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Do I Qualify for PSLF as a Teacher or Nurse?

Use the free tool — Student Loan Plan Picker

What Public Service Loan Forgiveness requires

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) forgives what is left on your loans after enough qualifying payments. Per StudentAid.gov — Public Service Loan Forgiveness, you generally need:

• Direct loans.
• Full-time employment (30+ hours a week) by a U.S. government employer at any level, or by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (and some other nonprofits that provide public services).
• 120 qualifying monthly payments made under an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan or the 10-year standard plan. The payments do not have to be consecutive.
• Employer certification, done through the PSLF Help Tool on StudentAid.gov.

This page does not state a forgiveness amount for you. Use the PSLF Help Tool and StudentAid.gov to check your own case.

Are teachers, nurses and union members covered?

Most public school teachers and most nurses working for a government or nonprofit hospital work for a qualifying employer under the rules above. Many union jobs qualify too — but through the employer, not the union.

• A labor union itself is generally not a qualifying employer, unless the union is organized as a 501(c)(3).
• Most union members who work in public schools, hospitals, transit systems or government still qualify — because their employer, not their union, is what counts.

Confirm your specific employer with the PSLF Help Tool at StudentAid.gov.

Not all loans qualify yet

FFEL and Perkins loans are not eligible for PSLF or for most income-driven plans until they are consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan. Consolidating can change how your payment count works and can affect interest, so it is worth understanding before you do it.

• Parent PLUS loans have limited repayment plan options after consolidation.
• Read the details at StudentAid.gov — Income-driven repayment before acting.

Behind on payments? Get out of default first

Being in default blocks you from IDR plans and from PSLF until it is resolved. StudentAid.gov — Getting out of default describes two paths:

• Rehabilitation.
• Consolidation into a Direct Consolidation Loan.

Getting out of default can stop wage garnishment and tax-refund offset. Do not ignore your servicer — follow the official steps on StudentAid.gov.

Married and on IDR? Check your filing status

If you file your taxes jointly or separately, your income-driven repayment payment can change, because some IDR plans count your spouse's income. This page cannot decide that for you — run both scenarios in the StudentAid.gov Loan Simulator, and talk to a tax professional if the difference is large.

What to do next

The free Student Loan Plan Picker reads your own loan type, balance, income, family size and employer — and tells you whether PSLF likely applies to your job, what to fix first, and the exact steps to take on StudentAid.gov. Nothing you type is stored.

• Confirm your exact payment in the StudentAid.gov Loan Simulator — this page never states a payment amount.
• Never pay a company to apply for IDR, PSLF, or any forgiveness. Per the FTC, it is free to do yourself on StudentAid.gov.
• This is not financial, tax or legal advice. It can be wrong, and rules change — confirm everything with StudentAid.gov and your servicer before you act.

Student Loan Plan Picker explains federal repayment and forgiveness options in plain language from StudentAid.gov; it can be wrong, and it is not financial, tax or legal advice. Plan availability and terms change — the official site controls. Nothing you paste is stored.