---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 7693"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "7693"
heading: "Eligibility; preferences; covered costs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/7693"
units:
  - "Part V — Boards, Administrations, and Services"
  - "Chapter 76 — Health Professionals Educational Assistance Program"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program"
---

# §7693. Eligibility; preferences; covered costs

- (a) **Eligibility.—** An individual is eligible to participate in the Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program if the individual—
  - (1) will be eligible for appointment under [section 7401 of this title](/usc/38/7401.md) to work in an occupation described in [section 7692 of this title](/usc/38/7692.md);
  - (2) owes any amount of principal or interest under a loan, the proceeds of which were used by or on behalf of that individual to pay costs relating to a course of education or training which led to a degree that qualified the individual for the position referred to in [paragraph (1)](#a-1); and
  - (3) is—
    - (A) recently graduated from an accredited medical or osteopathic school and matched to an accredited residency program in a medical specialty described in [section 7692 of this title](/usc/38/7692.md); or
    - (B) a physician in training in a medical specialty described in [section 7692 of this title](/usc/38/7692.md) with more than 2 years remaining in such training.
- (b) **Preferences.—** In selecting individuals for participation in the Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program under this subchapter, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may give preference to the following:
  - (1) Individuals who are, or will be, participating in residency programs in health care facilities—
    - (A) located in rural areas;
    - (B) operated by Indian tribes, tribal organizations, or the Indian Health Service; or
    - (C) affiliated with underserved health care facilities of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).
  - (2) [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2).
- (c) **Covered Costs.—** For purposes of [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2), costs relating to a course of education or training include—
  - (1) tuition expenses;
  - (2) all other reasonable educational expenses, including expenses for fees, books, equipment, and laboratory expenses; and
  - (3) reasonable living expenses.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 115–182, title III, § 303(a), June 6, 2018, 132 Stat. 1464; amended Pub. L. 115–251, title II, § 211(a)(12), Sept. 29, 2018, 132 Stat. 3176.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–251 substituted “will be eligible for appointment” for “is hired”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Preference

Pub. L. 115–182, title III, § 303(d), June 6, 2018, 132 Stat. 1467, as amended by Pub. L. 115–251, title II, § 211(b)(6)(A), Sept. 29, 2018, 132 Stat. 3176, provided that: “In granting preference under section 7693 of title 38, United States Code, as enacted by subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall determine whether a facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs is underserved based on the criteria developed under section 401 of this Act [38 U.S.C. 8110 note].”