Healthcare Scholarship: Allied Healthcare Scholarship
Overview of the Allied Healthcare Scholarship
Every year, the California Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development awards The Allied Healthcare Scholarship to currently enrolled or accepted students in various healthcare fields. Students currently accepted or enrolled in diverse array of healthcare programs are welcome to apply, including the following programs:
•Clinical Laboratory Science
•Community Health Worker
•Diagnostic Medical Sonography
•Medical Assistant
•Medical Imaging
•Medical Laboratory Technology
•Nuclear Medicine Technology
•Occupational Therapy
•Pharmacy, Pharmacy Technician
•Physical Therapy
•Physical Therapy Assistant
•Radiation Therapy Technology
•Radiologic Technology
•Respiratory Care
•Social Work
•Speech Therapy
•Surgical Technician
•Ultrasound Technician
Other legitimate allied healthcare fields will also be considered, but are typically not given priority. Note that nursing is not considered an “Allied Health” field.
The scholarship is funded through donations and grants and may consist of up to $8,000 towards one year of study. The number of scholarships awarded varies each year. By receiving the scholarship, awardees agree to an obligation of one year of service of full-time, direct patient care at a qualified California facility in an underserved area, upon graduation. It is the scholarship recipient’s responsibility to find a job at an appropriate facility. The California Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development maintains lists of facilities in underserved areas as well as criteria to identify appropriate facilities. Applicants for the scholarship must be enrolled in at least 6 units of classes and have a grade point average of at least 2.0. They must also be free from any other service obligations, with the exception of HPEF scholarship programs. As of 2014, the scholarship requires students to graduate after January 31, 2015.
The application window for scholarships for the 2014-2015 school year is between October 6th and November 30th, 2014. Scholarship recipients are notified of their results within three to four months of filing their application. Applications must be submitted online, via the California Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development’s CalREACH website. Documents such as letters of recommendation, school transcripts, cost of attendance paperwork and other forms must be uploaded and sent electronically via the CalREACH system. Technical assistance is provided via social media, in-person workshops and phone lines.