The following are general eligibility requirements for students applying for any one of the three IHS scholarship programs. Applicants must meet both the general requirements and the specific requirements listed for the individual scholarship program they are applying for in order to be considered. The detailed description for each separate scholarship program lists the specific requirements for that program. For more eligibility requirement details please download the Application Handbook (PDF - 3926KB) from the website http://www.ihs.gov/JobsCareerDevelop/DHPS/Scholarships/eligibility.html.
Citizenship: You must be a citizen of the United States at the time you apply for an IHS scholarship award. Permanent resident aliens and other aliens are not eligible to apply.
Documentation of American Indian/Alaska Native Eligibility
Submit a copy of an approved Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Certification Form (PDF - 145KB) with your application. You must use BIA Certification Form 4432, as follows:
* American Indian: Category A — Members of federally recognized Tribes, Bands or Communities
* Alaska Native: Category D — Alaska Native
In the absence of BIA certification, provide documentation that you meet the requirements of Tribal membership as prescribed by the charter, articles of incorporation or other legal instrument of the Tribe, and have been officially designated as a Tribal member as evidenced by an accompanying document signed by an authorized Tribal official, or other evidence of Tribal membership satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior.
If you are a member of a Tribe terminated since 1940 or a state-recognized Tribe, provide official documentation that you meet the requirements of Tribal membership as prescribed by the charter, articles of incorporation or other legal instrument of the Tribe and have been officially designated as a Tribal member as evidenced by an accompanying document signed by an authorized Tribal official; or other evidence, satisfactory to the Secretary of Interior, that you are a member of the Tribe. In addition, if the terminated or state-recognized Tribe of which you are a member is not on a list of such Tribes published by the Secretary of Interior in the Federal Register, you must submit an official signed document that the Tribe has been terminated since 1940 or is recognized by the state in which the Tribe is located in accordance with the law of that state.
If you are not a Tribal member but are a natural child or grandchild of a Tribal member, you must submit:
* Evidence of that fact, i.e., your birth certificate and/or your parent’s birth certificate showing the name of the Tribal member
* Evidence of your parent’s or grandparent’s Tribal membership in accordance with the paragraphs above. The relationship to the Tribal member must be clearly documented.
NOTE: If you meet the criteria of a terminated Tribe or are a descendent, you are only eligible for the Preparatory or Pre-Graduate Scholarships.
