Here is why you should apply today!

Our Health Scholars come from diverse backgrounds and interests from nursing and pre-medicine to allied health and health administration. In an effort to move toward their career goals, Health Scholars learn how to provide comfort care to patients by supporting front line staff and building bedside manner, identifying mentors to provide guidance and observing various procedures.

• • • Gain firsthand patient care experience: As a Health Scholar, you will learn to provide basic patient comfort care and be integrated into the care delivery team. 

    • Get exposed to different health care areas: The program provides you the opportunity to experience different clinical and administrative departments to better understand each area of care.

    • Expand your leadership experience and enhance your professional skills: Under the direction of the Program Manager, you will have the opportunity to support program operations and learn to be a supervisor to your peers when you join the Leaders Team.

    • Be eligible to receive a completion certificate from the UCLA Executive Programs in Health Policy and Management.

    • Become a member of the COPE Connect alumni network: With over 34,000 alumni across the nation, take advantage of an incredible network of health care professionals and other great benefits such as letters of recommendation and test prep course discounts.

The Health Scholar program requires 280 program hours to graduate, but there are a few different track options available depending on your schedule and academic timeline.

1. Eligibility
   Scholars must be at least 18 years old and have a completed GED or high school diploma by the application deadline for the entering cohort they wish to enroll in. This information must be listed in the scholar’s application. We do not have any pre-requisite course requirements.

2. Complete Your Application
   You can apply online here. We recommend you write your essays before beginning your online application. You can view the essay questions here.

3. Interview
   Based on your online application, you may be invited to interview. These interviews are conducted by COPE Health Scholars Program Managers, Regional Managers and the current Health Scholar leadership team. Interviews help us get to know you. We’re looking for personable, confident and articulate students who will create positive experiences with patients and the care delivery team. Interviews typically take place in a small group setting, a multiple mini interview format or online via Zoom. Please be dressed in professional attire and arrive in a timely manner.

4. Schedule a Clearance Appointment
   During your clearance appointment, we’ll make sure all of your site’s screening requirements have been met. Be prepared to bring your immunization/titer records, health insurance information and CPR certification to your appointment. See Requirements for more details.

5. Pay your Tuition
   You’ll receive an email with a link to pay your tuition. View tuition and fees here.

6. Attend Training and Pass Entrance Exams
   You will need to attend Training Day in full, where you will learn about care team communication skills, hospital codes, patient experience, regulatory standards, the basics of U.S. health care and more. Trainings are site-specific and vary by rotation, and the details of when and where they will take place will be communicated to you after your tuition is paid. In order to continue in the program and begin your first shift, you must first pass a written exam and practical exam.

7. Start the Program. 

Congratulations! You are now a Health Scholar!

• Health Insurance
  All students must carry personal health insurance that meets “minimum essential coverage” as defined by Affordable Care Act (ACA). Students are not covered by COPE Health Solutions’ nor the program site’s worker’s compensation insurance.

• Complete a Background Check
  Those who pass the interview stage will receive an email with instructions for completing the background check. Background checks are a standard requirement for those interacting with patients. Social Security is needed for running a background check.

• Immunizations
  Current immunizations are required of all students. These requirements vary somewhat by site. Specific instructions on immunization requirements will be provided when you interview for the program. General immunization records and/or titers include:

  • MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)

  • Hepatitis B

  • Varicella (chicken pox)

  • Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap)

  • Tuberculosis (TB) Screening

  • Seasonal Flu Vaccine (October – May)

  • Be prepared to possibly have titers taken – this involves a blood test to check your immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases. Titers are required by some, but not all, program sites.

• Health Screenings
  Additional health screenings are required at some program sites. Information will be provided at the time of clearance appointments.

• Fitness for Duty
  All COPE Health Scholars programs enforce substance-free learning environments. Information will be provided to you at clearance appointments.

• CPR Certification
  CPR Certification is required for the program and must be submitted at your clearance appointment. The required certification is Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers from the American Heart Association. No other certification will be accepted. A classroom course or hybrid course is required – fully online courses are not acceptable.

Essay Questions

Essays are the most important component of your application. We recommend you write your essays outside of the online application and copy/paste them into the online application when you are ready to submit. All essay questions are required. 

1. How does the Health Scholar program fit into your overall career goal?

 *For 9-month and 3-month duration options, be prepared to list all of your current obligations and the time requirement for each one.

TIPS: 

• Proofread, proofread, proofread! We want to see that you took your time answering each question. If it helps, write down responses for each question and put it aside for the night. Check it over the next day for any errors. Or, read your essay responses aloud; you'll usually catch errors this way. 

  • Don't worry if English is not your first language! As long as we understand the main idea of your responses, you'll be fine!

• Be original and honest in your responses and make it personal. Again, we want to know you as a person and how this program can help you!

• DO NOT use Chat GPT or any sort of AI tools, we will know and automatically turn down your application

• Be aware of the deadlines!