NURSING LOAN FORGIVENESS DEADLINE EXTENDED

 HARRISBURG, SEPT. 1 – State Sen. Connie Williams announced that the deadline for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency’s Nursing Loan Forgiveness program was extended to Dec. 31^st.

 Through the program, eligible applicants may have up to 25 percent or $12,500 of their eligible student loan debt forgiven over three years of qualifying employment. To qualify, students must graduate from an approved nursing education program during or after 2005 and have at least one outstanding AES/PHEAA owned, guaranteed and serviced federal Stafford loan, or AES/PHEAA guaranteed and serviced consolidation loan based on qualifying underlying Stafford loans. The loans must be in good standing.

 Participants must maintain employer-verified, full-time continuous employment with a participating employer as a direct care nurse or nurse educator at an approved, participating Pennsylvania health care facility or an approved, participating Pennsylvania postsecondary educational institution for a minimum of one year.

 “Pennsylvania continues to face a shortage of nurses,” Williams said. “Nursing is a caring and fulfilling career, but can be demanding. Through the Nursing Loan Forgiveness for Healthier Futures program, Pennsylvania hopes to attract some of Pennsylvania’s best and brightest to the field.”

 The program is self-funded by PHEAA with no taxpayer support and is jointly administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation and PHEAA.

 For more information about the program or to complete an application visit www.FuturesInNursing.org or www.pheaa.org, or call 800-859-5442.

 The Futures In Nursing Web site offers employment, salary and general career information related to nursing, various certificate and degree programs available and financial aid information.