WSAC Launches New Scholarship to Address Mental Health Workforce Shortages

(OLYMPIA)- Washington State is working to fix its mental health worker shortage by starting a new scholarship program. The Behavioral Health Conditional Scholarship (BHCS) offers up to $51,000 for students pursuing a graduate degree in mental health. This fall, the first BHCS cohort is beginning their journey to becoming licensed mental health professionals.

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) launched BHCS in spring 2025 as part of the state’s broader effort to address to both mental health and workforce needs. The scholarship was created through House Bill 1946, which funded a state program to support more people entering mental health careers, according to a news release from WSAC.

In the program’s first year, more than 150 students applied. Thirty-one graduate students were selected based on financial need and their commitment to serving rural and underserved communities across the state.

Students in the program come from universities across the state, including:

- Antioch University
- Eastern Washington University
- Heritage University
- University of Washington
- Walla Walla University
…and many more.

University program directors, state partners, and representatives have emphasized the importance of building a stronger pathway to licensure for mental health professionals.

“This scholarship is essential to solving the shortage of mental health workers in Washington,” said Isabel Hernandez, Program Manager of Adult Pathways at WSAC. “Graduate students often face heavy financial burdens while working through tough academic programs. By easing that burden, we help them finish their degrees and join the workforce where they are urgently needed.”

In return for scholarship funding, each student agrees to work in Washington as a mental health professional for three to five years after graduation.