| Sumario: | Purpose: Rural Veterans face unique healthcare barriers and challenges despite an increased need for care. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has long invested in research to improve Veteran health and healthcare delivery; however, rural Veterans remain underrepresented in research, limiting the equitable translation of evidence into rural settings. Rural‐specific research is, therefore, essential in improving rural Veterans' health. This commentary argues for the development of rural health research competencies and proposes possible competency domains to guide training, mentorship, and workforce development. Method: Drawing on existing rural health scholarship, competency‐based education, and implementation science, we outline illustrative domains of competence relevant to conducting rigorous, ethical, and impactful rural health research. Finding: There is currently no field‐wide agreement on the knowledge, skills, and experiences that define a proficient rural health researcher. A core set of rural health research competencies is essential for defining effective rural health research practices, guiding the development, implementation, and evaluation of training efforts, and facilitating broader improvements in rural health research and healthcare. Conclusion: Establishing a flexible, evolving set of rural health research competencies, grounded in both academic rigor and community‐embedded expertise, can strengthen the rural health research workforce, inform training and mentorship, and advance equitable healthcare for rural Veterans and rural populations more broadly.
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