Health Careers Exploration Program (HCEP)
Health Careers Exploration Program (HCEP) supports organizations offering disadvantaged and underrepresented people healthcare career experiences to strengthen California’s diverse healthcare workforce.
Funder: California Department of Health Care Access and Information
Due Dates: October 16, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Approximately $300,000 total; category maximums of $12,000–$25,000; February 1, 2027–April 30, 2028
Summary: Funds organizations providing underrepresented and disadvantaged individuals early exposure to healthcare careers to strengthen California’s culturally and linguistically diverse workforce.
Key Information: Individuals cannot apply; organizations must provide nonprofit-status verification and an organizational website URL.
Description
The Health Careers Exploration Program (HCEP), administered by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), supports organizations helping underrepresented and disadvantaged individuals explore and pursue healthcare careers. Funding supports conferences, workshops, career fairs, and hands-on experiences involving healthcare professionals in real or simulated settings. The goal is to develop a more culturally responsive and linguistically prepared healthcare workforce serving communities across California.
Program priorities include early career exposure, educational partnerships, mentoring, and support tailored to participants’ challenges. Activities aligned with HCEP’s goals also include technical assistance to health professional schools, colleges, student groups, and community organizations, along with workforce research and data analysis concerning underrepresented and disadvantaged health professional development. Programs should focus on educationally or economically disadvantaged participants and encourage practice in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
