Hi Heather,

It’s been noted that an individual can qualify for PSLF if they work in the private sector providing public healthcare:
“You should qualify if you are working for certain other private organizations that provide any of the following services: emergency management; military services; public safety; law enforcement; public interest law services; public child care; public service for individuals with disabilities and the elderly; public health; public education; public library services; and school library or other school-based services. Not all private organizations providing these services will qualify. Businesses organized for profit, labor unions, partisan political organizations, organizations engaged in religious activities (unless the qualifying activities are unrelated to religious instruction, worship services or any form of proselytizing) are excluded.”

However, the question I have is: would private healthcare clinics qualify under PSLF? Or would they technically be classified as a “for profit business”?

Thanks for your assistance!

I think that depends on the clinic.  Do you have a particular clinic in mind?  You can search the IRS Charity database to try to work out if it is nonprofit: http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=96136,00.html

The easiest thing might be to ask the clinic itself.  If you’re asking more generally about how the clinics tend to be organized, unfortunately I don’t know.  My guess is that some might be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, and would therefore qualify.  I wouldn’t be surprised if some are for profit and nonqualifying.  Perhaps inquire of the American Association of Medical Colleges - https://www.aamc.org/.