Rural Education Fund
Build skills, strengthen teamwork, and improve patient care without leaving your community.
Train Your Rural Healthcare Team
Our Rural Education Fund helps you host in-house, group-based training tailored to your needs. The Fund is for teams of two or more regulated health professionals who want to bring practical, hands-on learning directly to their facility or community.
Eligibility Requirements
Who can apply
The Rural Education Fund serves healthcare teams working in rural Alberta. To be eligible:
- Your community must be outside the Calgary or Edmonton CMA and have a population of fewer than 15,000
- Your team must include at least two regulated health professionals
- All participants must be licensed and in good standing in Alberta
(Students and medical residents are not eligible) - Training must be healthcare-focused, practical, and delivered locally
- Training must be upcoming or started within the past 90 days
- Funding cannot duplicate support from another RHPAP program or funding source
Your team lead or course provider submits your Fund application on behalf of your team. A Letter of Support may be required if the applicant doesn’t have approval authority.
What training can be funded
Teams may apply for pre-approved courses or propose other relevant training in their application.
Examples of eligible training include:
- Emergency, trauma, and resuscitation courses (ACLS, PALS, TNCC, ITLS, NRP)
- Obstetrical, neonatal, and pediatric care (ALARM, ACoRN, ENPC, PEARS)
- Point-of-care ultrasound and emergency echo (POCUS, EDE)
- Crisis prevention, dementia care, and CBT essentials
- Palliative care, geriatrics, and sexual assault response training
- Simulation, leadership, and STARS group education sessions
- Other approved speakers, workshops, and coaching sessions
Funding Inclusion
Through the Rural Education Fund, RHPAP provides funding of up to $25,000 for approved course costs. In select cases, funding amounts above or below this limit may be considered on a case-by-case basis. For some high-cost courses (eg. Emergency Department Echo), funding may exceed $25,000, with support capped at 50% of the total course cost.
Funds may be used toward the following elements of the training:
- Course: Course registration fees, books, materials, and mandatory resources
- Instructor: Instructor fees, accommodation, travel, meals, and per diem for the course provider
- Venue: Venue rental if needed to host the event
- Catering: Modest food and drinks for participants
- Equipment: Any equipment or technology rentals required for the session(s)
Funds may not be used for the following elements of the training:
- Staff salaries
- Participant travel and accommodation costs
- Instructor renewal and certification fees
- Course development costs
Applications are open throughout the year until all available funds have been allocated.
Note: Teams and course providers are responsible for coordinating all of the event’s logistical details. RHPAP’s role through the Rural Education Fund is to provide financial support only.
Email teams@rhpap.ca for inquiries.
Looking for individual funding?
We offer programming designed for solo practitioners and professionals:
Rural Education and Advanced Learning (REAL) Program
for nurses and allied health professionals
Physician Skills Enrichment Grant Program
for physicians
Looking for individual funding?
We offer programming designed for solo practitioners and professionals:
Rural Education and Advanced Learning (REAL) Program – for nurses and allied health professionals
Apply FOR Rural Education Fund today
