Dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dentistry and hygiene students in California may be eligible for financial aid through loan repayment or a scholarship through the Department of Access and Education. health care information. Several programs with current year application cycles are now open with fall deadlines, and a fourth program will open on September 1.

CDA successfully advocated for funding from the state budget to expand the diversity of California’s healthcare workforce, and the millions of dollars in HCAI scholarships, loan repayments and subsidies are a result. Additional funds will go towards workforce capacity research, education and training.

Nader A. Nadershahi, DDS, MBA, EdD, Dean of University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, sits on the 18-member council that discusses and makes recommendations to HCAI on topics such as education and training of the workforce, health care career paths and areas requiring health workforce resources. CDA engaged with policy makers to advocate that the perspective of dentistry be included in these funding decisions and welcomed Governor Gavin Newsom’s appointment of Dr. Nadershahi to the board earlier this year.

Program Descriptions and Eligibility

Brief summaries of the four scholarship and loan repayment programs follow. Prospective applicants can first answer several questions using the HCAI Funding Eligibility Tool to determine if they are eligible to apply for one of the programs.

For all programs, eligible providers will submit their application through the HCAI online application portal after first registering to use the system.

Advanced Healthcare Scholarship Program: Apply by October 31

California dental students are eligible to apply for the Advanced Practice Healthcare Fellowship Program, which aims to increase the number of properly trained advanced practice healthcare professionals providing direct patient care in an underserved area or qualified facility. .

Eligible dental students:

• May receive a $25,000 scholarship in exchange for a 12-month service obligation practicing and providing direct patient care in an underserved community.
• Be currently enrolled in a dental education program and be able to show associated tuition fees.
• Must apply through the application portal by 3 p.m. on October 31.

Allied Health Care Scholarship Scheme: Apply by October 31

California dental hygiene students are eligible to apply for the Allied Healthcare Scholarship Program, which aims to increase the number of properly trained Allied Healthcare Professionals providing direct patient care in an underserved area or qualified facility .

Eligible dental hygiene students:

• May receive up to $15,000 in exchange for a 12 month service obligation practicing and providing direct patient care in an underserved community.
• Be currently enrolled in a dental hygiene program and be able to show associated training fees.
• Must apply through the application portal by 3 p.m. on October 31.

Questions regarding both scholarship programs can be emailed to HCAI.

California State Loan Repayment Program: Apply by September 15

CDA recently published an article about this student loan repayment program, designed to increase and diversify the state’s health workforce.

Eligible licensed dentists and dental hygienists:

• May receive up to $50,000 in loan forgiveness for a two-year full-time service obligation in a federally designated health professional shortage area.
• May receive up to $25,000 in loan forgiveness for a two-year part-time duty of service in a federally designated health professional shortage area.
• Must apply through the application portal by 3 p.m. on September 15.

Reward amounts of up to $10,000 or $20,000 are also available to eligible providers with part-time or full-time service extensions in the first year. More details in the ADC article. Interested candidates can also email HCAI with questions.

Allied Healthcare Loan Repayment Program: Apply Sept 1-Oct 1 31

California dental assistants and dental hygienists are eligible to apply for the Allied Healthcare Loan Repayment Program, which aims to increase the number of properly trained Allied healthcare professionals.

Eligible dental assistants and dental hygienists:

• Can receive up to $16,000 in loan repayments in exchange for a 12 month service obligation.
• Must satisfy service obligation by practicing and providing direct patient care at a facility under contract with the county medical services program or at a facility located in one of the 35 counties designated by the CMSP.
• Must apply through the application portal by 3 p.m. on October 31. The application cycle opens on September 1.

Interested candidates can email HCAI with questions.

CDA will notify members of any new opportunities and upcoming application deadlines.