Teacher Shortage Deferment

If you are a full-time teacher in a public or private non-profit school and are working in a “teacher shortage area” as defined by the U.S. Secretary of Education, you may qualify for a teacher shortage deferment. This deferment postpones payments due on your student loan account during your service for up to a total of 36 months (three years).

For the purposes of this deferment, “teacher shortage area” means a particular geographic area, grade level, or subject in which there is a recognized shortage of elementary and secondary school teachers. 

To obtain the teacher shortage deferment, you will need to supply a certification of your service from an authorized official on a deferment request form (see below). 

If you think you may qualify for this type of deferment, click here to view and print a teacher deferment request form.  Please read the form carefully to make sure you qualify, and follow the instructions on the form.

If you have loans that are serviced by more than one servicer, please print a form for each servicer and print the name or your servicer on each form.  Mail your completed form(s) to us at:

Student Loan Counseling Service, Inc.
P.O. Box 1078
Waterloo, IA  50704-1078 

If you think that you do not qualify for the Teacher Shortage Deferment, please view any other options on your Results page, or click on the Return to Questionnaire button at the bottom of this page to make another selection.