Native American Grants – Healthcare Education

If you are an American Indian or Alaska Native student searching for a government grant to fulfil your goal of a career in the medical field or medical support field (such becoming a nurse, dentist, or pharmacist etc…) it may be well worth your while to look into the grants provided by the Indian Health Service (IHS) department of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 

There are three different grants available, depending on the stage you are at in your academic career:

• Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship Program,
• Health Professions Pre-Graduate Scholarship Program, and
• Health Professions Scholarship Program.

The Preparatory Scholarship Program, as the name implies, provides aid for those preparing, or improving aspects of, their education in order gain admittance into a course of study with the goal of becoming a healthcare professional.

The Pre-Graduate Scholarship Program is geared toward helping students who wish to enroll in courses, of which the end result will be a Bachelor’s Degree in specific niches as required by Indian health (such as nursing.)

The Scholarship Program is for those enrolled in a program for either health professions or allied health professions.  This program is the only one of the three that does have service obligations and payback requirements.  There are options, however, in fulfilling your service obligation.

In order to meet the eligibility requirements of these grants the student must be a U.S. Citizen at the time of application.  An approved Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Certification Form must be submitted with your application, though if not available you must be able to prove that you do meet the requirements of tribal membership.  If you are not a tribal member, you will need to provide evidence that shows you are the natural child or grandchild of a tribal member.

These grants are of a competitive nature so there will be a few things to keep in mind when applying.  Selection of recipients is based upon such things as: your career goals compared with the needs of Indian health, a minimum GPA of 2.0, recommendations from your tribe, faculty, or employer, and (perhaps most of all) your own written statement.  Your written statement must be well written (that weighs significantly in the consideration of your application), and clearly state and identify your career goal(s) and reason(s) for needing the grant. 

If you are an American Indian or Alaska Native looking to improve the mental, physical, and spiritual health of other American Indians or Alaska Natives, you may have a wonderful opportunity to do so in applying for a grant of this nature.  Best wishes on your path of working toward a career in the healthcare field!