The IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Fund Program began in 2005. This program aims to fill Iowa health care positions with notable openings by offering significant financial support to students seeking health care education or training. In exchange for this financial support, each recipient must commit to working one year in an Iowa hospital for each scholarship award year.

The Iowa Hospital Association supports the Health Care Careers Scholarship Program through IHERF, an IHA subsidiary. Scholarships of up to $7,000 ($3,000 per year for a maximum of two years) each have supported higher education for over 800 Iowa college students. Apply for health care careers scholarships HERE through Friday, Feb. 28, 2025.

Apply for college scholarships for health care careers HERE from Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, through Friday, Feb. 28, 2025.

Traditional and nontraditional students must meet and agree to these requirements before applying:

  • Students must be enrolled in an accredited program leading to licensure or a clinical laboratory degree.
  • Students must be within three years of completing their professional education.
  • Students must complete the online application form by the deadline.
  • Following graduation, students must agree to work for Iowa hospitals (including Iowa hospital-owned clinics and long-term care facilities) for one year for each scholarship awarded. Employment must be in the career and the district selected on the application form.
  • If the scholarship is for the Emergency Medical Technology/Technician Certification Program, students must work for one year with an EMT company serving Iowa hospitals in the district selected on the application form.