Virginia Awards Nearly $1.3 Million to Help Future Nurses
Scholarships, paid clinical training and incentives aim to help more Virginians enter nursing and support the clinicians who train them.
ALEXANDRIA, VA — For Virginians working toward a nursing career, help with the cost of getting there is at the center of a nearly $1.3 million funding announcement from Gov. Abigail Spanberger.
The governor announced Oct. 8 that the Virginia Nursing Workforce Center has awarded nearly $1.3 million in scholarships and incentives to nearly 350 prospective nursing students statewide. The announcement also highlights programs supporting practicing nurses and experienced clinicians who help students complete their training.
“Our nurses are the heart of Virginia’s healthcare system — caring for patients, supporting families, and strengthening communities across our Commonwealth,” Spanberger said in the announcement.
The investment comes as Virginia works to address a shortage of nurses. According to the governor’s office, the state faced a shortage of 17,000 registered nurses in 2025, with demand for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses expected to substantially outpace supply over the next decade.
“When there are not enough nurses, people feel it,” said Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin B. Figueroa. “They wait longer. They travel farther. And the nurses who are already there are asked to carry even more.”
For Alexandria-area residents pursuing nursing, the announcement points to statewide assistance that can help at several stages of a career, from initial training to further education and repayment of educational debt.
Help with nursing education costs
The center’s scholarship offerings include Long-Term Care Scholarships, Mary Marshall Scholarships, Graduate Level Nursing Scholarships and a School Nurse LPN-to-RN Scholarship.
Long-Term Care Scholarships provide up to $2,000 to eligible students preparing to serve in long-term care settings. The center also lists Mary Marshall awards of up to $1,000 for certified nurse aide students and up to $2,000 for eligible practical nursing and registered nursing students.
Requirements differ by program. Applicants should review residency, enrollment, academic and employment commitments carefully. Several scholarships require recipients to work in Virginia after completing their education.
The center’s scholarship page provides guidelines, checklists and application links.
Supporting hands-on training
The funding opportunities extend beyond tuition assistance.
Through the Nurse Preceptor Incentive Program, eligible licensed clinicians who supervise nursing students at approved Virginia schools can receive $500 to $5,000 per semester, depending on their clinical training hours, according to the governor’s announcement.
Preceptors help students apply what they learn in the classroom while working with patients.
The center also offers loan repayment assistance for eligible registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nurse aides who commit to working in nursing in Virginia.
A separate program, Earn to Learn, supports partnerships between educational institutions and healthcare providers so students can earn income while completing required clinical training. Eligible partnerships can receive up to $400,000 over two years, the governor’s office said. That funding is awarded to partnerships, rather than as a $400,000 individual student scholarship.
A new home for nursing assistance
This year’s bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Sen. L. Louise Lucas and Del. Mark Downey, established the center in law and reorganized administration of nursing workforce assistance, according to the governor’s office.
The Virginia Department of Health confirms that Senate Bill 405, signed March 31, transferred its existing nursing workforce incentive programs to the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority’s Virginia Nursing Workforce Center. The transfer took effect July 1.
“The strong response to these programs shows the continued need to invest in Virginia’s nursing workforce,” said Dr. Yvette Dorsey, the center’s director. “We want nurses and nursing students to know that there are opportunities available to support them throughout their careers.”
Nursing students, practicing nurses and healthcare organizations can explore programs and application information at vanwc.org.
