Volunteer Services

UHS Volunteer Eligibility

About Volunteer Eligibility

This section defines who may and may not participate as a Research Volunteer within UCLA Health Sciences campus. Eligibility is based on an individual’s status, the nature of the proposed activities, and institutional and regulatory considerations.

The criteria below outline eligible and ineligible participant categories, including limited exceptions that require additional review or pre-clearance. All research volunteer roles must be educational in nature, clearly distinct from paid employment or academic degree requirements, and appropriately supervised.

Note: Non-research volunteers on the UCLA Health Sciences campus are considered on a case-by-case basis and may not participate in studies or work with data. Activities are limited to outreach and altruistic, service-oriented functions.

Who Can Be a Research Volunteer?

  • Students & Learners:
    • Students who are not paid and not earning academic credit
    • UCLA undergraduates earning UCLA research credit
      • For-credit duties must match approved Roles & Responsibilities
    • Post-baccalaureate learners (recent grads or similar learners gaining experience)
  • Community Members:
    • Individuals from outside UCLA with relevant interest or experience
  • Current or Former UCLA Employees may volunteer only if the role is clearly different from your paid job. All of the following are required:
    • A different supervisor or Faculty/PI than your paid role
    • Pre‑approval from the DGSOM Dean’s Office (Vice Dean for Research or designee)
    • No Substitution of Paid Work Attestation form is Required
    • Note, if you’re a former employee who is now a UCLA undergraduate seeking research credit in the same lab, you still need Dean’s Office approval.
  • Graduate Students (Limited Cases Only) may volunteer only if:
    • The work is not related to their degree or thesis
    • The goal is educational exposure in a different field
    • The Domain Distinctness Attestation Form is Required
    • The Faculty Sponsor cannot be your thesis/dissertation advisor

Who Is Not Eligible?

  • Medical students
  • Post‑doctoral scholars
  • Individuals with professional degrees (MD, JD, PhD, PharmD, etc.)
  • Anyone paid by another program or institution for the same research
  • UCLA employees wanting to do similar work or work under the same supervisor
  • Foreign nationals on a visa (with limited exception) may participate only if ALL conditions are met:
    • UCLA Student F-1 Visa status is verified and validated by UCLA Dashew Center through a Verification Letter
    • Part of a formal unpaid UCLA research program (like SRP 99/199, no credit)
    • No access to sensitive personal data
    • Full compliance with U.S. federal laws and regulations

Volunteer Assignment Limits

Current UCLA Health Volunteers

Volunteers may participate in no more than two (2) hospital volunteer assignments and no more than two (2) research volunteer assignments at any given time.

Volunteers must complete the minimum required service hours in their current assignment before requesting to add or transfer to another program. Approval may be required even after minimum hours are met.

  • UCLA Health Sciences (Research) Programs/Assignments: Minimum commitment of 50 hours
  • Hospital and other volunteer programs: Please consult your Volunteer Coordinator for minimum hour requirements.

To add a new assignment, volunteers must apply to the opportunity online and wait for approval. Once approved, all required clearance and onboarding requirements must be completed before being formally assigned and beginning activities.

Additional eligibility requirements or limitations may apply based on program-specific criteria and information provided.