s first page must be completed by the nurse applicant, who then will send the entirety of the Part B form to their student loan servicer. After receiving the Part B form back from their loan servicer, the nurse applicant will submit all of Part B within the File Transfer Application. 

Nurses and employers should carefully read and follow the instructions for each form.

PLEASE NOTE: All applicants who have previously participated in a state loan repayment program are required to submit Loan Repayment Documentation (LRD) to show they have paid down the loans included on their previous Part B forms by an amount at least equal to the amount received from the program. The amount of LRD must add up to the required amount, or the application will be screened out of the review process. When information provided on Part B forms by loan servicer agencies does not meet their LRD requirements, applicants must provide LRD as outlined under Reapplying to NLRP in the Participant Information and Requirements section of the NLRP website.

The Practice Site and Declaration of Intent Form must be completed and submitted online by the employer (sponsoring agency). It may not be completed by the nurse applicant.

Application process:

The NLRP application is a competitive application. Those serious about submitting a successful application package should take the time to learn about the process.

Early preparation of application forms:

Nurses and employers are urged to begin preparing their application forms well before the start of the application period. This applies especially to Nurse Application Part B forms, which take the longest to complete as it must be sent to the applicant’s loan servicer and be returned.

Completed Part B Forms must be uploaded to the File Transfer Application:

NLRP will utilize the File Transfer Application for the Part B Form for the 2025 application period. NLRP is using this system to keep applicant’s Part B information secure. For the 2025 application period, all NLRP Part B Forms must be uploaded via the File Transfer Application.
Nurses, not their employers, must upload their Part B(s) to the File Transfer Application. Nurses can access this system through the State of Michigan MILogin system using the following link https://milogintp.michigan.gov.

To access the File Transfer Application, nurses must first create an account. Once an account is created, nurses will then need to select the option “Request Access.” Nurses must then enter ‘File Transfer’ in the “Search Application” field. Next under “Michigan Department of
Health & Human Services (MDHHS)” click on the DCH-File Transfer link. The NLRP office will be notified of this request and will grant nurses access to the File Transfer Application. Nurses will then be able to upload their Part B documents.

When uploading documents, nurses must select ‘DHHS-NLRP’ from the “Area” dropdown list. Nurses must properly label each document when uploading material and include their name on each document. For example, for Part B, nurses should label it, “First Name, Last Name-Nurse Application Part B.” Uploading Part B in the file transfer area and submitting online Nurse Application Part A and employers completing online Practice Site and Declaration of Intent will complete the application submission process. All three parts must be submitted for the applicant’s application to be considered complete. Nurses can access the user manual for the File Transfer Application using the hyperlink below. Nurses should only refer to pages 5-14 of the manual. This manual explains each step of the process for creating an account, requesting access, and uploading documentation. Nurses experiencing issues accessing the File Transfer Application should contact the File Transfer Support Team at DCH-File-Transfer-Support@michigan.gov. Please note, nurses should create an account as soon as possible. Nurses are strongly encouraged to have their File Transfer Application accounts set up before the start of the application period. This will allow them to access this system and have everything set for the NLRP Application Period. Nurses should only upload their NLRP Part B Documents during the NLRP Application Period.

Additional Instructions for the File Transfer Application can be found in the User Manual.

Each document must be 100% complete and legible. Nurses must upload their Part B documents to the File Transfer Application. NLRP cannot accept application forms submitted by email, phone, or fax. Application submission dates will determine their place among all documents pending review.
All Part B application forms must be submitted via the File Transfer Application. The following link will direct nurses to the File Transfer Application:
https://milogintp.michigan.gov

Application Forms must be 100 Percent Complete and Legible: Because application forms must meet all requirements described in the current NLRP Application Announcement, the website and instructions for each application form, nurses and employers should read all this information. They should start by reading the following key points for completing each form, along with the most common mistakes.

The NLRP Office will not preview applications for completeness before they are submitted. Key Points for online Nurse Application, Part A:

  • Loan repayment agreements can only be awarded for practice sites included in the original application or requested after Oct. 1.
  • Requests to approve additional practices sites between submitting applications and Oct. 1 following the application period will void applications, requiring nurses to reapply during the following application period. Nurses and employers must wait until Oct. 1 to request approval of additional practice sites.
  • Nurses must include all practice sites at which they expect to complete their NLRP service obligations starting Oct. 1 and make sure their employers list the same sites on their Practice Site Applications.
  • If practice sites at which nurses will complete their service obligations change after their applications are submitted, Nurses or employers may request approval of additional sites starting Oct. 1.
  • Nurse's employment status as of Oct. 1 must be full-time.
  • The number of practice sites, site names, addresses and hours worked at each site must be the same on the Nurse Application, Part A and the Practice Site Application.
  • Eligible debt is not limited to government loans. Private loans from commercial lending institutions, such as banks or credit unions, are eligible. However, private loans from parents, relatives or other individuals are not. Eligible debt includes interest accrued on undergraduate and graduate educational loans.

 

Common Mistakes on Nurse Application, Part A form:

  • Not submitted online.
  • An older version of the form was submitted (Check this website for current application forms.).
  • Missing one or more sections.
  • One or more sections incomplete.
  • Not a U.S. citizen, or citizenship not indicated.
  • The number of hours of employment at practice sites is not indicated, or the total number of hours of employment at all practice sites are less than full-time.
  • The number of practice sites, site names, addresses and/or hours worked at each site on the Nurse Application, Part A are not the same as on the Practice Site Application.
  • Ineligible nurse type.
  • Insufficient eligible debt for minimum loan agreement amount: $20,000 for two-year initial agreements, or $10,000 for final one-year agreement

 

Key Points for Nurse Application, Part B:

Eligible debt is not limited to government loans. Private loans from commercial lending institutions, such as banks or credit unions, are eligible. However, private loans form parents, relatives or other individuals are not. Eligible debt includes interest accrued on undergraduate and graduate educational loans. This form takes the longest to complete, so nurses should get an early start by completing the top section and sending a form to each of their loan servicers as early as possible.

  • Starting early increases the likelihood nurses will receive their Part B forms back in time to complete their application packages and submit them on the first day of the application period.
  • Nurses can save considerable time by emailing the forms to their loan servicers and asking their loan servicers to fax or email them back.
  • Current loan balances entered by loan servicers should include both principal and interest.
  • Parent Direct PLUS Loans should not be included on Part B forms because they are the parents' obligation, and the obligation cannot be transferred to the student.
  • Nurses who have defaulted on federal loans are not eligible for NLRP.
  • Nurses should not instruct loan servicers to send completed Part B forms to the NLRP Office.

 

Common Mistakes on Nurse Application Part B form:

  • An older version of the form was submitted.
  • Not submitted in the File Transfer Area.
  • Insufficient eligible debt for minimum loan agreement amount: $20,000 for two-year initial agreements, or $10,000 for final one-year agreement.
  • The form was not signed and/or dated by the loan servicer.
  • The loan servicer attached an internal document or report to the Part B form but did not complete the form itself.
  • When submitting Part B document, the nurse applicant did not make sure Loan Repayment Documentation was adequate or properly filled out by their Loan Servicer if they have participated in a state loan repayment program previously.

 

Key Points for Practice Site Application:

  • Loan repayment agreements can only be awarded for practice sites included in the original application or requested after October 1.
  • Requests to approve additional practices sites between submitting applications and October 1 following the application period will void applications, requiring nurses to reapply during the following application period. Nurses and employers must wait until October 1 to request approval of additional practice sites.
  • Employers must include all practice sites at which nurses are expected to complete their NLRP service obligations starting October 1 and make sure their nurses list the same sites on their Nurse Application, Part A forms.
  • If practice sites at which nurses will complete their service obligation change after their applications are submitted, employers or nurses may request approval of additional sites starting Oct. 1.
  • Hours of employment starting Oct. 1 must be full-time.
  • The number of practice sites, site names, addresses and hours worked at each site must be the same on the Nurse Application, Part A and the Practice Site Application.

 

Common Mistakes on Practice Site Application Form:

  • Not included in application package.
  • An older version of the form was submitted.
  • Missing one or more sections.
  • One or more sections incomplete.
  • The number of hours of employment at practice sites is not indicated, or the total number of hours of employment at all practice sites is less than full-time.
  • The number of practice sites, site names, addresses and/or hours worked on the Practice Site Application is not the same as on the Nurse Application, Part A.
  • Ineligible practice site type.

 

Loan Repayment Documentation (LRD):

  • Loan Repayment Documentation is only required for nurses applying to NLRP after participating in any state loan repayment program. Those reapplying should see the Participant Information and Requirements section of the website for details in following years.
  • Incomplete LRD is a common reason applications to the program are screened out.
 

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