Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention - Transition to Practice Program (NEPQR-TPP)

The Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention – Transition to Practice Program (NEPQR-TPP), administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is a forecasted federal funding opportunity that aims to strengthen the nursing workforce in rural and underserved communities across the United States. This program is part of the Department of Health and Human Services’ broader mission to enhance healthcare access and equity by ensuring a robust, well-trained, and geographically distributed nursing workforce. As the demand for qualified nurses continues to outpace supply, particularly in rural and medically underserved areas, HRSA's NEPQR-TPP initiative supports structured transition programs that bridge the gap between academic preparation and professional nursing practice. The primary objective of the NEPQR-TPP program is to facilitate the successful transition of newly licensed registered nurses (RNs) into clinical practice. It does so by funding projects that implement and evaluate innovative, evidence-based models of practice-based training. These models are expected to focus on improving the retention of newly licensed nurses by strengthening their clinical skills, professional confidence, and long-term commitment to serving vulnerable populations. A key feature of the program is its emphasis on quality improvement, workforce retention, and patient care outcomes through structured support systems and mentorship. Eligible applicants for this grant include a range of accredited educational institutions, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. More specifically, eligible entities must be "schools of nursing" as defined under Section 801(2) of the authorizing statute. This includes accredited collegiate, associate degree, or diploma schools of nursing in states where graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) or are already licensed RNs pursuing advanced nursing education. Examples include baccalaureate nursing programs and community colleges training associate-degree nurses. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds from applicants. HRSA anticipates making approximately 33 awards under this opportunity, with a total program funding amount of $24,262,837. Each award is expected to range from a minimum of $1 to a maximum of $750,000. The application submission deadline is forecasted for May 21, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with the estimated award date set for August 1, 2026, and a project start date of September 1, 2026. Applications must be submitted electronically by the stated deadline, although no pre-application steps such as letters of intent or concept papers are specified in the forecasted notice. Applications will be evaluated on their ability to address the goals of the NEPQR-TPP program, including how they propose to enhance transition-to-practice training in ways that are innovative, sustainable, and impactful in medically underserved communities. While specific review criteria are not detailed in the forecast, applicants should anticipate the standard federal grant evaluation process, which typically includes review for responsiveness to program objectives, budget justification, implementation strategies, and expected outcomes. Contact for the program is Michelle Osborne, who can be reached at 301-594-3803 or via email at [email protected]. As of the forecasted version dated March 13, 2026, this opportunity is expected to be formally posted on or around March 31, 2026, and archived by April 8, 2026. There is no indication of a recurring schedule for this funding cycle. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor the HRSA site and Grants.gov for updates and to begin preparing their applications in anticipation of the release.