​Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention - Transition to Practice Program (NEPQR-TPP) | HRSA 26 086

Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 26 086

The Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention - Transition to Practice Program (NEPQR-TPP) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) designed to strengthen the nursing workforce where the need is most urgent, especially in rural and medically underserved communities. The core purpose is to help address ongoing nursing shortages by funding practical, innovative education and clinical training models that support nurses as they move from school into real-world practice. The emphasis on "transition to practice" reflects a focus on bridging the gap between academic preparation and day-to-day clinical work, which can improve readiness, competence, and long-term retention in settings that often struggle to recruit and keep nurses.

Funding is offered as a grant under HRSA Funding Opportunity Number HRSA 26 086, within the health funding activity category, and is associated with CFDA number 93.359. The program anticipates making about 33 awards, with an award ceiling of $750,000. The opportunity was created on 2026-06-15 and has an original application closing date of 2026-07-17. In practical terms, that means applicants should be prepared to describe clear, scalable strategies for training and supporting nurses in ways that measurably expand workforce capacity and stabilize staffing in high-need communities.

Eligibility includes a range of higher education and community-based institutions that can play a direct role in nursing training and career entry. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), and other eligible entities as specified in the notice. The opportunity references the statutory definition of a "school of nursing" (Section 801(2)), meaning an accredited collegiate, associate degree, or diploma nursing school in a state whose graduates are authorized to sit for the NCLEX-RN, or programs serving licensed RNs who are pursuing graduate or equivalent training to become advanced education nurses as described in Section 811(b). In straightforward terms, this includes common pathways such as baccalaureate nursing programs and community colleges that prepare associate-degree nurses, along with other accredited nursing education programs that meet the definition and can demonstrate the capacity to deliver transition-to-practice training tied to workforce needs.

Overall, NEPQR-TPP is aimed at expanding the supply of nurses and improving retention by supporting training approaches that are closely connected to clinical practice realities, particularly in locations that face persistent barriers to staffing. A competitive project under this program would typically be expected to show how it will create or strengthen clinical training experiences, improve early-career support structures, and produce a workforce impact that aligns with rural and medically underserved community needs, rather than focusing only on classroom instruction without a strong clinical transition component.

• The Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "​Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention - Transition to Practice Program (NEPQR-TPP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.359.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 33 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for HRSA 26 086

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