Students must be enrolled in either:
A Certified Health Worker (CHW) course, or
A minimum two-year health profession program that leads to a degree or certificate.
Applicants should be “practice ready” at program completion—prepared to enter the healthcare workforce with their degree or certification.
How Long Is the Commitment?
If your program meets the criteria above and you’ll be practice ready at completion, you qualify.
Earning Concurrent Credit
Many AHEC Scholar requirements can be met through your existing coursework and extracurriculars. Contact AHEC staff to confirm credit approval.
Didactic vs. Experiential Learning
Didactic: Approved coursework, AHEC modules, webinars, seminars, conferences, or lectures on one or more of the eight core topics.
Experiential: Rotations, clinicals, preceptorships, volunteering, or simulations that are interprofessional and serve rural or high-needs populations.
Application Review Timeline
Applications are reviewed within two weeks of submission. You’ll receive a decision during that timeframe.
Visit www.utmb.edu/ahec, go to the AHEC Scholars page, and complete the online application. CHW students apply at the same link; accepted students receive next steps from their instructor.
Behavioral Health
Cultural Competency
Current & Emerging Health Issues
Interprofessional Education
Practice Transformation
Social Determinants of Health
Virtual Learning & Telehealth
Connecting Communities & Supporting Health Professionals
The program year runs July 1 – June 30. You may apply anytime and retroactively count hours completed within that program year toward your requirements.
Year 1 and Year 2 Overview
Year 1:
40 didactic hours
40 experiential hours
$500 stipend opportunity
Year 2:
40 experiential hours
$1,000 stipend opportunity
In order to satisfy your 40-hour didactic requirement, you must select a Year 2 didactic pathway: research project or module development option that touches on a core topic area.
Research Project:
Module Development: