NP and PA programs prepare you well academically, but the jump to independent practice is hard — especially in rural primary care, where patients are complex and autonomy comes fast. We built this fellowship to close that gap. You'll spend a structured year inside our practice, building a graduated panel under direct mentorship.
What fellows do
- Carry a graduated patient panel, starting at reduced volume and ramping toward independent practice over 12 months
- Practice alongside a dedicated supervising clinician with daily case review
- Attend didactic sessions on chronic disease management, geriatrics, behavioral health, common procedures and rural practice
- Complete defined clinical competencies across our care settings
- Get structured monthly feedback, with formal evaluations at months 4, 8 and 12
Who we're looking for
- Recent graduates of an accredited NP (FNP, AGPCNP, AGNP) or PA program
- Tennessee licensure, or eligibility by your start date
- A real interest in primary care for rural communities
- Coachable, curious, and ready to work in a rural community setting
- No prior clinical experience required
What you receive
- Annual stipend/salary
- Health insurance, paid time off and retirement plan
- Malpractice coverage
- CME stipend and license / certification reimbursement
The path to a full-time role
Fellows who complete the program and show clinical readiness may be offered a full-time clinical position with Elderberry Health.
Logistics
- 12 months, full time
- Location: Ashland City, TN
- Rolling admissions until the cohort is filled
Questions about this role
How long does it take to apply?
About five minutes. Upload a resume, or skip the resume and tell us about your experience in a few sentences — either one works. No account or password needed.
What does the hiring process look like?
It's simple: a short online application, then a mix of video and in-person interviews, a tour of the clinic where you'd work, and finally onboarding with on-site training alongside our team. For qualified candidates the whole process can take as little as three weeks from application to first day.
Do you offer sign-on or retention bonuses?
Yes. We offer sign-on bonuses and retention bonuses. Ask us about the current amounts for this position during your first conversation.
How quickly will I hear back?
Applications go straight to our operations team, and we aim to reach every qualified candidate within two business days. Questions? Call 629-289-3136 or email [email protected] — you'll reach our operations team, not a recruiting agency.
I haven't graduated yet. Can I apply?
Yes. Apply in your final semester — you'll need Tennessee licensure (or eligibility) by your start date.
Is this a job or a training program?
Both. Fellows are paid and see real patients from the start, with volume that ramps over the year and a supervising clinician beside you.
What happens after the 12 months?
Fellows who complete the program and demonstrate readiness may be offered a full-time clinician role with us.
Is federal student loan repayment available?
Yes. Both of our clinics are approved sites for two HRSA programs: the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program and the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program. NHSC is open to NPs and PAs; Nurse Corps is open to nurse practitioners (not PAs). The federal government pays toward your qualifying education loans in exchange for a service commitment at our clinic, and we help you through the application.
What EHR do you use?
eClinicalWorks (eCW), plus AI-assisted tools we've built to cut documentation and chart-prep time.
I'm still in school. Can I get loan repayment?
Possibly. HRSA's NHSC Students to Service program is for NP and PA students in their final year and pays up to $120,000 for three years of full-time service at an NHSC-approved site, which both of our clinics are. You apply before you graduate — the 2026 deadline was November 6, 2025 — so check nhsc.hrsa.gov early in your final year.
Can fellows apply for NHSC or Nurse Corps once they're here?
Yes. Once you're fully licensed and working with us you can apply in the next cycle: NHSC is open to NPs and PAs, and Nurse Corps to NPs. The fellowship is full time, which meets both programs' full-time hour rules. Applications usually open in winter and close in spring.
How much loan repayment could I receive?
Under HRSA's 2026 terms, the NHSC Loan Repayment Program pays primary care NPs and PAs up to $75,000 for a two-year full-time commitment, or up to $37,500 for two years half-time, plus up to $5,000 more for Spanish-language proficiency. After the first two years you can apply for one-year continuation awards (up to $20,000 a year, subject to funding). NHSC awards are exempt from federal income and employment taxes. Nurse Corps pays 60% of your qualifying nursing-education loan balance over a two-year full-time commitment, with an optional third year that pays another 25% (up to 85% in total); Nurse Corps awards are taxable income.
Do part-time schedules qualify for loan repayment?
Often, yes. NHSC counts full-time as at least 40 hours a week (32+ in patient care) for 45 weeks a year, and half-time as 20–39 hours a week (16+ in patient care) — so about three clinic days a week can qualify for a half-time award, while one day a week cannot. Nurse Corps requires full-time work of at least 32 hours a week. Tell us which program you're aiming for and we'll build a schedule that meets it.
Can I use NHSC and Nurse Corps together?
No. You can carry only one federal service obligation at a time, so NPs choose one program and PAs use NHSC. You also can't apply while you still owe service to another program, such as an unfinished scholarship commitment.
I'm a nurse practitioner — which program should I choose?
NPs can apply to either. For most NPs, NHSC comes out ahead: it pays a fixed amount (up to $75,000 for two years full time, or $37,500 half time) tax-free and allows part-time schedules. Nurse Corps pays 60% of your nursing-education loans over two years, but that amount is taxable and you must work at least 32 hours a week — so it tends to win only when nursing debt is very high. Physician assistants use NHSC. We're happy to talk through your numbers.
Who is eligible for NHSC and Nurse Corps loan repayment?
U.S. citizens or nationals with qualifying government or commercial education loans and a full, permanent, unrestricted license — temporary or provisional licenses don't count. Funding is competitive: NHSC funds applicants in order of the site's shortage-area (HPSA) score, and Nurse Corps gives priority to applicants with the highest debt-to-salary ratio and then HPSA score.
What happens if I leave before my commitment ends?
HRSA's penalties are steep. Leaving an NHSC contract early means repaying what you received for unserved time plus $7,500 for each unserved month (at least $31,000). Leaving a Nurse Corps contract early means repaying everything you received, plus interest. Commit only if you plan to stay for the full term. Official details: nhsc.hrsa.gov (NHSC) and bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/apply-loan-repayment/nurse-corps (Nurse Corps). Figures are from HRSA's 2026 cycle; HRSA sets amounts and rules each year, and its program guidance always controls.