This page contains frequently asked questions regarding Volunteer Eligibility, General Inquiries, On-Boarding Appointments, and Final Session Orientations. For any questions NOT listed here, please contact the UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Office.
Due to high volumes of questions, if it is a shadowing inquiry, please read the shadowing policy guidelines before contacting the coordinator. The UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Program does not provide shadowing/observation opportunities.
Volunteer Eligibility Questions:
On-Boarding Appointment Questions:
Final Session Orientation Questions:
I do not have an invitation to volunteer, can I apply as a UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer?
Applicants must be invited by UCLA Health and Health Sciences faculty and staff to be their department's Volunteer or UCLA SRP student. If you are not invited, unfortunately, we cannot process you as a UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer or UCLA SRP Student.
I want to receive credit/stipend from my home institution/school for volunteering, can I do this as a UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer?
If you are receiving any type of credit, stipend, or compensation for volunteering, then you should NOT be a UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer. Please contact our office to help you transition to another title.
Exceptions: UCLA Students receiving SRP or an elective UCLA course credit are processed through the program as UCLA SRP Students.
What is SRP and how do I enroll in it?
SRP is for UCLA Students ONLY. UCLA Students should contact their UCLA Counselors or the Undergraduate Research Office for more information. The UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Program does NOT assist with enrollments, we only process clearances to permit SRP research activities within our facilities.
I want to join more than one assignment/program, can I start them all at the same time?
Unfortunately, volunteers must complete the minimum hours of commitment that would qualify them to join or apply to another program. For more information, please see Volunteer Eligibility Requirements.
Once you complete the minimum hours of commitment, then you must complete the same Pre-Screening process in order to be approved and assigned to your new volunteer assignment.
My assignment form has not been approved by the Volunteer Office yet, can I still go through the clearance process as a UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer/UCLA SRP Student in the meantime?
If we do not have your Assignment Forms approved, unfortunately, we cannot finalize your process as a UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer or UCLA SRP Student. We may need to delay your process or start it once your assignment is approved.
I was told to walk-in to be processed as a UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer/UCLA SRP Student, can I drop by?
Unfortunately, we do NOT conduct on-boarding appointments or final session orientations during office hours. All of our onboarding processes and meetings are completed through scheduled appointments.
COVID UPDATE: all sessions are conducted via ZOOM meetings, please do not come in-person to our office at this time.
I cannot volunteer as I am out of state/area, but wish to volunteer remotely from home. Can I apply as a UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer?
Volunteers must be able to perform their services onsite and consistently (weekly or biweekly basis). If you are unable to perform services onsite, then we are not able to process you as a UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer.
COVID UPDATE: Please see our Volunteer Guidelines regarding what is allowed for temporary remote volunteering during COVID pause.
When is the UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Office open/closed?
Please visit our webpage for Office Hours and Location information: UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Office
I was invited by a faculty member to shadow him/her, how do I get processed for this?
If a faculty invited you to shadow, he/she may not be aware of the Shadowing Policy. Per policy, individual or one-off shadowing is NOT permitted. If you are unsure if you are part of an approved program, most likely you are NOT. Instead of shadowing, we encourage individuals to join one of our various UCLA Health volunteer programs to gain alternative clinical exposure and experience.
Can I contact you directly to schedule an Onboarding Appointment?
Please follow the instructions to sign up for your appointment using the link provided in your "Approval" email. If you did not receive an email, please check to make sure your online Pre-Screening Questionnaire and Assignment Form was already submitted before contacting our office. It can take up to 2-3 business days for the Questionnaire to be reviewed and approved. Any information that is missing or requires revision on the form will delay receiving the approval email.
I am missing one of the requirements, can I still attend the Onboarding Appointment?
Unfortunately, you must have ALL requirements completed in order to move to the next step. We do NOT keep uncompleted packets, if lost, you will be required to re-complete the entire paperwork.
Do I have to attend the Onboarding Appointment in-person?
Yes, all appointments are in-person which pertains to your specific individual assignment.
COVID UPDATE: all sessions are conducted via ZOOM meetings, please turn on your video camera during the meeting.
I do not have all of my health clearance items, but since I will only be accessing clinical data and will NOT have any interactions or contact with patients/study participants, do I still need them completed?
All Clinical UCLA Health Sciences Volunteers and UCLA SRP Students must complete the same process which includes a background check, health screening, paperwork (onboarding), training modules, orientation (final session) and quiz.
What if my assignment form was changed during the clearance process, can I still be cleared?
We can only complete your clearance process if your Assignment Forms are approved. If there were any revisions or changes made and the form is pending approval, most likely your clearance process will be delayed.
What if I have class/work schedule conflicts with the available appointments?
Please contact your coordinator to see if he/she would be available to meet in an alternative time. Please email the coordinator your schedule to better assist them.
What will I expect when I attend the Final Session Orientation?
Please visit our webpage for detailed information: Step 3: Final Session Orientation
Am I required to attend the entire duration of the Final Session Orientation?
Yes, all UCLA Health Sciences volunteer and SRP student applicants should have completed a Final Session Orientation in order to obtain a badge and clearance to start their activities.
COVID UPDATE: Please see our webpage Step 3: Final Session Orientation for COVID Updates.
What if I have class/work schedule conflicts with the sessions?
Please contact your coordinator to see if an Alternative Final Session will be held that month. Please email the coordinator your schedule to better assist them.
Alternative sessions are usually only held 1-2 times per month due to timing restrictions, room availability, and other factors. Alternative sessions are not guaranteed for any specific month.
COVID UPDATE: Please see our webpage Step 3: Final Session Orientation for COVID Updates.
