---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 U.S.C. § 1616k"
title: "25"
title_heading: "Indians"
number: "1616k"
heading: "Nursing residency program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/1616k"
units:
  - "Chapter 18 — Indian Health Care"
  - "Subchapter I — Indian Health Professional Personnel"
---

# §1616k. Nursing residency program

- (a) **Establishment—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17), acting through the [Service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18), shall establish a program to enable licensed practical nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and registered nurses who are working in an [Indian health program](/usc/25/1603.md?p=12) (as defined in [section 1616a(a)(2)(A) of this title](/usc/25/1616a.md?p=a-2-A)), and have done so for a period of not less than one year, to pursue advanced training.
- (b) **Program components—** Such program shall include a combination of education and work study in an [Indian health program](/usc/25/1603.md?p=12) (as defined in [section 1616a(a)(2)(A) of this title](/usc/25/1616a.md?p=a-2-A)) leading to an associate or bachelor’s degree (in the case of a licensed practical nurse or licensed vocational nurse) or a bachelor’s degree (in the case of a registered nurse) or a Master’s degree.
- (c) **Service obligation of program participant—** An individual who participates in a program under [subsection (a)](#a), where the educational costs are paid by the [Service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18), shall incur an obligation to serve in an [Indian health program](/usc/25/1603.md?p=12) for a period of obligated [service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) equal to at least three times the period of time during which the individual participates in such program. In the event that the individual fails to complete such obligated [service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18), the United States shall be entitled to recover from such individual an amount determined in accordance with the formula specified in subsection (l) of [section 1616a of this title](/usc/25/1616a.md) in the manner provided for in such subsection.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–437, title I, § 118, as added Pub. L. 102–573, title I, § 104(e), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4534; amended Pub. L. 103–435, § 16(b), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4573.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–435 inserted before period at end “or a Master’s degree”.