BCPA-Scholarship Program
At PACB, we believe every patient deserves access to a qualified and professional patient or health care advocate who can help navigate the healthcare system and ensure that their rights and needs are respected.
The Patient Advocate Certification Board Announces
Formation of a Scholarship Program
The Patient Advocate Certification Board has established a scholarship program to support patient and health care advocates and to encourage diversity in the pool of professionals holding the Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) credential.
Individuals chosen as scholarship recipients are provided with an opportunity to take the practice examination at no cost and apply for the BCPA Examination one time at no cost. Individuals have 2 years from the date of the award to make use of the scholarship and will need to document meeting all current eligibility requirements for initial certification at the time of application for the Examination. The current value of each scholarship is $425.
The number of scholarships awarded in any given year depends on available funds. It is our goal to award at least two (2) scholarships per year. Individuals may apply for more than one category but can only be awarded a maximum of one scholarship in any given year. Applications must be submitted separately for each category. The scholarship program is for individuals who have not yet applied for initial certification.
Scholarship Categories
Diversity and Inclusion
Includes patient and health care advocates that reflect any one of many aspects of diversity within the current certified population, including, but not limited to, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, LGBTQIA+ community, and individuals with disabilities.
Primary criteria: Individual self-identifies by applying under this category and meets all other eligibility criteria including two letters of recommendation. See the Candidate Handbook for detailed information regarding eligibility.
Under Resourced Populations
Includes patient and health care advocates working with under resourced populations. Under resourced populations are those that receive fewer health care services, encounter barriers to accessing primary health care services (e.g., economic, cultural and/or linguistic); have a lack of familiarity with the health care delivery system; and face a shortage of readily available providers.
Primary criteria: Individual self-identifies by applying under this category and meets all other eligibility criteria including two letters of recommendation. See the Candidate Handbook for detailed information regarding eligibility.
Scholarship Program Status
The BCPA Scholarship Program is currently paused, and PACB is not accepting scholarship applications at this time.
The Scholarship Committee is reviewing the program, including its structure and application process, and may recommend changes before applications reopen.
Information about the future availability of scholarships, eligibility requirements, and application procedures will be posted on the PACB website and shared through the PACB newsletter when available.
Please do not submit a scholarship application unless and until PACB announces that the program has reopened.