Florida pays dentists more than physicians
Program and regulatory figures verified October 5, 2026. Details change; confirm your scenario with us.
Almost every physician-loan page treats dentists as an afterthought. In Florida that is backwards: the state's own loan repayment programme pays a dentist more than it pays a doctor.
★★ The number nobody mentions
| Practitioner | Share of principal | Maximum | Years of eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician (MD / DO) | 25% | $150,000 | Four |
| Dentist (DDS / DMD) | 20% | $250,000 | Five |
| Dental hygienist | — | $37,500 | — |
A dentist takes a smaller percentage but has a higher ceiling and an extra year of eligibility, so the maximum is $100,000 larger. Florida's Department of Health publishes both figures on the same page. We have not seen another lender's site state it.
★ There are annual caps too: $50,000 a year for dentists and $7,500 a year for dental hygienists.
What dentists actually received
The first dental cycle is documented. The 2023 Legislature appropriated $2 million for fiscal year 2023-24 — $200,000 to the Donated Dental Services programme and $1.8 million to FRAME dental, which funded 38 awards.
Those 38 payments ranged from $433.09 to the full $50,000 annual cap, averaging $39,030.36. Dental hygienist payments ran $1,331.80 to $7,500, averaging $4,744.03.
★ Note how differently that reads from the physician figures, where the average sits at about 42% of the cap. Dental awards clustered near their annual maximum. Programme changes were later made by Chapter 2024-15, Laws of Florida. Source: the Florida Department of Health FRAME programme.
When you can apply
FRAME dental's next window is March 1 through June 30 for the 2027 cycle — a longer window than the primary care and mental health tracks, which close April 30. A clear and active Florida license must be held throughout the entire cycle.
So nothing arrives in time to change a 2026 purchase. Finance the house on your income and treat a future award as debt relief later. The cycle detail.
The mortgage side
DDS and DMD are eligible degrees on the Sequoia Medical Professionals Program guide version 1.1, effective 2026-03-02: up to 100% financing, no monthly PMI, 5%-down options, to a $2 million ceiling.
A practice-owning dentist's file turns on how the income documents. Self-employment generally wants a two-year history, and a newly purchased practice is a different conversation from a W-2 associate position. Send the structure early rather than late.
★ And the Florida warning applies to you too
Every major Florida metro fell year over year to 2026-08-31 and every one sells more slowly than the national 53-day benchmark. If you are buying a practice and a house in the same year, the equity question deserves more weight than it would in a rising market. The honest math.
Frequently asked questions
Can a dentist get a physician loan in Florida?
Yes. DDS and DMD are eligible degrees on the physician programme, which reaches up to 100% financing with no monthly private mortgage insurance and 5% down options, to a ceiling of $2 million.Does Florida pay dentists more than physicians?
Under FRAME, yes. Dentists receive 20% of loan principal to a maximum of $250,000 across five years of eligibility, while physicians receive 25% to a maximum of $150,000 across four years. The dentist ceiling is $100,000 higher.How much did Florida dentists actually receive from FRAME?
The first dental cycle funded 38 awards from a $1.8 million appropriation. Payments ranged from $433.09 to the $50,000 annual cap and averaged $39,030.36, so dental awards clustered much closer to their maximum than physician awards do.Mike Certo · NMLS #260555 · Cornerstone First Mortgage NMLS #173855 · Equal Housing Lender. Educational content, not a loan commitment and not legal, tax, or licensure advice. Physician-loan program terms, eligible degrees, and overlays are set by the lender and change; Florida FRAME award amounts, eligibility and application cycles change too. Confirm your scenario with us and your program administrator. All loans are subject to borrower and property qualification, including credit and income review.