Alternative medicine has grown in popularity over the recent years and consequently the number of alternative medicine practitioners is on the rise.

Like traditional medicine, the skills and techniques applied in alternative medicine require training and education. For many people however, acquiring an education is expensive.

Luckily, there are many institutions and organizations who now offer scholarships to students interested in pursuing the study of alternative medicine like acupuncture. Companies that offer health products related to acupuncture provide grants and scholarships in order to increase the number of practitioners in the field.

Associations composed of alternative medicine practitioners also provide support for students who wish to study their art and thus increase their ranks.

Here are some of the readily available grants and scholarships for acupuncturists…

American Specialty Health

American Specialty Health awards scholarships worth up to $7,500 to acupuncture students who have full time enrollment in an accredited institution with a grade point average of 3.0.

American Foundation of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Scholarships

The American Foundation of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine offers scholarships in the  American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, an educational institution in Houston, Texas which is dedicated to Oriental medicine. Scholarships are offered each year and are available even to new students who file their applications before the deadline.

Academic Achievement Award Scholarship

In Portland, Oregon, the National College of Natural Medicine offers the Academic Achievement Award Scholarship to new students for the first three terms of his chosen course. The recipient will be chosen based on the applicants’ application letters and essay. Students of the college who show leadership skills, remarkable community service and an above average scholastic record will be considered for the $3000 Founders Scholarship.

A student in his third or fourth year in the college who shows exceptional scholastic performance may be awarded with the Wise Woman Herbals Scholarship worth $1000.

Yo San Scholarship / Master Ni Scholarship

In Los Angeles, California, the Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine offers at least two scholarships. One is the Yo San Scholarship worth $1,500, for full-time new students who already have a prior Bachelor’s degree with a 3.75 upwards grade point average.

Another is the Master Ni Scholarship which is given to students who perform well in the university and have also performed well in past educational experiences. The recipient must also show characteristic zeal to forward the study of holistic medicine.

Dr. Michael and Marlene Nissenblatt Scholarship

Another scholarship is the Dr. Michael and Marlene Nissenblatt Scholarship is offered to students in their first or second year studying the fields of acupuncture and other fields like herbology and traditional Chinese medicine.

These students must aim to incorporate a humanized or personal touch to their future practice in order to apply for the said scholarship.

This scholarship pays $2,000 and is available to graduates of New Jersey high schools. You can download an application for this scholarship by clicking here.

Herbal Time Scholarship / Jade Dragon Scholarship / Nuherbs Scholarship

The Pacific College’s School of Acupuncture in partnership with Nuherbs Co. offer several different scholarships…

The Herbal Time Scholarship is awarded to outstanding students of the Master of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine. Each year, a qualified student is awarded $1,500.

Another student with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better will receive the Jade Dragon Scholarship worth $1,000.

The Nuherbs Scholarship worth $2,000 is awarded to another qualified student. Nuherbs Co. offers the same scholarships in other ACAOM (Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) accredited schools.

Federal and State Grants

Although not specifically for acupuncture, Federal grants like the Pell grant and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity grant can be applied toward almost any properly accredited program.

These grants are “needs-based” which means they are given out on the basis of financial wherewithal. Because the Federal and State grants are the most generous, we recommend you submit an application to see if you apply for funding.

It’s easy, just fill out and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This application is also used by state authorities to determine your eligibility for any applicable state grants as well.

Summation

Scholarships and grants for this field of study have greatly helped in encouraging people to pursue this career path and increasing the number of qualified professionals who engage in holistic medicine and traditional Oriental medicine in the United States. As a result, more and more people are turning to more natural ways of treatment.

Sourcing Post Secondary Funding

Some helpful information to help you fund your scholastic journey…

Gynecology literally means “the study of women.”

That definition in itself speaks volumes on the intrinsic nature of the field. As of the present, most gynecologists are also obstetricians since both fields, more often than not, go hand in hand.

The field is a lucrative one for aspiring gynecologists but the cost of becoming one can be daunting.

Fortunately, several institutions offer grants, scholarships, fellowships and student loans that help make tuition fees, research and other educational expenses more affordable for graduate students and residents.

The following are some grants and scholarships that are available…

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Scholarship Award

Every year the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in cooperation with the American Association Obstetricians and Gynecologists Foundation offers the SMFM/AAOGF Scholarship Award.

This award is for students in their second and third years of education who have gone through the maternal-fetal medicine training , but it is not a typical scholarship.

Instead, it is a research-based scholarship of significant value ($100,000). Not surprisingly, a considerable amount of documentation is required (budget proposals and so on) in order to be considered for the award.

Once awarded, the scholarship may be renewed for up to three years.

You can learn more here!

West Virginia State Loan Repayment Program

The state of West Virginia offers a loan repayment program for obstetricians or gynecologists who qualify.

In order to be eligible for the program, professionals must agree to practice in areas within the state that have dire need for their skills for a period of up to two years.

Recipients can receive up to $40,000 within two years to repay debts. These debts must be for schooling; the qualified public or private educational training undergone in order to obtain their degree.

Grants and Scholarships for Obstetricians & Gynecologists: Medical Student Scholarship Program

Similarly the state of Illinois has a Medical Student Scholarship Program designed to entice gynecologists to practice in the state’s underserved areas.

For applicants to qualify, they must be residents of Illinois and have been accepted or are enrolled in a medical school based in the state.

The scholarship covers a year of tuition and other school fees as well as living expenses with a budget of up to $950 per month.

Interested applicants may inquire at the financial aid office of their own college.

National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program

This particular program gives preference to medical students who are pursuing a career in the field of women’s health.

The lucky recipient can enjoy full coverage of tuition fees, help in other school fees as well as textbook expenses and cost of living allowance.

The main condition for the program is that the recipient, upon attaining his degree,  must agree to serve in an underserved area one year for each year of support provided by the program.

More details can be had at the official web site.

American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Scholarship Programs

The ACOG offers several different scholarships to students of medicine who specialize in obstetrics and gynecology…

• The Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Research Award on Female Sexual Dysfunction worth $10,000.
• The ACOG/Abbott Nutrition Research Award on Nutrition in Pregnancy which can give the selected recipient with up to $25,000 to fund research dedicated to the relationship between nutrition and pregnancy.

Aspiring applicants have to submit their applications by October 1 each year. More information can be found on the official web site.

Cambridge University OB/GYN Scholarship at the University of Iowa

Third year medical students of the University of Iowa who plan to specialize in obstetrics and gynecology at Cambridge University in the UK may apply for this scholarship program offered by Cambridge University.

It is a four-week term worth $1,500 which is undergone during the successful applicant’s fourth year.

School-Specific Awards

There are also a lot of Grants and Scholarships for Obstetricians & Gynecologists specific to certain schools that offer such programs.

One example of this is the East Tennessee State University’s James and Mary Bruce Mazza Obstetrics/Gynecology Residency Award Endowment Scholarship.

Recipients are medical students in their senior year who must be residents of the area and have been accepted to a residency program in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.

Another school-based scholarship is the Bruce H. Drukker, M.D. Endowed Award of Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology offered in the University of Michigan.

The scholarship is awarded to students of human medicine in their fourth year.

The recipient must have excellent academic standing with priority given to those who scored above average in the USMLE Step II in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Federal and State Grants

Remember to fill OUT the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA, as it is the “gateway application” for the majority of available federal grants. This includes both the Pell grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant or FSEOG.

You can learn more about about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and how to get one here!

You may also qualify for applicable state grants so make sure you submit your completed FAFSA as soon as possible in the year you plan to attend school, as this same application is used by state authorities as well.

Learn more about available state grants here.

It is ALSO a good idea for students who are looking for grants and scholarships in gynecology to look at their own school’s financial aid programs to see which scholarships and/or grants they qualify.

Good luck!

If you are looking for paramedic/EMT grants and scholarships, then you should always visit your school’s financial aid department before you do anything else. The financial aid department is designed to help students find monetary resources to pay for their education.

To get started hunting down funding, all students should complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

This application is the “gateway” to the main federal and state grants.

The income disclosure information provided on this application is used to determine each student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is a measure of how much the student and/or his or her parents can afford to contribute to the education costs.

The lower the EFC is, the higher the financial aid award will be.

Pell Grants and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants

Using the data from the completed FAFSA, the federal government then decides whether you are eligible for a grant, and if so, how much.

These funds are normally distributed as either a Pell Grant or a Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG).

These grants can pay anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars towards the cost of your education. In some states, like Washington for example, the state government may also match the Pell Grant with state money.

While these grants are not specifically for paramedics, they can be used to pay for such programs.

State EMS Agencies

Before you start school, see if your state has an EMS agency or association.

These groups are normally responsible for training EMTs and proving oversight. On most of their websites, students will find information about the different grants and scholarships available.

Students should make sure to complete their FAFSA and turn in their scholarship application by the deadline.

National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians

The NAEMT is a national organization designed to help professionals in the field.

Active members of the NAEMT can complete scholarship applications each year to receive educational funding. Individuals who are enrolled in EMT-B training can receive up to $500 while individuals in an EMT-Paramedic course can receive $5,000 in scholarship aid.

Once first responders receive these certifications, they can also apply for an additional $2,000 toward continuing their education.

To apply for the scholarship, students should turn in their application by the deadline.

They should also write a 1,000 word essay detailing their reasons for pursing the grant money and how it can change their life. Once all of the applications have been turned in, the student that exhibits the most potential will receive the scholarship award.

Carlos Lillo Memorial Paramedic Scholarship

Carlos Lillo was a paramedic who lost his life during the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center.

In his memory, this scholarship is handed out to students who are pursuing an education as an emergency medical technician. Applicants must send in their resume, an application and a scholarship essay.

They should also submit evidence of their financial need.

Once the applicant pool is narrowed down, students will have a scholarship interview. Award winners will receive the cost of their tuition at an accredited NYS Paramedic course. Check out Lofty Property Management.

FARE Children’s Scholarship Fund

Started by the Foundation for Air-Medical Research and Education, this scholarship program gives out two awards each year.

Applicants should be in their last year of high school and plan on pursuing a career as a paramedic.

Successful applicants will generally show a strong academic history, community involvement, volunteer work and financial need. In addition, students should be legal residents of the United States.

Winners of the FARE scholarship will receive $2,500 toward the cost of their education.

Bound Tree Legacy Scholarship

This program is given to the children of EMTs, firefighters or paramedics. Students should be planning on attending an EMS or paramedic program.

Depending on their academic program, award winners can receive anywhere from $500 to $2,500 toward the cost of their schooling.

So far, the Bound Tree Legacy Scholarship has been given to more than 400 award recipients around the nation.

More details can be found on the official web site.

American Medical Response Reimbursement

Students who are already working in the field can normally check to see if their employer offers some kind of tuition reimbursement. Individuals who are employed at American Medical response can get the cost of their schooling reimbursed.

To be eligible, employees have to work for the minimum number of months before applying for the tuition reimbursement.

After they finish their certification, students must continue to work at American Medical Response for a set period of time.

Do you need free money for school?

Obtaining an education at a reasonable price can be a daunting task. Not surprisingly therefore, many of you who wish to train to become dental assistants will wish to investigate some sort of funding, usually in the form of grants and scholarships.

There is some good news, however…

In some cases, you only need to go to school for one to two years to get a certificate as a dental assistant. This keeps your tuition costs down.

Secondly, there are plenty of funding options available for you to investigate, so there’s no need to let the high cost of tuition deter you from pursuing the career in which you are the most interested.

If you are determined enough, you will find the funding you need for the education you want.

Let’s look at some of your options…

Federal “Needs-Based” Grants

Students who need funding for school should always submit in their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before doing anything else.

Submitting this form will enroll you to receive funds from the main federal and state grants, should you be eligible to receive them.

Needs based grants are awarded according to financial status. In other words, the less income you have (or your parents, should this be applicable) , the more likely you will obtain a grant. Grant eligibility is largely determined by the income disclosure element of the FAFSA.

This information is used to calculate your “Expected Family Contribution” (EFC). The lower your EFC is, the easier it will be to get need-based funding for an education.

The two main forms of federal aid are the Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. Both of these aid packages are given to financially needy students who are studying any academic programs.

To be eligible for these grants, students must have a low EFC and be a United States resident.

They cannot have any charges for drug possession and must file with the Selective Service if eligible. Students must also be attending their school at least part-time to qualify for any aid. Although these grant programs are not specifically designed for dental assistance programs, they are available to students of any academic program.

Filing for the FAFSA is also important because it determines your eligibility for need based grants in your state. Some dental assistance grants and scholarships will also require you to submit your EFC so they can determine your financial need.

Health Care Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP)

This program is operated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. It is intended to help economically disadvantaged students pursue a degree in the health care fields. It can also be used by students who are pursuing a graduate or professional degree.

More details can be found here!

American Dental Association

The ADA gives scholarships for students studying to be a dental assistant. These awards are given out every year to students who apply to the various scholarship programs located at their website:

http://www.ada.org/applyforassistance.aspx.

Although eligibility requirements vary, the ADA has a variety of scholarships intended for minority students. Students should expect to meet various need-based or academic merit requirements.

American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA)

Scholarships offered by the ADAA are intended entirely for dental assistants. One such award is the ADAA Student Achievement award. Students who apply for this award must be members of the ADAA and be in the process of studying at a school for dental assistants. The application is due before March 31 every year and the award is for the amount of $250.

A second award offered by this organization is the Juliette A. Southard/Oral-B Scholarship program.

Further details and application forms can be found here!

Hispanic Dental Association Awards

Students who are members of the Hispanic community can apply for these awards. There are several…

1)  Colgate-Palmolive / HDA Foundation Scholarship
2)  HDAF Scholars Award
3)  Dr. Juan D. Villarreal / HDA Foundation Scholarship

These grants pay out varying amounts of money; from $500-$10,000 to applicable students. Full details can be obtained from the official web site.

National Dental Association Foundation (NDAF)

Started in 1990, the NDAF created this award program to help students that come from a minority background.

Known as the Colgate-Palmolive Scholarship, this funding program has an application available here. This award is given to one dental assistant student each year for the amount of $250. If dentistry students choose to pursue further studies, they can receive higher award amounts for graduate work, dental hygiene programs and doctoral programs.

There are also five $2,000 scholarships given out to freshman students for every year they are in school.

To be eligible, students should demonstrate academic merit and financial need. They should submit their FAFSA in a timely manner prior to turning in their scholarship application. Staff members at the National Dental Association Foundation are not eligible for any award programs.

Job Corps

Run by the U.S. Department of Labor, Job Corps is a “career technical training and education program for students ages 16 through 24.” Developed for financially disadvantaged individuals, Job Corps trains you for your career, provides you with housing and meals, and even a monthly allowance.

If you are eligible, there is no cost for the Job Corps program.

That’s correct… Job Corps can help you become a dental assistant for free!

Directly From Schools

Always inquire about grants and scholarships directly at the admissions office of the schools which you are investigating. The people here are the best suited to inform you of what’s available. And, more often than not, you’ll find that the school will have its own funding options for which you can apply.

Before searching specifically for clinical laboratory technician grants or scholarships, you should first fill in and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

This application is the gateway application for many available federal and state grant programs (i.e., the Pell grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant).

While these grants are not specifically for students looking to train as clinical laboratory technicians, the funds from them can be applied towards such programs, provided they are taught at a properly accredited institution.

Once you have done that, it’s time to look at industry specific funding. Here are some of your options…

Siemens Scholarships

One organization students should make sure to check for funding options is Siemens.

This company hires many clinical laboratory technicians and works to support students who want to enter the field. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $2,500 and require students who are committed to academic excellence.

Some of the awards offered by Siemens include…

Medical Technologist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist (MT/CLS) Award

The MT/CLS award is given out to students with a 2.8 GPA or higher. This scholarship will pay for $2,500 of the cost of an education.

Clinical Laboratory Technician/Medical Laboratory Technician (CLT/MLT) Award

Another scholarship offered by the program is the CLT/MLT award. This scholarship is for $1,000 and requires a 2.5 GPA.

The Legacy Scholarship

If a student has a relative who is a certified clinical laboratory professional, they are eligible for an additional scholarship award. The Legacy Scholarship offered by Siemens gives students $5,000 for the cost of their education. This award can be applied for on-line.

Each year, Siemens gives out 34 MT/CLS scholarship. Students must be in a program accredited by the NAACLS and should be in their final year of study. The award program is only open to students who are citizens or residents of the United States.

The CLT/MLT scholarship program encompasses 50 awards that are valued at $1,000 each. Applicants should be in their last year of study and have at least a 2.5 GPA.

To access the scholarship applications, and learn more, students should visit the official web site.

American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)

Successful applicants for this award program can receive anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 toward the cost of their education.

Run by the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) scholarship program gives $1,000 to students who have a minimum of a 2.8 GPA.

If the student has a relative who works in the field, they can receive up to $2,000.

Another award offered by ASCP is the National Student Honor Award. Applicants must be a member of the ASCP and have at least a 3.3 GPA.

Students should also show a history of community service to be eligible for the award.

For more information about ASCP award programs, visit: http://www.ascp.org/Laboratory-Science-Program-Directors/Awards-and-Scholarships#tabs-1 .

American Medical Technologists

This award program is intended to get more minority and underrepresented students to work as a clinical laboratory technician.

Students must complete their application by the deadline and be enrolled in an accredited clinical laboratory sciences program. Successful applicants will receive awards for $500. More details are available here!

Wisconsin Society for Clinical Laboratory Science

Many states have associations and non-profits that are designed to help clinical laboratory technicians attend school.

In the state of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Society for Clinical Laboratory Science accepts scholarship applications on a yearly basis.

Students should be graduating high school and plan on attending a clinical laboratory science program. Successful applicants will be given $500 for each semester of school. In the last year of their studies, students can receive an extra $1,000 scholarship.

Health Careers Opportunity Program

The Health Careers Opportunity Grant program is operated by the United States Department of health and Human Services. With the shortage of health care professionals, the United States government has tried creating grants and incentives for more students to get involved in the field.

The program is intended for any student in the health field. More information about the program can be found on-line or at your school’s financial aid department.

School Scholarships

For more information about clinical laboratory technician grants and scholarships, visit your local college. Many schools will offer unique scholarships to students in their department. At the Virginia Commonwealth University for instance, students are granted multiple different scholarship options.

They can apply for the $1,000 Daria Downing Scholarship, the $1,000 Jessie Hibbs Scholarship or the $2,000 Phi Kappa Phi Scholarship.

Anyone attending North Dakota State University is also granted unique funding opportunities. Grants at this school can range from $250 to $1,000.

To be eligible, students should exhibit financial need and have a strong academic history. Applications must be turned in by the yearly deadline to be considered.

Although these are just a few of the schools that offer Clinical Laboratory Science scholarships, you can always ask the financial aid department at your school.

Before you enroll, remember that you should always turn in your FAFSA to make sure you get every federal and state grant available before you start school.

Students who are searching for Grants and Scholarships for Medical Assistants can find them via federal, state and private programs.

Obtaining a degree as a medical assistant can help you to reach a higher pay bracket and pursue your dream for a healthcare career.

With scholarships and grants, you can lower the cost of your education.

From federal and state aid to American Medical Technologists’ scholarships, chances are you can find the funding you need to pursue a degree.

Federal Programs

To get started applying for available federal and state funding options, students should submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

This application is normally due in early in the year you plan to attend school.

Using the income disclosure information provided, something called the “Expected Family Contribution” or  EFC is calculated. Because most federal grants are “needs based” (distributed on the basis of financial need), this EFC “score” is used to determine whether or not you are eligible for a grant, and if so, how much.

Depending on this information, you may be awarded a Pell Grant or a Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant (FSEOG).

Pell Grants are normally given to students who have a low income and need money to pursue their education.

This grant covers up to $5,000 of the cost of school and is renewed each year the student is eligible. Students have to attend a qualifying program and have a low EFC.

With the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, students are given money by the government to go to school. The FSEOG is award to students who are experiencing extreme financial hardship. The college will normally pay 25 percent of the grant and the federal government will pay the other 75 percent.

Submitting the FAFSA will also automatically enroll you to receive any applicable state grants (which also use the EFC data), should you be eligible to receive them.

For this reason, submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid should always be your first step in the attempt to secure free money for school.

American Medical Technologists Scholarship

Students who are looking for medical assistant scholarships and grants can apply with the AMT.

This organization is a non-profit that serves members of the medical community.

Every year five applicants will be given $500 to help cover the cost of tuition, books or living expenses.

This award is based primarily on financial need so students should complete their FAFSA before applying.

Successful applicants will be notified of their award before it is sent to the school. The student’s college will then disburse the award to cover the cost of tuition throughout the year.

The AMT also offers two awards; the Outstanding Student Award and the Technical Writing award. You can learn more about these rewards here!

Maxine Williams Scholarship

This scholarship program gives an award of $1,000 toward the cost of a degree.

Before applying, students have to attend at least one quarter in a medical assistants program and receive a GPA of 3.0 or higher. To apply, students should ask the director of their medical assistant program.

Scholarship applications are given out to the heads of the department before the deadline each year.

The Maxine Williams scholarship also requires students be attending a school that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Once a student receives the award, they will also be given a free membership to the AAMA for the duration of one year.

More details are available here!

Steven Cutter Award

The Steven Cutter Award is run by the Foundation for Seacoast Health.

Students must be residents of select counties in Maine in order to apply for this scholarship. Once they receive the award, students must agree to remain residents in the state. If a student is given this scholarship, they need to track how the scholarship funds were used for the cost of their schooling.

At the end of the school year, students must give the Foundation for Seacoast health financial documents that show how the money was used.

Alaska Medical Assistants Society State Scholarship

Each year, the Alaska Medical Assistants Society takes in applications for its scholarship program.

Students must be currently enrolled at a medical assistant program within the state of Alaska.

At this time, the state has two medical assistant programs: University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Alaska Anchorage. After all applications have been turned in, two award winners will receive $500.

The Nancy Fortin Scholarship

This scholarship is exclusively made for individuals studying to be a medical assistant in Washington State. The Nancy Fortin Scholarship requires that every applicant by in a fully accredited medical assistant program.

Each application is judged based off of the student’s financial need and interest in the subject. At the end of the review, two applications will be given $500 for the calendar year.

Alice Newell Joselyn Medical Fund

This scholarship is intended for students who live in San Diego County, California.

The BECA Foundation awards the scholarship to Latino students who are pursuing a degree as a medical assistant. Applicants must be currently in a medical assistant or high school to be eligible for the scholarship. Successful applications will receive $500 to $2,000 toward the cost of their education.

For more information and to download an application, click here!

Other Options

Anyone who wants to become a medical assistant should always check with their college for potential scholarships. Medical assistant scholarships and grants are often given out at the college level by local award programs.

State level grants are also often available to those looking to pursue a career in healthcare. Visit our grants by state page for more details.

Wondering how to get How to Get Grants for Physiotherapy Programs?

Since a postgraduate degree and therefore a minimum of three years of education is required before you can become a physiotherapist (“physical therapist” or  “PT”), it’s not surprising to learn that doing so is going to be an expensive proposition.

And when you consider that having a Bachelor’s degree is usually a prerequisite to getting a doctorate degree, well, I’m sure we don’t have to spell it out for you.

It’s going to be very, very, costly.

But likely worthwhile. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that for 2010, the median pay for physical therapists is $76,310 or $36.69.

Even more encouraging is that fact that for the period between 2010-2020, the job outlook is very good; a 39% increase in jobs is expected. That’s about 77,400 jobs. So the investment in your education now will pay great dividends in the long term.

So what are your options when it comes to using grants and scholarships to fund your physical therapy program education?

There are a few…

Needs Based Grants

These grants are distributed on the basis of financial status and are not specific to a career; they can be used to train for almost any career, provided it is taught at a properly accredited institution. In other words, while they are not specifically for physical education programs, funding from them can be used for PT schools.

Generally, the lower your income, the greater the chance you will be eligible for one of these grants, and the greater the amount of money you will receive.

The two main needs based grants in the U.S. are the Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). Most states have their own needs based programs in place as well.

How Do I Apply?

Applying is easy; just submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

We recommend you apply regardless of your financial status for three main reasons…

1. It costs you nothing to do so.
2. The worst that can happen is that your application for grant funding is rejected.
3. Submitting the FAFSA also registers you to receive other applicable state and federal grants, should you be eligible.

Grants for Physiotherapy from Professional Associations

Many professions maintain national and state wide associations, and physical therapy is no exception.

It is not uncommon for these associations to provide grant and scholarship money to students pursuing a related career, although you may need to be a registered member of the association in order to be eligible to receive the funding.

In the U.S., the most well known association is the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). They offer (or are affiliated with) a series of grants, scholarships and awards…

• Outstanding PT Student and PTA Student Awards: For “student physical therapist and student physical therapist assistant member with exceptional overall accomplishments and contributions to APTA.” More details can be found here.
• SPT Minority Scholarship Award for Academic Excellence: Offered by the Physical Therapy Fund, a non profit organization supported by the APTA, this scholarship provides funds for minority physical therapist students. Click here for more details.
• Mary McMillan Scholarship Award: For both PTs and PT assistants, this award pays $3,000 and $5,000 respectively to eligible applicants. According to the APTA…”Recipients will be selected on the basis of the following criteria: superior scholastic performance, past productivity, evidence of potential contribution to physical therapy and service to the American Physical Therapy Association.”
• Other more specialized awards include: The Neurology Section Student Research Award, the Orthopaedic Section Outstanding PT/PTA Student Award, Pediatrics Section Thesis, the Dissertation Awards and the Performing Arts Special Interest Group (PASIG) Student Scholarship. You can learn more about these on the APTA web site.

State Based Associations

Just like there are national associations, there are also state or regional associations, too. These are good places to look for funding. For example, the Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association maintains a fund (Wisconsin Physical Therapy fund) which was…

“…developed in 1969 to help advance the physical therapy profession in Wisconsin. Today this fund awards scholarships to student pursuing careers in physical therapy as well as grants to support programs that advance the practice of physical therapy and benefit the people we serve.”

It’s not uncommon for state based physical therapy associations to offer similar offerings, so be sure to check out your state’s for more details.

Grants From Organizations and Foundations

Much like associations offer grants and scholarships, so too do organizations, foundations, and even corporations. For example…

The Foundation of Physical Therapy offers the Florence P. Kendall Doctoral Scholarship which pays $5,000 to eligible applicants. Complete details can be found here!

The Special Olympics offers the Special Olympics Health Professions Student Grants, which can be applied towards physical therapy studies, although it is not limited to PTs only. Its mandate is simple…

“The purpose of this program is to engage health professions students to work with persons with intellectual disabilities as a way of filling in a gap that exists in most health program curricula.”

This grant pays as much as $5,000 and you can learn more about it here!

Funding From Colleges, Schools and Universities

Don’t forget to check directly with the school of your choice to see if they offer any funding options. Many do. Most institutions’ web sites will contain scholarship information, but if they do not, inquire directly at the admissions office.

As an example, Belmont University in Georgia offers renewable scholarships to 12 incoming first year physical therapy students each year.

Not all schools are so generous, but many institutions offering full length physical therapy programs (and occasionally physical therapy assistant programs as well) offers something.

With a little research and a sprinkle of luck, there’s a good chance you can offset the cost of your physical therapy career significantly!

Good luck!

The phlebotomist is the medical professional whose job it is to draw blood from patients and prepare it for donation, tests, analysis, diagnosis and so on.

Although the phlebotomy training period is relatively short (you can become fully certified 8-12 months) that does not necessarily mean it’s easy to come up with the funds to pay for your schooling.

Thankfully, there are some options in this regard.

Job Corps

If you are financially disadvantaged, you’ll definitely want check into the Job Corps program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. According to the official web site…

“Job Corps is the nation’s largest career technical training and education program for low-income students ages 16 through 24. “

One program, Job Corps’ Clinical Medical Assistant, allows students to become a fully certified phlebotomy technician in 8-12 months. JobCorps will cover the cost of your education, as well as provide meals, housing and even provide you with an allowance.

While not everyone will be eligible for this program, it is definitely worth investigating – there’s no better option to receive free phlebotomy schooling. Plus, the worst that can happen is that you are not approved.

Federal Grants

The U.S. government provides all students with funding options in the form of two main grants; the Pell grant and the FSEOG (Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant). While the funds dispersed from these grants are not specifically for phlebotomy training, they can be applied towards any almost any career taught at a reputable, accredited institution.

Applying is easy – just submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA – complete details on where to find the form and what to expect from it can be found here).

State Grants

Like their Federal counterpart, most state governments provide financial incentives to help students pay for a post secondary education. Again, most of the available grants will not be specifically for this particular career, but the funds can be applied towards it nonetheless.

The amount of money your state has to dole out will depend on a number of  factors, such as its financial well being and economic state, population and so on. Many states use the data submitted on the aforementioned FAFSA to determine eligibility, so if you submit this form, you are automatically enrolled to received a grant, should you be eligible for one.

Since states have a much smaller pool of funds to draw from to awards their grants and scholarships, it’s important to apply as early in the school year as possible. You can’t receive a grant if the state’s pool of funding has already been used up for the year.

American Society for Clinical Pathology

This society offers two laboratory science scholarships and awards which may go directly to those enrolled in phlebotomy programs…

• The National Student Honor Award: This award “recognizes student excellence in the laboratory professions.” Applicants must be a student member of the ASCP, maintain a minimum 3.3 GPA, be enrolled in an accredited program, and have leadership skills and/or community service activity.
• Scholarships for Lab Students: This includes the ASCP Phlebotomy Scholarship, which pays $500 to students who are either enrolled in an accredited PBT program, or are recent graduates.

For complete details, visit the official web site.

 Schools And Institutions

Often the school or institution you may be considering for study offers some sort of financial aid. Usually these schools will provide this information on their web sites, or alternatively, you can inquire about it when you check in with the admissions office. For example…

• The Medical Skills For Life Institute in Las Vegas, Nevada offers a limited number of scholarships to students pursuing a degree in phlebotomy.
• The Center for Phlebotomy Education in Indiana also offers a scholarship you may be interested in.

Corporations and Associations

Large corporation and associations will also offer scholarships that can be applied toward healthcare related careers. Two such examples are…

• The Tylenol Future Care Scholarship
• The Association of Schools of Allied health Professions Scholarship Excellence Award.

As you can see, there are options to help you pay to become a fully certified phlebotomy technician. Now it’s up to you to get out there and get the money!

Good luck!

Training to become a physician’s assistant can be a pricey proposition, no doubt about it. Since the degrees offered are usually Master’s and Bachelor’s, you can expect to be in school for at least two years (if you already have a bachelor’s degree in this field, or some experience as a nurse or paramedic) and even more if you do not.

Accordingly, the cost to obtain your degree will be significant and possibly prohibitive. Luckily, there are plenty of grants and scholarships for physician assistants available.

This investment in your education pays off in the long run; the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median salary to be $86,410 or $41.54 per hour. The job outlook is good, with a 30% increase in jobs expected in the period from 2010-2020.

Federal and State Funding Options

The first step in securing funding for your education is to fill in and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application will determine your eligibility for the main federal grants (the Pell and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants) as well as any other applicable state-level funding options that use the FAFSA form to assess eligibility.

While these grants aren’t specifically for physician’s assistants, they can be used to fund almost any career, provided it is taught at a properly accredited institution. Since these grants also have the largest pool of available funds to draw  from, they are often your best source for securing funding.

It’s also worthwhile to investigate our grants and scholarships by state listings to see if there are other funding options independent of those which you are assessed when you submit your FAFSA.

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students

This government program provides money directly to accredited schools, who are then responsible for making it available to “financially needy students from disadvantaged backgrounds”, who are enrolled in health related professions and nursing programs.

This includes physician assistants.

While you won’t apply for this money from the government directly yourself, you will definitely want to inquire whether your school obtains funds from this source, and then, how you gain access to this funding. More details of the program can be found here!

Now it’s time to move on and see what else is available…

Physician Assistant Foundation Annual Scholarship Program

This is funded by the American Academy of Physician Assistants, and provides over $1,000,000 in funding for those students pursuing a career in this field, doled out in chunks of $2,000.

To discover how to apply for your share of the money, visit your state chapter of the AAPA online (i.e., the Colorado Chapter, the Florida Chapter, and the Nebraska Chapter). We couldn’t find a complete listing online, so we recommend searching for the “name of your state” + “academy of physician assistants”  to find your state chapter. Applications must be made by January 15, and successful applicants will be chosen on the basis of numerous factors, which include academic performance and financial need.

The African Heritage Caucus of this same academy also awards scholarships to those minority students who are enrolled in a physician assistant program.

The Susan Vincent Memorial Scholarship

Available to residents of Maine, this $1,000 scholarshop is awarded by the Down East Association of Physician Assistants.

Only 1 scholarship is provided per year, to a student training to become a PA.

According to the official regulations, applicants should “submit a brief statement detailing why she/he deserves and needs this scholarship.”

Association of Family Practice Physician Assistants (AFPPA) Scholarship

This scholarship is available to student members of the association who not surprisingly, are in their first or second year of training (students can join the AFPPA for a mere $25/year).

First year students receive up to $1,000, while second year students get a little more; $1,500.

Application guidelines are as follows according to the official web site…

• Submit an essay (750 words or less) that describes your commitment to primary care medicine and how your current and past community involvement demonstrates this commitment. Also, describe efforts to support and promote the PA profession.
• Complete the registration form and forward it to a faculty member, along with your statement. The faculty member then must complete the form and forward the registration form, faculty form, and statement from an official school e-mail address.

You can sign up to become a member of the AFPPA here, at which point you will be eligible to apply for their scholarship offerings.

Asian and Pacific Islander Physician Assistant (APIPA) Caucus Scholarships

This association awards two annual scholarships of $250 to student members who are pursuing a career as a PA. Applying is easy; simply fill in an application.

You’ll need to include personal and academic information, as well as financial data and your community involvement. You must also provide a commentary (in 750 words or less) about one of the personal statements provided on the application.

More information about this scholarship can be found here, or you can call them at 917-209-4175.

Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP)

Run under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this goal of this program…

“…is to assist individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to undertake education to enter a health profession. The HCOP program works to build diversity in the health fields by providing students from disadvantaged backgrounds an opportunity to develop the skills needed to successfully compete, enter and graduate from health professions schools.”

While this program is not specifically for physician assistants, it can certainly be applied towards such a program. More details on the program can be found here. Often you’ll find out more information close by, like at your local university. For example, here’s the HCOP information as it pertains to the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Good luck funding your physician assistant career!

Although the training required to become a pharmacy technician is relatively brief – usually a 8-12 month program is all that is necessary –  paying for school can be difficult.

This is true for everybody, but is especially so if you are a working adult with existing responsibilities (like rent, car payments, mortgage, etc). It’s hard to pay for all those things, plus your schooling.

And worst of all, you probably won’t be able to keep your job while you take your course. That all adds up to additional financial strain.

So how do you train for a better paying, more secure job?

Well, lucky for you there are numerous Pharmacy Technician Grants and Scholarships available to make life easier.

A little background information: Pharmacy techs play a largely administrative role in the drug store; assisting customers, answering the phones, monitoring inventory, and so on. In short they perform the sort of jobs that best leverage the pharmacist’s time. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median salary for this professional to be $28,400 or $13.65/hour. Long term job viability is very good; between the period of 2010-2020 a 32% increase in employment is expected – slightly less than 110,000 jobs.

Federal Grants

The main Federal grants (the Pell grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant or FSEOG) are available to all eligible citizens to help fund their schooling, regardless of what career they happen to choose (the course must be taught at a properly accredited institution, of course).

So it doesn’t matter whether you want to become a doctor, lawyer, dentist, police officer or whatever, these funding options are available to you.

Applying for these grants is easy; just submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Complete details on where to find that form and what to expect from it can be found here.

Additionally, submitting this form will also automatically determine your eligibility for any available state grants, should that option be applicable in your area.

Submitting the FAFSA is the easiest, “no-brainer” way to obtain funding for your career, and we highly recommend you do this before you do anything else.

Job Corps

Job Corps is the US Department of Labor’s career technical training and education program. It provides free training and a monthly allowance to eligible students over 16 who meet low income requirements.

Job Corps does offer a training program for pharmacy technician, so this is definitely something you will want to investigate, especially if you do not make much money.

If you want to become a pharmacy technician for free, and get paid while you train, this is the option for you!

Grants And Scholarships Specifically for Pharmacy Techs

Several associations, companies and organizations offer grants specifically for this career. These include…

Bi-Mart Pharmacy Technician Scholarship

This scholarship is offered by the Bi-Mart corporation, which has over 70 stores in 3 states. This award totals $500 which is to be applied towards education costs, and between 2 and 4 are awarded each year.

More details can be found here!

NCPA J.C. and Rheba Cobb Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is provided by the National Community Pharmacists Association.

It is specifically to be awarded to a student pursuing a career as a pharmacy technician, and pays a one-time benefit of $2,500. Eligibility requirements are as follows; the student must registered in a full time program in this field, as well as maintain a membership in the NCPA. Applicants are judged according to a number of criteria which include academic performance and leadership qualities.

More information can be found on the official web site.

American Pharmacists Association Foundation (APhA) Scholarship Program

The APhA offers ten $1,000 scholarships annually to deserving students studying to become pharmacy technicians. To be eligible, you’ll need to be enrolled as a full time student in this field, and be a member of your local APhA student chapter. More information about this scholarship can be found online at Pharmacist.com.

General Programs for Health Related Careers

In addition to available funding options from federal sources and associations, there are also “general” health program grants and scholarships which can be used for many healthcare related careers, including this one.

Many of these are available on the state and local level, so be sure to investigate the options in your own community to see what is available (also check our listings of grants and scholarships by state to check your state’s options).

With a little luck and a bit of elbow grease, you’ll find your way to funding your new career as a pharmacy technician!