283—25.3 (261) Eligibility requirements.
	   25.3(1) The commission will annually determine and communicate the number of recommendations that can be funded in each physician assistant studies degree program or doctorate of nursing practice degree program at each eligible university. The intent of this determination will be to ensure that an equal number of students in each program at an eligible university are able to enter into an agreement. Priority will be given to applicants who are Iowa residents upon enrolling in the eligible university. The criteria used by the state board of regents to determine residency for tuition purposes, Iowa Administrative Code rule 681—1.4(262), are adopted for this program. If fewer than the maximum number of recommendations of students in either a physician assistant studies degree program or doctorate of nursing practice degree program is recommended at one eligible university, the commission may obtain additional recommendations from the other eligible university to award the remaining agreements.
	   25.3(2) An applicant must enter into an agreement with the commission when the applicant begins curriculum leading to a doctor of nursing practice degree or a master’s degree in physician assistant studies.
	   25.3(3) An applicant must remain enrolled on a full-time basis in each term of enrollment and graduate with a doctor of nursing practice degree or a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from an eligible university. The commission may waive the full-time enrollment requirement for a temporary time frame only in the instance of a leave of absence approved by an eligible university. The applicant must request a waiver from the commission in writing.
	   25.3(4) Within nine months of graduating with a doctor of nursing practice degree or a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from an eligible university, an applicant must receive a permanent license to practice nursing or to work as a physician assistant in the state of Iowa and engage in full-time practice, as defined by the service commitment area, as a nurse or physician assistant for a period of 60 consecutive months in a service commitment area.
	   25.3(5) An applicant must annually complete and return to the commission an affidavit of full-time enrollment at an eligible university and, when applicable, an affidavit of completion of the employment obligation in a service commitment area.
	   25.3(6) Prior to or upon engagement in full-time employment in a service commitment area, the advanced registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant must contract with the service commitment area to provide a nonrefundable $2,000 contribution for deposit in the rural Iowa advanced registered nurse practitioner and physician assistant trust fund. Payment must be received by the commission from the service commitment area prior to payment of any loan repayment awards to the advanced registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
	   25.3(7) Failure by the applicant to meet all eligibility requirements under these rules and in the agreement will result in forfeiture of all remaining unpaid payments.
[ARC 1321C, IAB 2/19/14, effective 3/26/14]