---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 295a"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "295a"
heading: "Public health training centers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/295a"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter V — Health Professions Education"
  - "Part E — Health Professions and Public Health Workforce"
  - "Subpart 2 — public health workforce"
---

# §295a. Public health training centers

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may make grants or contracts for the operation of public health training centers.
- (b) **Eligible entities—**
  - (1) **In general—** A public health training center shall be an accredited [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) of public health, or another public or [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) private institution accredited for the provision of graduate or specialized training in public health, that plans, develops, operates, and evaluates [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to improve preventive medicine, health promotion and disease prevention, or access to and quality of health [care services](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-7) in rural or medically underserved communities.
  - (2) **Preference—** In awarding grants or contracts under this section the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall give preference to accredited [schools](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) of public health.
- (c) **Certain requirements—** With respect to a public health training center, an award may not be made under [subsection (a)](#a) unless the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) agrees that it—
  - (1) will establish or strengthen field [placements](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-12) for students in public or [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) private health [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) or organizations;
  - (2) will involve faculty members and students in collaborative [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to enhance public health [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to medically underserved communities;
  - (3) will specifically designate a geographic area or [medically underserved population](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=14) to be served by the center that shall be in a location removed from the main location of the teaching facility of the [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) that is participating in the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) with such center; and
  - (4) will assess the health personnel needs of the area to be served by the center and assist in the planning and development of training [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to meet such needs.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, § 766, as added Pub. L. 105–392, title I, § 105, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3554; amended Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title III, § 3401(11), Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 387.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 295a, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, § 782, as added Pub. L. 102–408, title I, § 102, Oct. 13, 1992, 106 Stat. 2057, authorized grants and contracts for chiropractic demonstration projects, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–392, title I, § 106(a)(1), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3557.

Another prior section 295a, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, § 762, as added Dec. 25, 1970, Pub. L. 91–696, § 101, 84 Stat. 2080–2, authorized appropriations for former part D of this subchapter, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 99–129, title II, § 220(c), Oct. 22, 1985, 99 Stat. 544.

Another prior section 295a, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, § 762, as added Oct. 31, 1963, Pub. L. 88–164, title I, § 101, 77 Stat. 282, related to applications for grants for construction of mental retardation facilities, including their approval by Surgeon General and consideration of certain matters, prior to the general amendment of former part D of this subchapter by section 101 of Pub. L. 91–696.

A prior section 766 of act July 1, 1944, was classified to section 294d of this title prior to the general amendment of part D of this subchapter by Pub. L. 105–392.

Another prior section 766 of act July 1, 1944, was classified to section 295d–1 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 99–129.

Another prior section 766 of act July 1, 1944, was classified to section 295d–1 of this title prior to the general amendment of part D of this subchapter by Pub. L. 91–696.

### Amendments

2020—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 116–136 substituted “that plans, develops, operates, and evaluates projects to improve preventive medicine, health promotion and disease prevention, or access to and quality of health care services in rural or medically underserved communities.” for “that plans, develops, operates, and evaluates projects that are in furtherance of the goals established by the Secretary for the year 2000 in the areas of preventive medicine, health promotion and disease prevention, or improving access to and quality of health services in medically underserved communities.”