
Your student loan journey is one of a kind. This page offers tailored resources to help employees in your specific hospital navigate repayment options with confidence and ease. Whether you’re navigating Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) or choosing the best repayment plan, the strategies and resources below are here to help you make informed decisions.
Early in Your Residency Journey?
Whether you’re about to begin or you’re already in your first year, this is the ideal time to set your student loans up the right way. Making the right moves now can help you qualify for forgiveness, lock in low payments, and avoid the common mistakes that cost new doctors time and money. This guide will walk you through exactly what to do in your first months of training. And if you’d like personalized help, we offer one-on-one sessions to make sure everything is in place from the start.
You can use the self-help information below to review your loans on your own, or schedule with us—we offer two complimentary one-on-one loan meetings to make sure everything is set up correctly. Click Here to Schedule Your Free Meeting.
At NYU Grossman School of Medicine, PSLF Employer Certification Forms are typically signed by each program’s Program Coordinator. Residents should confirm with their department before submitting. Below are department-specific contacts: Hematology and Medical Oncology – Anyone in program leadership can complete/sign the form Obstetrics and Gynecology – Signed by Dr. Olivia Myrick, Olga.Smuklavsky@NYULangone.org Radiation Oncology – Signed by Emily Rawn, Emily.Rawn@nyulangone.org
If you haven’t already, file a federal tax return for the last full calendar year you were in medical school. Even if you had very little income, filing a return is important.
Why this matters: Your tax return will be used to calculate your student loan payments when you apply for income-driven repayment. Using a low-income year (like your final year of med school) can lock in a $0 or low monthly payment for up to 12 months. If you didn’t file, you’ll be asked for current income documentation (like pay stubs), which will reflect your resident salary and result in much higher payments.
After medical school graduation, most federal loans enter a six-month grace period before repayment begins. But grace periods don’t count toward forgiveness programs like PSLF.
By consolidating your loans shortly after graduation: You can skip the grace period. You become eligible to enroll in an income-driven repayment plan immediately. You can begin tracking qualifying payments sooner if your residency qualifies for PSLF.
With some IDR plans being phased out, most new borrowers will now use the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan or eventually transition into the new RAP plan. These plans base your monthly payment on your income and family size—and if you’re working in a nonprofit or public service setting, you may qualify for loan forgiveness after 120 qualifying payments.
To apply: Visit StudentAid.gov Complete the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) application. Upload your tax return (or recent pay stubs if you haven’t filed yet)
Important: If you’re married and want to exclude your spouse’s income, you must file your taxes separately.This process can be confusing, especially during the chaos of starting residency. Don’t hesitate to schedule a time with us—we’ll walk you through it step-by-step and make sure it’s done right.
Looking for free one-on-one guidance? We offer two complimentary meetings to help you get started on the right path. Click “Schedule Meeting” above to book a time.
Learn More - IDR PlansIf your residency is at a nonprofit hospital, your employment likely qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Submitting the PSLF Employer Certification Form is how you start tracking eligible payments.
To submit your form: Use the PSLF Help Tool at StudentAid.gov to complete your portion. Ask your hospital’s HR or payroll office to complete their section. Submit the form through the site or by mail.
Each year, you’ll need to recertify your income to stay in your IDR plan and continue earning PSLF credit. Missing this deadline can be costly—you’ll be removed from your IDR plan, placed into the standard repayment plan (often with a bill in the thousands), and any unpaid interest will capitalize and be added to your principal balance. In short, don’t let this one slip by.
We help our clients avoid this by scheduling recertification check-ins a year in advance.
Mastering the Training Years?
Once you’re a year or more into training, you’ve likely already made some initial choices about repayment—but the real work of staying on track is just beginning. The information you were once told may have already changed multiple times, and it’s important to make sure your plan reflects the latest rules. This stage is about confirming your payments are being counted correctly, planning around recertification dates, and adjusting your strategy as your income changes. With major program updates expected in the coming years, now is the time to double-check your progress, avoid common pitfalls, and make sure you’re building toward forgiveness (or a clear payoff strategy) the right way.
You can use the self-help information below to review your loans on your own, or schedule with us—we offer two complimentary one-on-one loan meetings to make sure everything is set up correctly.
At NYU Grossman School of Medicine, PSLF Employer Certification Forms are typically signed by each program’s Program Coordinator. Residents should confirm with their department before submitting. Below are department-specific contacts: Hematology and Medical Oncology – Anyone in program leadership can complete/sign the form Obstetrics and Gynecology – Signed by Dr. Olivia Myrick, Olga.Smuklavsky@NYULangone.org Radiation Oncology – Signed by Emily Rawn, Emily.Rawn@nyulangone.org
Most residents were set up on an income-driven plan at the start of training, but many haven’t checked back since. Some are still sitting in SAVE forbearance—which doesn’t count toward PSLF and continues to accrue interest—while others have been placed into Standard Repayment with very high payments. Making sure you’re in the right IDR plan (IBR, PAYE while it lasts, or ICR in limited cases) is key to keeping payments manageable and ensuring your time in training counts.
What to do:
Log into StudentAid.gov and review your repayment plan.
Check your plan type, recertification date, and processing status.
If you’re unsure what plan you’re in—or whether it’s giving you PSLF credit—schedule with us and we’ll walk through it together.
Your monthly payment under an income-driven plan is based on how your income is documented—and that number isn’t always as straightforward as it looks. A tax return may reflect last year’s income, which could be lower than what you’re earning now. Pay stubs often include moonlighting or extra shifts that aren’t guaranteed. Sometimes an employer letter is the cleanest option because it shows only your base salary.
The timing of when you file taxes and when you recertify can also affect which income year your servicer uses. Being thoughtful about both documentation and timing helps keep your payments affordable and protects PSLF progress. With major program changes coming in 2026, understanding these details now can save you tens of thousands of dollars over the course of training.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) can wipe out your remaining balance after 120 qualifying months—but not all loans and repayment plans count. Residents often assume they’re earning credit automatically, but that’s not always the case. Direct Loans in an income-driven plan (IBR, PAYE, ICR, or sometimes Standard Repayment) can qualify, but months in SAVE forbearance do not.
What to do:
Use the PSLF Help Tool at StudentAid.gov to confirm your employer is PSLF-eligible.
Submit a PSLF Employment Certification Form each year or whenever you change jobs.
Verify your loans are Direct Loans; older FFEL or Perkins loans may need consolidation.
Collect PSLF credit using the information available in this tool.
Getting this right early in training ensures you don’t lose valuable months—and keeps you on track for forgiveness down the road.
PSLF isn’t the right path for everyone. Some attending physicians may be better off accelerating payoff and moving on. We’ll help you weigh your options clearly and confidently.
What we’ll help you with: Comparing total cost of PSLF vs. direct payoff. Exploring whether refinancing could help (only if appropriate). Designing a payment strategy that fits your goals and cash flow.
Whether you’re leaning toward forgiveness or focused on paying it off, we’ll help you make the most informed decision.
The more years you’ve been in training, the more you have to track. Make sure your employment certifications are up to date, your PSLF credits are showing, and your loan balance hasn’t changed in ways that don’t make sense.
What to do: Log in and check your PSLF payment countsSubmit a new employment certification if you’ve changed hospitals or departments. Look for any discrepancies in loan balances or past payments
We can help you review your records and make sure everything is in order.
Mastering the Attending Years?
As an attending, your student loan strategy often needs a complete reset. The plan you started in residency may no longer fit your income, tax situation, or long-term goals—and the rules have likely changed since you last reviewed them. At this stage, the focus shifts to making sure your payments are optimized, your PSLF progress is being tracked correctly (if eligible), and your broader financial decisions—like tax filing status or retirement contributions—are working in tandem with your loan strategy.
With major program updates expected in the coming years, now is the time to double-check your repayment plan, avoid costly missteps, and ensure you’re building toward forgiveness or payoff in the most efficient way possible.
You can use the self-help information below to review your loans on your own, or schedule with us—we offer two complimentary one-on-one loan meetings to make sure everything is aligned with your current stage of practice.
Authorized signer details coming soon. Please use the Contact link at the top of the page to share the PSLF contact for this hospital.
Most attending physicians were set up on an income-driven plan during residency, but haven’t revisited the strategy since. Given recent federal changes, many borrowers will now be moved to Income-Based Repayment (IBR), either by default or automatically. This could impact both your monthly payment and your total loan cost over time.
What to do:Log into StudentAid.gov and check your repayment plan statusLook for changes to your plan type, recertification date, and processing timelineIf your income has increased significantly, it’s time to explore your options
If your servicer communication is unclear or you’re unsure what plan you’re in, we’ll walk through it together.
Your repayment plan uses your most recently filed tax return to calculate payments. If you’ve had a recent salary increase or bonus, it could substantially raise your monthly cost.
What to consider: Married Filing Separately may reduce your payment if your spouse has little or no student debt. IBR includes a cap on payments, which can help manage monthly costs as your income rises
We’ll help you assess how income, tax status, and plan rules affect your payments—so you don’t overpay.
If you’re employed full-time by a nonprofit hospital or health system, you may still qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)—even if you’ve been practicing for years.
What to do:Use the PSLF Help Tool to review your employment history and generate your certification formCheck that your loan type and repayment plan are PSLF-eligible under current rulesVisit your hospital-specific PSLF resource page to find step-by-step instructions from your employer on submitting the PSLF form
Even partial PSLF credit can make a meaningful difference—it’s worth reviewing.
PSLF isn’t the right path for everyone. Some attending physicians may be better off accelerating payoff and moving on. We’ll help you weigh your options clearly and confidently.
What we’ll help you with: Comparing total cost of PSLF vs. direct payoff. Exploring whether refinancing could help (only if appropriate). Designing a payment strategy that fits your goals and cash flow
Whether you’re leaning toward forgiveness or focused on paying it off, we’ll help you make the most informed decision.
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Bartsingleton@doctorsstudentloancare.com