California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI)
The program offers three application pathways: Conrad 30 (for placements in Health Professional Shortage Areas, Medically Underserved Areas/Populations, and Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas), federal HHS Waiver, and National Interest Waiver (NIW), with primary care specialties emphasized.
Foreign physicians with J-1 Exchange Visitor Visas who have completed graduate medical education or training in the U.S. Applicants for the Conrad 30 pathway must agree to practice in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA), Medically Underserved Areas (MUA), Medically Underserved Populations (MUP), or Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas. HHS and NIW pathways are limited to primary care specialties including family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, and psychiatry.
Required attachments
Submit via HCAI California Primary Care Office as instructed on program website. Completed applications and supporting documents sent electronically or by mail as described in program guidelines.
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Application Prep
Reference: Conrad 30, HHS Waiver, National Interest Waiver [Admin] Archived on 2026-06-15: California J-1 waiver page is workforce program guidance (visa waiver process), not an RHTP funding solicitation.
Program: J-1 Visa Waiver (Conrad 30, HHS, National Interest Waiver)
Performance: 3 years full-time in shortage area
Key Dates:
Review Criteria: Eligibility, contract compliance, practice location in designated shortage area, specialty (priority for primary care), completeness of application.
Contact
J1VisaWaiverProgram@hcai.ca.gov
Application Status
Phone
(916) 326-3660