The AHEC Professional Corps is composed of licensed/certified health care personnel providing their professional services in selected health care delivery sites, where they use their skills and training to help people with the greatest need. The APC program has been developed within the family of the AmeriCorps programs to respond to currently unmet health care needs in chronically underserved areas.
The AHEC Professional Corps Commitment
To qualify to become a member of APC, you must be: a licensed, certified, or registered health care provider (or soon to become one) and eligible for full-time employment prior to enrollment in APC by an AHEC Professional Corps-affiliated employer. As a member of APC, you will be asked to:
- Make a 1 or 2 year commitment to work full-time for a health care agency in a medically underserved community;
- complete training that will help you better serve in a high need area;
- participate in community service projects generally by helping with AHEC career preparation or community education programs; and
- complete any necessary paperwork and documentation to support your earning an education award.
In return, you will get (in addition to the regular salary and benefits provided by your employer): an education award of $4,725 per year of service (for a maximum of 2 years), provided by the National Service Trust, to pay education costs at qualified institutions of higher education or training, or to repay qualified student loans; and most importantly, a sense of pride and fulfillment that can only come from giving back to your local community.