ONC Releases Two More HIT Workforce Training Programs: Dec 17, 2009
University-based Training and
Competency Exams for Non-degree Training
Two new workforce training programs were posted on ONC site on Dec 17, 2009, though not yet “officially” announced. National Coordinator for Health IT Dr. David Blumenthal has been dropping hints in the past few days about additional funding programs to be announced shortly. So here are two new programs.

Program of Assistance for University-Based Training
Objective:  The purpose of this program is to rapidly increase the availability of individuals qualified to serve in specific health information technology professional roles requiring university-level training.  
Application Deadline:  January 25, 2010

Competency Examination for Individuals Completing Non-Degree Training
Objective:  This funding opportunity, one component of the workforce program, will provide $6 million in grants to an institution of higher education (or consortia thereof) to support the development and initial administration of a set of health IT competency examinations.
Application Deadline:  January 25, 2010 (Letter of Intent due January 8, 2010)

Additional info excerpted from ONC HITECH Funding pages:
Program of Assistance for University-Based Training
“The purpose of the Information Technology Professionals in Health Care: Program of Assistance for University-Based Training grants is to rapidly increase the availability of individuals qualified to serve in specific health information technology professional roles requiring university-level training.  Four-year colleges or universities are eligible to apply for funding under this program, which will emphasize programs that can be completed by the trainee in one year or less.  Awardees will be expected to promptly establish, fill, and begin graduating students from new training positions as rapidly as is feasible without compromising the adequacy of training such graduates will have received.”

“The six roles targeted by this funding opportunity are:

1. Clinician/Public Health Leader
2. Health Information Management and Exchange Specialist
3. Health Information Privacy and Security Specialist
4. Research and Development Scientist
5. Programmers and Software Engineer
6. Health IT Sub-specialist “

Learn more about the Program of Assistance for University-Based Training:

• Funding Opportunity Announcement: Program of Assistance for University-Based Training [DOC - 352 KB]
  
  To apply for this funding opportunity, you must do so via Grants.gov.  Please go to http://www.grants.gov/search/basic.dobasic.do and search for CFDA#:   93.721ONC will host a technical assistance call to answer questions related to the Program of Assistance for University-Based Training on December 23, 2009 at 2 PM EST.  More details to follow.For questions relating to the Program of Assistance for University-Based Training, email university-based-training@hhs.gov.

Competency Examination Program
“The Competency Examination for Individuals Completing Non-Degree Training program, one component of the workforce program, will provide $6 million in grants to an institution of higher education (or consortia thereof) to support the development and initial administration of a set of health IT competency examinations.  The examinations will assess basic competency for individuals trained through short-duration, non-degree health IT programs, and for members of the workforce with relevant experience or other types of training who are seeking to demonstrate their competency in certain health IT workforce roles integral to achieving meaningful use of electronic health information.”

Learn more about the Competency Examination Program:

• Funding Opportunity Announcement:  Competency Examination for Individuals Completing Non-Degree Training [DOC - 329 KB]

  To apply for this funding opportunity, you must do so via Grants.gov. Please go to http://www.grants.gov/search/basic.do  and search for CFDA #: 93.721 

• ONC will host a technical assistance call to answer questions related to the Competency Examination Program on January 6, 2010 from 1 – 2 PM EST.  More details to follow.For questions relating to the Competency Examination Program, email HITCompetencyExam@hhs.gov.