Are Teachers Public Service Workers? Only If You Meet These Rules

Updated on March 4, 2025

Quick Facts

Teachers are considered public service workers if they work for a government or 501(c)(3) nonprofit employer.
Charter school teachers don’t always qualify. Government-run? Yes. Privately managed? No.
Teachers at private or for-profit schools don’t qualify. Only public schools and 501(c)(3) nonprofits count.

Are Teachers Considered Public Service Workers?

Teachers are considered public service workers only if they work in the public sector. Your eligibility boils down to your employer, not your job title.

If you teach at a public K-12 school, state college, public university, or any public school system, the answer is yes—you’re a public service worker because you’re employed by the state or federal government. You may also qualify if you teach at a 501(c)(3) nonprofit private school or college.

That means you could qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and other public service benefits from other federal agencies.

But, you’re not considered a public service worker for the PSLF Program if you:

Teach at a for-profit private school or institution
Teach at a charter school that’s privately managed and not established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Are an independent contractor or an adjunct professor without direct government or qualifying nonprofit employment

This distinction matters because only qualified public service jobs can access federal loan forgiveness programs designed for government and nonprofit employees.

Which Teachers Are Considered Public Service Workers?

Not all teachers are public service workers; it all goes back to your employer. Here’s how different types of school teachers qualify:

Public School Teachers: Yes. If you teach at public K-12 schools, public secondary schools, state colleges, or public universities, you’re a public service worker. Teachers in this industry are considered government employees.
Nonprofit Private School Teachers: Yes, if your school has 501(c)(3) status. Some private schools qualify as nonprofits, but not all do. Check your employer’s tax status to be sure.
For-Profit Private School Teachers: No. If your school is a for-profit business, you’re not a public service worker.
Charter School Teachers: It depends. If your charter school is a nonprofit, you qualify. If the school is government-run, you also qualify. But if it’s privately managed (even if publicly funded), it doesn’t count. Learn more here: Do Charter Schools Qualify for PSLF?

If you work for a qualifying employer, you could have access to major perks like Public Service Loan Forgiveness and better repayment options.

Related: What Jobs Qualify for PSLF?

Why Does This Matter?

For federal student loan borrowers, working in public education opens the door to the best student loan forgiveness program if your employer qualifies. Other than that, here are more perks you can enjoy:

Retirement Benefits & Pensions: Many states include public school teachers in public employee pension systems, offering long-term stability. Private school teachers often have separate, employer-specific retirement plans that may not provide the same level of security.
Job Protections & Union Rights: Public school teachers typically have stronger union protections, tenure rights, and legal safeguards. Private school teachers, especially those at for-profit institutions, may have fewer job protections and limited union support.

If you’re considering teaching in the public sector, these benefits can have a huge impact on your career and long-term financial stability.

Qualifying for PSLF as a Public Teacher

Working for a qualified employer alone isn’t enough to qualify for PSLF. To be eligible, you must meet all of these requirements:

Work for a government employer. This includes public school districts, state colleges, and public universities. Private schools (unless they’re 501(c)(3) nonprofits) don’t count.
Have Federal Direct Loans. If you have FFEL or Perkins Loans, you must consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan to qualify.
Be on an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan. PSLF requires payments under an IDR plan or the Standard 10-Year Plan. Other plans won’t count.
Make 120 qualifying payments. These must be made while you’re working full-time for a qualifying employer. If you find any issues, act fast. Here are some reasons why your PSLF qualifying payments aren’t counting.

If you meet the requirements, PSLF can erase your remaining federal student loan balance after 10 years of qualifying payments.

Bottom Line

Teachers in the public sector are eligible for stronger retirement benefits, union protections, and student loan forgiveness benefits than their private school counterparts.

If this is you, check your employer’s PSLF status now using the PSLF Help Tool and submit an Employer Certification Form (ECF) right away to confirm your eligibility. PSLF can erase your student loan debt, but only if you meet every requirement.

Book a consultation with one of our student loan experts to make sure you’re getting the maximum forgiveness possible.

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