Occupational Safety and Health Training Project Grants (T03)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, has released the Occupational Safety and Health Training Project Grants (TPGs). These grants are a continuation of NIOSH’s long-standing mandate under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to ensure a sufficient workforce trained in occupational safety and health (OSH). Training Project Grants are among the institute’s principal tools for meeting this mandate and play an integral role in preparing future OSH professionals and researchers. The program has been reissued under funding opportunity number RFA-OH-25-003, replacing the earlier RFA-OH-22-003, and was most recently updated in March 2025 to align with agency priorities. The purpose of the TPG program is to strengthen the supply of qualified OSH personnel by supporting both academic and non-academic training programs. Academic programs typically take place in higher education institutions, providing undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate level training in disciplines such as industrial hygiene, occupational health nursing, occupational medicine residency, and occupational safety. Allied fields including occupational health psychology, agricultural safety, mining safety, ergonomics, and Total Worker Health are also supported. Non-academic TPGs are awarded to organizations providing specialized training for targeted populations and workforce groups. Collectively, these programs aim to build capacity and prepare the workforce to address evolving OSH challenges, including those associated with globalization, technological advances, demographic changes, and climate impacts. The funding opportunity places clear emphasis on rigorous program planning and evaluation. Applicants are expected to demonstrate regional or national needs through needs assessments, employer and alumni surveys, and workforce data. A required Advisory Council of at least three members must guide each project’s direction, ensuring responsiveness to local and national workforce requirements. Evaluation plans should include stakeholder feedback, trainee placement outcomes, and metrics of program effectiveness such as publications, presentations, and certifications. For academic programs, at least 70 percent of requested funds must directly support trainees through stipends, tuition, and travel, while no more than 30 percent may be used for training-related expenses. Non-academic projects may not use funds for curriculum development, in-house training, or OSHA certification courses already funded elsewhere. The application process follows NIH and CDC standards. Submissions must be made electronically via Grants.gov, ASSIST, or institutional S2S systems, with tracking through eRA Commons. Applications must adhere to the SF424 (R&R) Training (T) Instructions and the page limits specified. Letters of intent, though not required, are requested 30 days prior to application deadlines to help NIOSH plan for review. Applications will be reviewed for completeness, responsiveness, and alignment with eligibility requirements before undergoing scientific peer review. Scored review criteria differ slightly for academic versus non-academic programs but generally assess program significance, faculty and director qualifications, trainee recruitment and success, innovation, evaluation design, and institutional environment. Key dates include an initial posting on November 20, 2024, with the earliest open date also set for November 20, 2024. Deadlines occur annually, beginning January 21, 2025, followed by October 30, 2025, October 29, 2026, October 28, 2027, and October 24, 2028. Scientific merit review and advisory council review follow shortly after each deadline, with the earliest start dates set for July 1 of each program year. The program will expire on November 28, 2028. Between 20 and 30 awards are anticipated each cycle, with approximately $4 to $4.8 million available annually across the portfolio. Budget ceilings vary by program type: undergraduate ($50,000 per year), graduate ($150,000 per year), and occupational medicine residency ($250,000 per year). Non-academic program budgets are flexible but must be justified, with equipment purchases disallowed. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad. Applications are open to public and private higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, tribal entities, U.S. territories, and other organizations such as independent school districts and regional bodies. Foreign entities are not eligible. Applicants must be registered with SAM, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons before submission. The NOFO does not require cost sharing or matching funds. Key contacts for technical and scientific inquiries include Dr. Elizabeth H. Maples (emaples@cdc.gov, 404-498-2557) and Dr. E. Michael Goldcamp (mgoldcamp@cdc.gov, 304-285-5951), while grants management inquiries should be directed to Christina Park (lsk1@cdc.gov, 404-498-5014). In sum, the Occupational Safety and Health Training Project Grants represent a critical investment in workforce development for public health and workplace safety. By funding both academic institutions and specialized training organizations, NIOSH seeks to ensure that the United States maintains a pipeline of skilled professionals capable of addressing current and future occupational health challenges. With structured timelines, clear funding rules, and rigorous review criteria, this program provides applicants with a transparent pathway for securing support to develop impactful training programs that advance the nation’s occupational health and safety capacity.