The Health Care Award Program provides financial awards to nurse educators teaching full-time at eligible Iowa colleges and universities, as well as applicants who agree to practice as registered nurses, advanced registered nurse practitioners, or physician assistants in service commitment areas for five consecutive years, and who meet the requirements of the program.
Eligibility Criteria
Be a:
- student in their final year of a degree program leading to a license to practice as an advanced registered nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or registered nurse and who agrees to practice in a service commitment area; or,
- Licensed advanced registered nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or registered nurse who agrees to practice in a service commitment area; or,
- Nurse educator at an eligible Iowa college/university for five consecutive years; or a licensed advanced registered nurse practitioner or registered nurse who also agrees to practice part-time as a nurse educator for five consecutive years (hours worked as a nurse educator and licensed advanced registered nurse practitioner or registered nurse must equate to full-time employment over the course of the year);
- Complete and file an application for the program by the March 31 deadline;
- Annually complete and return an affidavit of practice verifying full-time employment, as defined by the employer, in a service commitment area or at an eligible Iowa college/university (for nurse educators) during the entire year
*A service commitment area is defined as a city in Iowa with a population of less than 26,000 that is located more than 20 miles from a city with a population of 50,000 or more.
Award Amount & Payment Options
The maximum annual award shall be $6,000 per year for up to five consecutive years of full-time employment.
The award will be disbursed as a lump-sum payment to you. Payments issued to individuals are considered taxable income and the State of Iowa will issue a 1099 MISC to you for tax filing purposes.*
Details on the taxability of award program benefits can be found on the IRS website.
Selection Criteria
All applications received on or before the March 31 deadline will be considered for funding. To the extent possible, an equal number of new advanced registered nurse practitioners, nurse educators, physician assistants, and registered nurses will be offered awards based on availability of funds.
1. Renewals
2. Iowa residents and members of the Iowa National Guard (if requested by the Adjutant General), who:
- Are in the final year of the degree program leading to a license to practice in a specified occupation; and, advanced registered nurse practitioners or registered nurses who agree to begin practice as a nurse educator on at least a part-time basis. If all eligible applicants within this category cannot be funded, eligible applicants in this category will be prioritized by date of application.
- Individuals who are licensed to practice in a specified occupation and agree to begin working in a service commitment area (but who are not working in a service commitment area at the time they apply). If all eligible applicants within this category cannot be funded, eligible applicants in this category will be prioritized by date of application.
- The most recent graduates of degree programs leading to a license to practice in a specified occupation or leading to the qualification to practice as a nurse educator. If all eligible applicants within this category cannot be funded, eligible applicants in this category will be prioritized by date of application.
3. Individuals who are neither Iowa residents nor members of the Iowa National Guard (by request of the Adjutant General), who:
- Are in the final year of the degree program leading to a license to practice in a specified occupation; and, advanced registered nurse practitioners or registered nurses who agree to begin practice as a nurse educator on at least a part-time basis. If all eligible applicants within this category cannot be funded, eligible applicants in this category will be prioritized by date of application.
- Individuals who are licensed to practice in a specified occupation and agree to begin working in a service commitment area (but who are not working in a service commitment area at the time they apply). If all eligible applicants within this category cannot be funded, eligible applicants in this category will be prioritized by date of application.
- The most recent graduates of degree programs leading to a license to practice in a specified occupation or leading to the qualification to practice as a nurse educator. If all eligible applicants within this category cannot be funded, eligible applicants in this category will be prioritized by date of application.
How to Apply
The application for the 2024-25 academic year is closed. The application for the 2025-26 academic year will open in February 2025.
If you are an advanced registered nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or registered nurse, and are trying to decide if you want to apply for the Health Professional Recruitment Program or the Health Care Award Program; see the program comparison guide to help in your decision.
*Applicants may receive award program benefits for no more than five consecutive years. Recipients who fail to submit a completed program application before the established deadline will not be considered for future awards.
Renewal Applicants
Renewal applicants of the Health Care Award Program (HCA) will receive specific instructions on how to apply.
Recipients of the Health Care Award Program are not eligible to participate in the Rural Iowa Physician Assistant and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Loan Repayment Program or the Health Professional Recruitment Program (HPRP).