JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, you must:

  • be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
  • be an Illinois resident
  • have an outstanding balance due on an eligible educational loan (includes Stafford loans, Graduate PLUS loans, consolidation loans, Supplemental Loans for Students, alternative loans and other types of government and institutional loans used for education expenses)
  • be a qualifying behavioral health professional who meets licensing requirements of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or holds certification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor from the Illinois Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association
    • psychiatrist
    • advanced practice registered nurse
    • physician assistant
    • psychologist who holds a doctoral degree (Psy.D or Ph.D.)
    • licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)
    • licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC)
    • CADC-certified substance use professional
  • have worked for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to applying for this program as a behavioral health professional in a community mental health center in an underserved or rural health professional shortage area (HPSA) mental health discipline
  • for each year the assistance is received, fulfill a separate 12 month period as a behavioral health professional in a community mental health center in an underserved or rural HPSA mental health discipline and
  • not be in default on any federal guaranteed educational loan nor owe a refund on a grant or scholarship program administered by ISAC.