CPAFH Scholarship Program: 2026 Applications

Program Overview
The CPAFH scholarship program, offered annually, awards a limited number of need-based scholarships. IHI recognizes the essential role that certification plays in advancing practice and organizational excellence. We established this scholarship program to eliminate a key barrier — lack of organizational funding — that prevents deserving professionals from becoming certified and advancing their career and practice in age-friendly care.

Each scholarship award will include access to the online CPAFH review course, the CPAFH practice exam, and the CPAFH credentialing exam.

This call for applications closes on June 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. All scholarship decisions will be communicated on September 15, 2026. Scholarship recipients will have through September 30, 2027 to sit for the CPAFH certification exam.

Thanks to generous funding from the John A. Hartford Foundation, additional scholarships are available for the 2026 application period.

What is CPAFH Certification?
​​​​The Certified Professional in Age-Friendly Health Care (CPAFH) credential sets the standard for excellence in the care of older adults. Informed by the evidence-based 4Ms Framework (What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility), this professional certification program affirms your ability to provide safe, person-centered care across settings. This credential is awarded through a thorough examination aligned with the 4Ms Framework, following the CPAFH exam content outline.

More information on the CPAFH credentialing program is available at ihi.org/cpafh.

Who Should Apply?
Any professional working in or around age-friendly health care who is able to demonstrate need is encouraged to apply. Applicants must also possess academic and professional experience at one of the following levels, as stipulated by CPAFH eligibility requirements:

• Diploma or higher (e.g., associates, bachelors) plus three years of experience (either full- or part-time over a five-year period) in an Age-Friendly Health Care related field.

OR​​

• Masters or Doctorate plus one year of full-time experience or two years of part-time experience in Age-Friendly Health Care related field over five years.

How to Apply
Applicants will be expected to complete an application and submit all materials including:

1. Contact and organizational application form (Section I)
2. Resume or curriculum vitae (Section II)
3. Personal statement (Section III)

Selection Criteria

• Prior training and experience and/or demonstrated interest in developing and implementing age-friendly care initiatives
• Statement of the applicant’s personal and/or career goals and how the CPAFH certification will support them and their organization
• Demonstration of organizational and/or personal need

Scholarship Details
Scholarships will be awarded through a thorough application and review process.

A scholarship award includes:

• Access to the Online CPAFH Review Course
• Access to the CPAFH Practice Exam
• One-time opportunity to sit for the CPAFH credentialing exam

Scholarship decisions will be communicated to all applicants on September 15, 2026. Scholarship recipients will have through September 30, 2027 to complete the program.

Please contact the IHI Certification Team at certification@ihi.org with any questions.