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38 USC § 7693 - Eligibility; preferences; covered costs 

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s7693"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "38 USC § 7693 - Eligibility; preferences; covered costs"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
section_number: "7693"
section_name: "Eligibility; preferences; covered costs"
chapter_number: 76
chapter_name: "HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM"
subchapter_number: "VIII"
subchapter_name: "SPECIALTY EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM"
part_number: "V"
part_name: "BOARDS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND SERVICES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
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.)"
---

# § 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 to work in an occupation described in section 7692 of this title;

**(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); 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; or

**(B)** a physician in training in a medical specialty described in section 7692 of this title 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 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.

**(2)** Veterans.

**(c)** **Covered Costs.—** For purposes of subsection (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.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a)(1).  substituted “will be eligible for appointment” for “is hired”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Preference

> “In granting preference under
> 
> , 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 [
> 
> note].”

, , , as amended by , , , provided that: