Scholarships

ISHRM Educational Scholarship Program

General Guidelines and Criteria 

In our commitment to support the professional advancement, development and continuing education of ISHRM members in the areas of risk management and patient safety, the ISHRM Educational Scholarship Program will award three scholarships as follows:

      1. CPHRM Course: Classroom or Virtual ($735), Exam fee ($275), ASHRM Membership ($169)
      2. CPHRM Prep Self-Study ($499), Exam fee ($275), ASHRM Membership ($169)
      3. One year ISHRM Membership ($50) and Annual Meeting Registration ($150)

    General Guidelines

    Scholarships will be awarded yearly in July.

    To be considered for a scholarship, application materials must be received by July 1, 2026. 

    1. Scholarships are only available to ISHRM members in good standing.
    2. Decisions regarding the award of the scholarship are made at the discretion of the ISHRM Board of Directors and are considered final.
    3. Those currently serving on the Board of Directors are not eligible to apply.
    4. The ISHRM Board of Directors reserves the right to revise these guidelines at any time.
    5. Applications not received by the deadline date or those that are incomplete may not be considered.

    Applicant Criteria

    1. All applicants must be previously or currently employed at the professional level in the healthcare law, risk management, risk insurance, risk finance or patient safety management professions, or must be able to articulate that a career change to the field of risk management/patient safety is a desired professional goal.
    2. Student applicants must be currently enrolled in or accepted into an accredited program in healthcare, insurance, risk management or healthcare finance program.
    3. If currently enrolled and attending a qualified program, student applicants must maintain a minimum current or most recent GPA of at least 3.0 out of 4.0.
    4. Preference will be given to applicants with insufficient sources of funding to cover costs for professional development.
    5. Ability to demonstrate how newly learned methods will be applied to improve the organization’s overall risk management/patient safety program.
    6. The recipients must be present at the ISHRM Annual Meeting to accept the award.
    7. The award must be used within one year of receipt.

    Required Application Documentation:

    Applicant information:

    1. Name, Home Address, Telephone Numbers for home and work, Email address;
    2. Current employment position and name of organization;
    3. Description of interest in continuing/advancing knowledge/education in the area of healthcare risk management; how the award will impact academic and/or career goals; demonstrate how newly learned methods and skills will be applied to improve the organization’s overall risk management/patient safety program, if employed;
    4. Current individual professional and/or scholastic experience, activities and accomplishments;
    5. If applicable, current class standing (enrollee, undergraduate, graduate, doctoral candidate, etc.);
    6. If applicable, major, minor fields of study; and
    7. If applicable, academic GPA in field of study and overall GPA.
    1. Resume or CV that details work/scholastic experience related to risk management and/or patient safety.
    2. Letter of recommendation from an ISHRM member/colleague/employer or academic.
    3. Letter can be from current or past employer, defined as “an individual who serves or has served in a supervisory capacity to the applicant”.
    4. Letter must provide details on the current position and the applicant’s responsibilities as they relate to the risk management/patient safety field.  It should also verify the organization’s (employer’s) ability to provide funding to cover the cost for professional development (if the organization will cover partial cost, the amount should be included) or if not employed, individual need should be articulated.

    Post-Program Requirements

    1. Recipients must provide documentation of successful program completion.
    2. The recipient of the CPHRM prep course and exam and the ASHRM University Course will contact the Treasurer of the Board of Directors to coordinate payment and scheduling. 
    3. Recipients will submit an article for publication in the ISHRM newsletter, give a short presentation at an ISHRM program or networking event or agree to be included in an email communication, describing how attendance at the course(s) facilitated successful “hands-on” application of lessons learned.
    4. For marketing and promotional purposes, and if willing, applicants may be featured on the website or in other ISHRM materials.

    Apply online!  An online application form is available at www.illshrm.org.  A downloadable application form and letter of recommendation form are also available on the website for submission by email or postal service.

    Apply online today!     Download application