ELIGIBILITY

Active duty or civilian (Administratively Determined or GS employee) healthcare professionals who work at a Military or Federal Treatment Facility are eligible to apply for an HPE certificate or degree. HPE also admits learners through established Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with various institutions. For example, HPE currently has an MOU with Veterans Affairs (VA) that allows national faculty to be admitted into the certificate program on a space-available basis.

TIMELINES

The next application window for HPE certificates will open in early March 2026.  HPE will accept degree and certificate applications for the 2027-2028 Academic Year from Sept. 1 through Nov. 1, 2026.  **Note: USU Medical Students are eligible to apply for HPE programs through a different process and timeline throughout the year. Please email HPE@usuhs.edu

for more information. 

Certificates: The IFHPE and the FHPE certificates are for individuals who wish to enhance their skills in leadership, research, and teaching. Both certificates are important stepping stones toward the masters and doctorate programs in HPE, which continue to be highly competitive with many well-qualified candidates.  

*Degrees: Individuals interested in a Master in Health Professions Education (MHPE), a Master of Education in HPE (MEd-HPE), or a PhD in HPE should apply between Sept. 1 to Nov. 1, 2026, to be considered for the 2027-28 Academic Year that beings in May 2027. Eligible degree applicants who meet the Nov. 1 deadline by sending required materials will be considered for interviews in December. Following HPE Admissions Committee recommendations, the Graduate Education Office (GEO) will notify certificate and degree applicants by email in early to mid-February.

First-time applicants to an HPE program should follow the application instructions outlined below. Current and returning learners (those who graduated from an HPE program three years or less before the start of the next academic year) can email HPE@usuhs.edu to inquire about a modified application process.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR NEW HPE APPLICANTS

Before starting your online application, please prepare the following, required information*:

• Personal Statement (instructions)
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Additional documents required for degree applicants only:
  • MEd-HPE applicants are required to submit a Culminating Project Proposal
  • MHPE applicants should submit either a required Research Statement, or a Thesis Proposal (highly encouraged).
  • PhD in HPE applicants should submit a required dissertation proposal.

*Tip: Combine your documents into one, single PDF to upload with your application rather than uploading multiple files.

Supervisor Letter and Two Letters of Recommendation

• Enter into the application: Name and email address of your direct supervisor, who will need to provide a letter of support (LOS).*
• Enter into the application: Names and email addresses for two additional, letters of recommendation.* 

*Your letter writers should receive an automated email request; however, we recommend you contact them to confirm that they received the request. You may also upload letters to the application. The letter of support should be on letterhead with the supervisor’s email address and phone number, and state that they are your supervisor and that they approve your participation in the program for which you are applying.  Letters may also be emailed to UniversityAdmissions@usuhs.edu.

pREVIOUS EDUCATION (OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS)

In your application, please only list institutions where you received a degree and omit institutions where you may have only taken a few courses; once an institution is listed, an official transcript must be provided. This includes complete college transcripts and transcripts of all previous graduate degrees (if applicable). Contact each institution and request that official transcripts be sent to UniversityAdmissions@usuhs.edu.  Transcripts sent directly by the applicant will not be accepted.  

Tips:

• USU graduates will still need to submit that transcript by contacting registrar@usuhs.edu and requesting your USU transcript be added to your application.
• Applicants who have a doctorate-level degree and currently hold a faculty appointment at USU, can provide their USU Faculty Appointment letter and a photo of their doctorate diploma, in place of transcripts. These materials should be sent via email to UniversityAdmissions@usuhs.edu.
• Physician (MD/DO) applicants who hold a license to practice medicine and are board-certified in the USA can provide proof of the license and/or board certification, in place of transcripts.

Questions? Email HPE@usuhs.edu.