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Rural Health Information Hub

Education and Training of the Rural Healthcare Workforce – Funding & Opportunities

For additional funding options, please see RHIhub's Online Library: Funding & Opportunities

Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Grant Program
Grants to improve rates of postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion among rural students through development of career pathways aligned to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors and occupations in the region. Health and human services are among the in-demand industry clusters.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jun 23, 2026
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Labor
Rural Program Directors University
A training, networking, and peer learning community for program, associate program, and site directors of rural residency programs, training tracks, and pathways.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jun 26, 2026
Sponsor: Rural Medical Training Collaborative (formerly the RTT Collaborative)
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program Grants
Grants to help rural communities use advanced telecommunications technology to connect to each other, and the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jun 30, 2026
Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development, USDA Rural Utilities Service
Rural Residency Planning and Development Program
Grants to expand access to healthcare in rural areas by developing new sustainable rural residency programs, including rural track programs (RTPs). The program will provide start-up funding to create accredited rural residency programs in a qualifying medical specialty.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application Deadline: Jul 8, 2026
Sponsors: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention - Transition to Practice Program (NEPQR-TPP)
Funding to support innovative educational and clinical training opportunities, thus increasing the nursing workforce and addressing the nursing shortage in rural and medically vulnerable communities.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application Deadline: Jul 17, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Regional Public Health Training Centers Program
Grants to support Public Health Training Centers that offer student traineeships, field placements, technical assistance, and targeted training designed to increase and strengthen the supply of a high-quality public health workforce professionals for rural and medically vulnerable communities.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories
Application Deadline: Jul 17, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Tribal Agriculture Fellowship (TAF)
Fellowships to help Native students achieve their educational goals leading to careers in agriculture.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Dec 31, 2026
Sponsor: Native Agriculture Education Fellowship Program
Tribal Undergraduate to Graduate Research Training and Leadership Experiences (TURTLE) Program (UE5 and T32/T34)
Funding for tribal entities to support educational and mentoring activities that complement and/or enhance the training of a workforce to meet the nation's biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories
Application Deadline: Jan 25, 2027
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health
Certified Professional by the American Heart Association - Telehealth (CPAHA) Program
A certification program for healthcare professionals interested in demonstrating a commitment to telehealth.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsors: American Heart Association, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
NRHA Rural Health Nurse Certification Program
A leadership and certification program for current rural nurses.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: National Rural Health Association