Rural Education and Advanced Learning (REAL) Program

RhPAP’s REAL Program helps rural health professionals access continuing professional development and education opportunities that help them enhance the health-care services they offer in their communities.

This initiative is aimed at nurses, midwives, nurse practitioners, and allied health professionals working in rural Alberta in a primary care network, out-of-scope/non-union position, or independent/private practice.

Applicants may apply for program funding for courses or training opportunities that they have successfully completed within three (3) months of, are in progress at time of, or will be starting within six (6) months of application submission. Funding may cover some or all of course or training fees and course material costs. To promote rural workforce sustainability, a return-of-service agreement may be required.

REAL has been designed to be flexible. RhPAP recognizes that the health needs of rural communities vary between communities and that training opportunities should recognize these needs and the demands of rural health professionals’ schedules. As such, REAL applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The program aims to support as many rural health professionals as possible, so funding may be capped based on the number of applicants per funding cycle and the funding available.

Subscribe to RhPAP’s communications to stay informed on when to apply as well as other programs that may be of interest to you.

REAL Program Eligibility Criteria

PLEASE NOTE: Some of our eligibility and funding criteria has changed.

To be eligible for the REAL Program applicants must meet the following criteria:

Hold an active practice license, and be in good standing, in Alberta through their applicable professional regulatory body (Alberta regulated health professions).
Currently live and practise in a rural Alberta community located outside the Census Metropolitan Area boundaries of Calgary or Edmonton, with a population of fewer than 15,000 people, or fall within Alberta’s North Zone
Work in rural Alberta in a PCN, out-of-scope/non-union position or independent/private practice, and have done so for at least six (6) consecutive months
If applicable, be in good standing with the REAL Program based on any past participation in the program

Course or training opportunity must meet the following criteria:

Applicants may only apply for one (1) course, program, or training opportunity per application cycle and per application.
This course, program, or training opportunities must have been completed within three (3) months of, be currently in progress at time of, or will be starting within six (6) months of application submission.
Course must support your clinical area of practice, be relevant to your current position, and align with the aims of the REAL Program.
Course or training opportunity must not have already received funding from or subsidy through REAL or another source.

Applicants must be willing to agree to the following terms and conditions:

a return-of-service term when applicable
repayment of REAL funding in the event that the course is not successfully completed or the return-of-service commitment is not fulfilled
participation in the evaluation of the REAL Program and provision of feedback as requested.
all other terms and conditions that may apply. Please not: all terms and conditions will be as agreed upon between you and RhPAP’s director of health professions and confirmed in writing.

Please note: Preference may be given to applications based on the following criteria:

the remoteness/ need of the community from which the applicant is applying as determined by Alberta Health’s Rural & Remote Program Isolation Scores.
the benefit of the type of course/ training/ program to the community (Considerations include the following: what kind of value would local patients/clients receive from this training?; does another provider in the community already offer the services that this training would facilitate?, etc.)
amount of REAL funding previously provided to applicant

If you have questions, please email REAL@rhpap.ca.

Click here to learn more about the REAL Application Process

Some of the courses/education opportunities* eligible for the REAL Program may include the following:

*Inclusion of a course or training idea on this list does not guarantee approval of your application as many factors including, but not limited to, community need, service sustainability, and available funding are also considered. This list is intended to provide examples of the types of opportunities that would be considered for REAL funding.

MacEwan University