Closes SoonAtlas Opportunity Score 82/100
California Health Careers Exploration Program (HCEP)
California HCAI grants for organizations that provide early exposure to health professions and help underrepresented and disadvantaged individuals pursue healthcare careers.
FundingApproximately $300,000 available statewide. Category A: up to $12,000, or $20,000 when at least 50% of the program focuses on behavioral health and/or caring for older adults (minimum 100 participants). Category B: up to $15,000, or $25,000 when at least 50% focuses on behavioral health and/or caring for older adults (minimum 50 participants).
DeadlineOctober 16, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST (exact wording in the controlling 2026 HCEP Grant Guide)
Last verifiedSeptember 19, 2026
Required next actionVerify 501(c)(3) status through the California Department of Justice Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, upload proof of verification, provide the organization website URL, and submit through HCAI eApp by October 16, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST, exactly as stated in the controlling 2026 HCEP Grant Guide.
Broad Eligibility
California-located public or private nonprofit organizations meeting the HCAI 501(c)(3) eligibility definition may apply; individuals are ineligible. For 2026, applicants must verify status through the California DOJ Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, upload proof of verification, and provide an organizational website URL. The current HCAI Technical Assistance Guide also requires applicants to confirm two partnering organizations in the eApp and provide required partner contact information. Programs must expose underrepresented or disadvantaged participants to eligible healthcare careers, with rural/HPSA and medically underserved targeting scoring positively.
Atlas Analysis
California HCAI's 2026 Health Careers Exploration Program is a competitive workforce-development grant for California public and private nonprofit organizations offering health-career exploration to underrepresented and disadvantaged participants. Approximately $300,000 is available statewide. Category A supports conferences and workshops for at least 100 participants, with requests up to $12,000 or up to $20,000 when at least 50% of the program focuses on behavioral health and/or caring for older adults. Category B supports hands-on healthcare exposure for at least 50 participants, with requests up to $15,000 or up to $25,000 under the same priority-focus condition. Indirect costs may not exceed 15%. For 2026, applicants must verify 501(c)(3) status through the California DOJ Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, upload proof, and provide an organizational website URL.
The California Department of Health Care Access and Information is accepting 2026 Health Careers Exploration Program applications from California 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that provide early exposure to health professions and help underrepresented and disadvantaged participants pursue healthcare careers. Applications are due October 16, 2026 at 3:00 PM. The controlling 2026 HCEP Grant Guide states the deadline as October 16, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST.
HCEP supports two program categories. Category A funds health-career conferences and workshop series serving at least 100 participants. Category B funds hands-on healthcare experiences serving at least 50 participants and may include direct interaction with healthcare professionals in real or simulated healthcare settings. Award ceilings vary by category and can reach $25,000 for qualifying Category B programs.
For 2026, applicants must verify their 501(c)(3) status through the California Department of Justice Registry of Charitable Trusts, upload proof of verification, and provide an organizational website URL. Individuals are not eligible.
HCAI’s current grant agreement permits grant funds for consultants, lecturers, workshop instructors, sub-grantees, in-state travel, advertising, meals, supplies, off-campus facility costs, and qualifying instructional/program aids for disability accommodations. Grant funds may not be used to purchase equipment, construct or renovate facilities, pay salaries of existing full-time staff, or provide release time for full-time staff. Any clinical-technology component must therefore be budgeted and described only within an expressly allowable program-delivery structure rather than as an equipment purchase.
Source verificationOfficial government source · hcai.ca.govAtlas last verified this record September 19, 2026. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗
