By the Scholarship editorial desk · Last updated 25 June 2026 · Verified against official program sources · 4 min read
HCAI scholarships are not a single award but a family of programs from California’s Department of Health Care Access and Information. They share one idea: the state pays toward your health-profession education, and in return you commit to serving an underserved California community after you finish.
Core eligibility and award details
Award size depends on the specific program and profession. The Advanced Practice Healthcare Scholarship offers up to $25,000, the Behavioral Health and Certified Wellness Coach scholarships up to $35,000 for one year’s cost of attendance, and the newer Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Scholarship can reach $240,000 depending on the profession. Funds are restricted to education costs and routed to your institution, not paid as living expenses.
| Key detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Run by | CA Dept. of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) |
| Type | Health-profession scholarships with service obligation |
| Service | Typically 1 year direct patient care in an underserved area |
| Award range | Up to $25,000, $35,000, or as high as $240,000 by program |
| Use of funds | Tuition, fees, books and required supplies only |
| Apply via | funding.hcai.ca.gov |
HCAI sits inside California’s broader behavioral-health workforce investment, which has channelled billions into scholarships, loan repayment, and training. Individual programs target different professions: the Advanced Practice Healthcare Scholarship covers advanced-practice nursing roles, the Behavioral Health Scholarship Program spans dozens of professional categories, and the newer Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Scholarship funds students across many behavioral-health pathways. Funds are routed to your institution and restricted to education costs, never living expenses.
Deadlines and timeline
Each HCAI program opens on its own schedule, so there is no single deadline. For example, the Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Scholarship cycle opened on 2 February 2026 and closed 16 March 2026, with awards expected mid-2026; the Advanced Practice and Behavioral Health programs run their own annual windows. Check the HCAI scholarships page for the program you want and the current open dates.
| Stage | When |
|---|---|
| Program guide and application open | Set per program |
| Application closes | Per program (often early spring) |
| Award notifications | Late spring to summer |
| Service obligation begins | After graduation and licensure |
How to apply, step by step
- Identify which HCAI program fits your profession and education level.
- Read that program’s grant guide for exact eligibility and award amounts.
- Create an account and apply on the HCAI funding portal during the open window.
- Document your acceptance or enrolment in an eligible accredited program.
- If awarded, accept the service obligation and meet the licensure and employment terms.
Required documents
- HCAI funding portal account
- Proof of acceptance or enrolment in an eligible health program
- Program-specific cost-of-attendance forms
- Documentation supporting eligibility (residency, profession, language priority where relevant)
Selection criteria and renewal conditions
Selection priorities vary by program, but many give weight to applicants who speak a Medi-Cal threshold language, have a history in medically underserved areas, or come from disadvantaged backgrounds. The defining feature is the service commitment: accept an award and you agree to practise in an underserved California setting for the required period, with employment and licensure verification afterward.
Read the specific grant guide for your program before applying, since eligibility, exact award amounts, and the length of the service obligation differ between them. Priority often goes to applicants who speak a Medi-Cal threshold language, have worked in underserved areas, or come from a disadvantaged background, so document those clearly if they apply to you.
Official source and application link
Always apply through the official source below and confirm current-cycle dates there before you submit.
Browse HCAI scholarships and apply
Supporting trust and usability notes
These are official California state programs, so they are dependable, but the service obligation is a real, binding commitment to weigh before accepting. Health-pathway students nationally should also look at the Tylenol Future Care scholarship and, for social-justice and health activism, the Pedro Zamora Young Leaders scholarship. STEM and research students can add the GeneTex scholarship program.
