Rural Health Funding & Opportunities: Health occupations

Illinois National Health Service Corps State Loan Repayment Program Inactive
Loan repayment assistance for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse midwives, dentists, and psychiatrists who agree to serve in a Health Professional Shortage Area of Illinois.

Geographic coverage: Illinois
Application Deadline: Sponsor: Illinois Center for Rural Health

Minnesota Community Health Worker Certificate Student Parent Support Initiative (SPSI)
Scholarships for a fully online community health worker certification program for people in Minnesota who are pregnant or parenting.

Geographic coverage: Minnesota
Application Deadline: Dec 22, 2025
Sponsor: Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance

Arkansas J-1 Visa Waiver Program
Offers a J-1 Visa waiver to foreign physicians who commit to serving for 3 years in an approved area of Arkansas, allowing them to remain in the United States.

Geographic coverage: Arkansas
Application Deadline: Dec 30, 2025
Sponsor: Arkansas Department of Health

California J-1 Visa Waiver Program
Offers a J-1 Visa waiver to foreign physicians who commit to serving for 3 years in an underserved area of California, allowing them to remain in the United States.

Geographic coverage: California
Application Deadline: Dec 31, 2025
Sponsor: California State Office of Rural Health

South Dakota Rural Healthcare Facility Recruitment Assistance Program
Provides qualifying healthcare providers an incentive payment in return for 3 continuous years of practice in an eligible rural community in South Dakota.

Geographic coverage: South Dakota
Application Deadline: Dec 31, 2025
Sponsor: South Dakota Office of Rural Health

WWAMI AHEC Scholars Program
A multidisciplinary certificate program for health professions students that offers opportunities for hands-on training, experience in rural and underserved communities, and networking with other students and professionals. The WWAMI Area Health Education Center Network serves Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho.

Geographic coverage: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Wyoming
Application Deadline: Dec 31, 2025
Sponsor: Washington Area Health Education Center Program

Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant (EMPA) Fellowship
An 18-month fellowship for physician assistants with Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Fellows will learn from board-certified emergency physicians and physician assistants at a Level II Trauma Center, rural emergency departments, and with ground and air emergency crews.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jan 1, 2026
Sponsor: Gundersen Health System

North Carolina Science Enrichment Preparation Program
An academic enrichment program that targets first-generation, rural, and/or socioeconomically disadvantaged undergraduate students in North Carolina who would like to attend medical or dental school.

Geographic coverage: North Carolina
Application Deadline: Jan 4, 2026
Sponsor: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Health Careers Access Program

Best and Brightest Program - Rural Healthcare Workforce Recruitment in Iowa
Funding to recruit healthcare providers in rural Iowa by offering competitive incentives that make rural practice both attractive and sustainable.

Geographic coverage: Iowa
Application Deadline: Jan 5, 2026
Sponsor: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services

Texas Nursing Shortage Reduction Program (NSRP)
Funding to build the capacity of nursing education programs in Texas to enroll, retain, and graduate more nursing students with the intent of addressing skilled nursing shortage areas and meeting public health needs.

Geographic coverage: Texas
Letter of Intent (Required): Jan 5, 2026
Application Deadline: Feb 27, 2026
Sponsor: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Rural Health Funding by Topic: Health occupations

Rural Health
Funding by Topic: Health occupations