The NCSP Application Process
Please double check and read the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program Application program guidance in its entirety before proceeding with an online application. With all the information that has been provided on the consequences of breaking your contract – make sure you have considered all your options before proceeding. You will have an obligation of serving 2 years at a critical shortage facility and there will be consequences of failing to perform that obligation and responsibility. Make it a point of keeping the copy of your application for all your records – this should include any correspondence through email, text or any other type of social media that’s involved.
Nurse Corps Scholarship Program Application Deadline for 2016 Your application must be submitted by 5:00pm EST on May 2016 and all supporting documents that are needed must be uploaded by May 2016; this helps in expediting the review process.
What does a Nurse Corps Scholarship Program include:
- A completed NCSP application program
- A completed process of uploading or faxing all supporting documentation
- Upload or fax of the official letterhead front the entity on which the applicants existing service obligation is owed and that the NCSP commitment will be served first.
You will also need the following supporting Documents.
Completed authorization to release the following information:
- Proof of US citizenship, US national or lawful Permanent Resident (which includes copy of birth certificate, certificate of citizenship, Passport or naturalization certificate)
- A completed verification of acceptance or a good standing report
- Copy of student aid report
- Completed academic recommendation letter from previous education establishment
- Completed Non Academic related recommendation Letter
- A fully completed Essay questions and a copy of your unofficial transcript
For a smoother application process, nursing scholarship applicants are advised to scan and upload all supporting documents instead of faxing them so as to expedite the process. Try to do only one process so as not to delay your processing of your Nurse Corps Scholarship Program application. It is your responsibility as a student/ participant to submit a completed application package that will be reviewed to determine the completeness of everything that’s needed and as specified. Of course its imperative that your information on your application matches the documents provided. Inaccurate information hurts your scholarship ranking and can lead to you not being considered for funding.
Changes in Nurse Corps Scholarship Program (NCSP) payments
What situations may cause a change in NCSP payments or stipend payments?
Change in Enrollment Status i.e Going from full-time to Part-time. Should your enrollment status change – there might be a reduction or discontinuation of benefits awarded to NCSP participants. Students should be prudent in constantly letting the program about their current status to avoid any confusion. If your situation has already changed – a letter from the school verifying the status change is required. Situations in which changes in scholarships payments may occur:
- If the participant has repeated course work – as mentioned before the NCSP doesn’t pay for repeated course work. The Nursing scholarship program will continue paying for stipends and any other non related course work as far as the requirements are met.
- A change in your graduation date can trigger a change in your scholarship payments. Try your best to have real-time communication with the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program representatives to prevent any miscommunication or misunderstandings.
- Should there be a leave of absence which has been approved for the school – payments will be discontinued.
- If you withdraw or are dismissed from school for whatever reason, all payments will be discontinued.
- In the occasion that student status changes. i.e You change from a full-time student to a part time student. Exceptions can be made if the participants is in their last year of school and you may receive scholarship support. The student’s responsibility is to make sure that they have good academic standing and the graduation date doesn’t change.
- Voluntary withdrawal or change or transfer to another program can cause a change in scholarship payments.
What happens should I change my school or nursing programs?
It’s important to understand that the initial scholarship is based on the cost of the initial school. Changes in school must be approved by the nursing scholarship program to ensure that you are continually eligible for funding and this is only in expeptional circumstances. Should a transfer be approved – remember that the NCSP will not cover any increase for the new institution. You the student will be responsible for the difference.
What happens if you have delinquent Federal and State Debt?
The US Treasury Department is authorized to offset a students payments if you are delinquent on federal debt. They are also authorized if you have delinquent child support payments.
What happens if i am overpaid by the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program
Cases in which the NCSP program Overpays:
- Approved Leave of Absence
- Repeating course work
Students/ participants in this case are considered ineligible for payments received from the NCSP. Any over-payments should follow with a immediate contact of the NCSP to avoid interest accrual and any debt collection that may follow. This will involve sending over-payments to a:
- debt collection agency
- sending over-payments to debt collection agencies
- Garnishing federal or state payments i.e tax refunds
- Wage garnishment
- Referral to the Department of Justice for enforced collection
- Administrative offset may be instituted to make up for the difference which basically means that the payments are carried forward. If you have a month due the NCSP program doesn’t pay because you already have the money involved.
How do I resume my federal nursing program benefits?
Depending your situation – you must submit documentation confirming that you are now eligible to receive scholarship support:
- Returned from leave of absence
- Not repeating coursework
- Resumed full-time student status
All these requests must be sent to the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program. All consideration is on a case by case basis and in the instance of over-payments; resumption of benefits is subject to administrative offset.
What if I am a Veteran?
Educational benefits that come from the Department of Veteran Affairs generally continue with nursing scholarships award funds because those benefits(veteran) were earned before during active duty in uniformed service although benefits may be reduced under the post 9/11 G.I bill. Call 1-800-221-9393 for clarification or concerns.
Breakdown of what the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program tuition Fees and stipends covers
Now, here’s a breakdown of what the federal nursing scholarships program covers.
What does the NCSP cover? Tuition and Required fees for the program The tuition is directly paid to the school after the nursing school has sent an invoice. So its not a question of first you have to be in the nursing program, applied and been accepted and this is your last and final step. There’s a stipulation that any fees included in that are part of other reasonable costs will be paid directly to the student in question. What does Other reasonable costs include?
- Books
- Clinical supplies
- Instruments for use i.e stethoscope
- Uniforms for use in the nursing program
If you are a student who plans on attending less than a full year for example – if you are graduating in December or maybe a part time student – your payments will be reduced.
Summer sessions
There’s a stipulation by the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program that they will only pay tuition fees for required coursework when an academic term goes into summer for all students in the particular program or summer school is in session during the participants contract period. Try your best to make sure you don’t have to repeat courses since the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program doesn’t pay tuition for repeated coursework, if they have already made a payment. This occurs in 2 instances:
- If the repeated coursework will not delay the graduation date or
- Make the student drop below full time student status.
Should there be an increase in tuition or required fees that are reported by the school after an award has been made isn’t guaranteed and will be subject to availability of funds in the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program. Its good to be very diligent with your money and with the constant change of nursing programs and general demand for the particular industry, put yourself in a position where you can pay for any sudden increases in costs. There’s a stipulation that the NCSP program only makes one payment to one nursing program even if you are enrolled in more than one school – hint: make sure its the one with the greater invoice. The NCSP program only pays for courses required for the graduation of your nursing program, so if you decide to indulge in things like computer programming classes or art classes; you might have to pay those yourself. Its sincerely not a bad idea paying for your classes and taking on the extra work if it makes you marketable. Even though joining student associations is commendable – the NCSP program doesn’t pay for that. Nursing students are responsible for things such as:
- Loan Processing Fees
- Penalty and Late Fees
- Student association or any other related fees
Before you do anything drastic such as getting a transfer to another nursing program, make sure you get approval from the NCSP in advance to ensure you have continued eligibility for funding in the program. The NCSP bases its scholarships award on the cost of attendance at the initial school of record for all the school year contracts. Should there be an approved transfer – the NCSP will not cover an increase in tuition fees that will be the participants to cover.
What Does the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program stipend cover?
During the 2015 and 2016 year the NCSP will pay each full time student $1289.00 monthly which of course is taxed – part time students get a reduced (proportionately) amount. If a student is repeating coursework that has already been paid, the stipend amount may be stopped. Getting stipends doesn’t mean you are a federal employee – you are just getting assistance with your nursing program. The month the nursing course work is over or once the contract is over the payments stop .
Do I Owe Taxes on Nurse Corps Scholarship Program payments?
You, the nursing student, are responsible for any Federal, State or local income taxes which aren’t withheld once the payment is made. Each year, students will receive 1099 forms for paid tuition and fees and a W2 wage and tax statement form. If comfortable, you should specify on the W4 and the NCSP will withhold federal income taxes based on the information provided.
What to do with Nurse Corps Scholarship Program awards if you have additional Funding
When it comes to grants and scholarships – its always wise to apply to every scholarship out there that you can find. In some occasions some students are awarded Pell grants, state grants or discover nursing scholarships. Now what happens in this case is that if a student has received scholarships before they get wind that they have the Federal nursing scholarship program award, the school may return the payments to the funding source and submit an invoice for the NCSP payment. Its advisable to consult with your scholarship adviser on what route would be best to take in this instance.
What happens if an NCSP participant for the 2015 fall year has taken out a student loan?
If the participant has taken out a student loan to cover cost of tuition and fees for their summer or fall semester of 2015; the student should supply an itemized invoice and the NCSP will pay the amount to cover the loan. This will no longer continue after the 2015 semester – to clarify that, the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program will not pay tuition costs covered for student loans.
Financial Aid and the NCSP
In some instances – brilliant students get funding from all sources wanting to cover their education costs. So if you receive financial aid other than the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program – the school should not submit an invoice for costs included if the other sources cover the full amount of tuition and fees. If a balance still remains then an invoice can be submitted.