Apprenticeships in Healthcare: A Growing Trend! 

Healthcare employers have always recognized the value of guided hands-on learning, but now more are turning to the time-tested earn-and-learn training model of apprenticeships to develop skilled labor in their organizations. By combining hands-on training with classroom instruction, apprenticeships for occupations such as medical assistants, health IT, community health workers, and nursing are gaining in popularity as a strategy that addresses critical vacancies, increases worker productivity and improves retention.

CareerSTAT partner organizations are actively designing and implementing apprenticeships in healthcare, but tell us what your organization is doing. Learn more below and see the resources section for peer-learning opportunities and resources to support apprenticeship adoption.

  • Committed to growing its internal staff, Fairview Health is supporting 150 associate’s degree nursing apprentices in obtaining their BSNs.
  • The Washington Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers (WACMHC) offers a medical assistant (MA) apprenticeship to ensure that entry-level employees are prepared to deliver essential MA skills by participating in a 12-month intensive training program.
  • The Greater Philadelphia Healthcare Partnership offers a youth behavioral health pre-apprenticeship program for individuals ages 17-24.
  • New York Alliance for Healthcare Careers in partnership with 1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds, Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, and LaGuardia Community College recently launched a community health worker apprenticeship.

WorkshopsHope Street’s Health Career Pathways Network is offering a series of workshops dedicated to helping regions develop specific career pathways, including apprenticeships, for their priority job families.

Webinar: Join the AHIMA Foundation on March 23rd at 12pm CST to learn about Apprenticeships in Health Information Management: An Effective Workforce Planning Model for Employers.  Learn more and register here.

US Department of Commerce Report:  The Benefits and Costs of Apprenticeships: A Business Perspective demonstrates the business case for apprenticeships and quantifies cost savings overtime.  The report highlights Dartmouth-Hitchcock which implemented a medical assistant (MA) apprenticeship program to support a major expansion and reorganization of its medical services. “The program nearly paid for itself within the first year and had an internal rate of return of at least 40 percent. In addition, reducing the long-term use of overtime helped relieve staff burnout and turnover.”