Registered Apprenticeship in the Healthcare & Social Assistance Sectors
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Registered Apprenticeship (RA) Programs in the healthcare and social assistance industries have been growing steadily over the last decade and are a viable workforce development initiative to help meet the growing demand for employees in healthcare which is expected to grow at a rate faster than the general economy.[1]
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship (OA), the most in-demand healthcare and social assistance apprenticeships are dental assistant, emergency medical technician/paramedic, medical coder, certified nurse aide, pharmacist assistant and long-term care nurse manager apprenticeships.[2] The most high-growth apprenticeships include registered nurse resident, certified nurse assistant and medical assistant apprenticeships, as since 2021, these have nearly or more than doubled.
Did you know?
- Over 40 different RA Programs have been approved for healthcare occupations.[3]
- Over 18,500 apprentices are currently working in the healthcare and social assistance industries.
- Texas boasts the most with over 4,000 apprentices. West Virginia, California, and Indiana each have close to 1,400 apprentices.[4]
Starting a New Healthcare or Social Assistance RA Program
Multiple organizations have created materials to help sponsors start new RA Programs in this sector. The Healthcare Career Advancement Program (HCAP) website hosts a wide range of resources around healthcare RA Programs and a Center for Equity in healthcare occupations. Additionally, the Urban Institute in collaboration with the OA has produced competency-based occupational frameworks to help RA Program sponsors and employers develop their apprenticeships. With the help of healthcare and social assistance employers, educators, and other workforce and training experts, OA has published frameworks for these important occupations:
Community Health Worker: Works to link the community with health and social services and provides greater access to services, while improving the quality and cultural competency of those services.
Medical Assistant: Work with licensed health care and allied health care providers, including doctors, optometrists, chiropractors, nurse practitioners, radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, and office support staff.
Medical Records & Health Information Technician, Medical Coder: Supports documentation of care and the provider reimbursement process.
Phlebotomist: Draws blood and processes biological samples for tests, transfusions, donations, or research.
Sterile Supply Technician: Prepares, sterilizes, installs, and cleans lab and healthcare equipment. Also, performs routine laboratory tasks and operates or inspects equipment.
Surgical Technologist: Prepares the operating room by setting up surgical instruments and equipment and prepares patients for surgery.
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- Posted by: Anna O'Connell
- Posted in: Apprenticeship Building America