Next anticipated funding cycle: August 2024

Background and Mission:

The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) works to increase and diversify California’s healthcare workforce by providing scholarships and loan repayments to health professional students and graduates who provide direct patient care in those communities. APHSP is funded through grants, donations, and special funds.

In exchange for a 12-month service obligation practicing and providing direct patient care in an underserved community, eligible applicants may receive up to $25,000. The purpose of this program is to increase the number of appropriately trained advanced practice healthcare professionals providing direct patient care in an underserved area or qualified facility within California.

Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible for an APHSP award, each applicant must:

• Start training program by September 30, 2023

• Be enrolled in a minimum of six semester units, or its equivalent, until program completion

• Has a GPA of 2.0 or greater for most recent academic performance or equivalent

• Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or greater, until program completion

• Must graduate after January 31, 2024

• Not have any other existing service obligations with other entities, including other HCAI programs

• Not be in breach of any other HCAI service obligation

• Commit to providing a 12-month service obligation in an underserved area or qualifying facility providing 32 hours or more per week of direct patient care within six months of graduation

• Be a California resident

• Complete and submit the application through the HCAI Funding Portal (date to be determined).

Eligible Disciplines:

APHSP applicants must be currently accepted or enrolled in an accredited graduate or postgraduate degree program that prepares them to become one of the following professionals:

Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Certified Nurse Midwife

• Clinical Nurse Specialist

• Certified Nurse Practitioner

• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

Doctor of Pharmacy

• Pharmacist

Master or Doctor of Physical Therapy

• Physical Therapist

Master of Physician Assistant

• Physician Assistant

Doctor of Dental Medicine

• Dentist

Doctor of Chiropractic

• Chiropractor

Master of Counseling

• Rehabilitation Counselor

Eligible Geographic and Site Designations for a Service Obligation:

For a facility to qualify, it must be in one of the following eligible geographic or approved site designations:

• Children’s Hospital

• Native America Health Center

• Correctional Facility

• Primary Care Shortage Area (PCSA)

• County-Operated Health Facility

• Public School Facility

• Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)

• Rural Health Clinic

• Health Professional Shortage Area – Dental (HPSA-D)

• Skilled Nursing Facility

• Health Professional Shortage Area – Mental Health (HPSA-MH)

• State-Operated Health Facility

• Health Professional Shortage Area – Primary Care (HPSA-PC)

• Substance Use Facility

• Medically Underserved Area – (MUA)

• Veteran’s Facility

Resources

• 2023-24 APHSP Grant Guide

• 2023 APHSP Technical Assistance Guide

• Webinar Meeting Materials

• Webinar Recording

• Scholarship FAQ
  

Email:  HWDD-SCH@hcai.ca.gov

Phone: (916) 326-3700