AzAHQ CPHQ Grant


 

Purpose

To award financial assistance to AzAHQ members who have not yet obtained the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ®) credential.

Amount of Grant

  • ONE (1) AzAHQ Quality Journey course (optional) not completed before grant award.
  • ONE (1) CPHQ® exam fee reimbursement (if passed) after completion of service obligations.
  • ONE (1) free conference registration within 1 year of successful certification 

 

NOTES:

  1. Reimbursement will be processed after certification and completion of service obligations.
  2. Grant permission to AzAHQ to use your name to promote the grant program in the AzAHQ newsletter, on the website, at conferences, and on social media.
  3. The recipient of this grant must complete the AzAHQ-sponsored review course (if attended) & pass the certification exam by the end of the calendar year after receiving the grant. For example: grant awarded 2020, complete certification by EOY 2021.

 

Eligibility Criteria

  1. Open to all healthcare professionals who are individual AzAHQ members, excluding current AzAHQ Board of Directors. 
  2. At least one year of active membership before application.
  3. The applicant must be currently working in the healthcare quality field.
  4. The applicant is not eligible if previously certified.
  5. Those applying for the Certification Grant are not eligible for the AzAHQ Memorial Scholarship fund.

 

Deadline

Applications are accepted annually by AzAHQ no later than September 30th. Applications must have all required documents in one PDF file and may be submitted via email to Holly Grems at manager@azahq.org.

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered. The AzAHQ Board of Directors will review completed applications and score them based on the application criteria.

Required Documentation

The following must be submitted together in one scanned PDF file that includes at least your last name in the file name (ie, smith-2025Grant.pdf).

1.     One complete, typed copy of the grant application. Hand-written applications will not be considered.

2.     Two letters of recommendation from a colleague or supervisor in support of the applicant’s pursuit of CPHQ.

Basis of Selection

  1. All applications will be scored based on board-approved criteria.
  2. Grant recipient(s) will be determined annually by the AzAHQ Board of Directors.
  1. Resumes/CVs will not be accepted.

 

Notification

Grant recipients will be notified of selection, announced at the next General Membership Meeting, and recognized in the next published AzAHQ Newsletter.

Post-Certification AzAHQ Service Obligations

1.  Maintain active membership from the grant award to completion of the service obligations and attend at least 50% of the scheduled General Membership Meetings.

AND

2.  Within 14 days post certification, select two of the following options to complete within one year after certification:

a.    Committee participation for one year

b.    Project assignment - individual or team

c.    Board participation (election)

d.    Annual/biannual conference planning & organization: find speakers, find sponsors, help with marketing, assist with meeting logistics on the day of the event, etc.

e.    Develop & present one webinar or conference topic (this earns CE toward recertification)

f.     Serve as a mentor for a grant recipient the following year to guide them through the certification process.

Post-Award Processes

I.  CPHQ® Review Course

CPHQ® Review (optional): Attend an AzAHQ Quality Journey course at no cost. Attendance at other CPHQ Review Courses sponsored by NAHQ or other healthcare quality organizations is acceptable but non-reimbursable.

II.  Certification Exam

Register, pay for & complete certification (pass exam).

III.  Post certification

1.  Within two weeks after certification, select two (2) service obligations from the list above to complete within one (1) year after certification. Notify the Membership Director of your selection.

2.  Maintain active membership through completion of service obligation.

3.  Attend one AzAHQ-sponsored conference within one year of certification.  Register for the conference without processing payment.  Send an e-mail to manager@azahq.org indicating your registration is being done as a new CPHQ®. Attach a copy of your certification.  Your registration will be updated as paid.

III.  Expense Reimbursement

Please submit requests for reimbursement to manager@azahq.org. Attach the following documents (PDF copies are acceptable):

1.     Certification Exam: A copy of the registration payment receipt (or paid invoice) and a copy of the CPHQ ® certification certificate.

2.     Evidence of service obligation completion.

 

Grant details, process, and application revised September 2024 with update April 2025.