Overview of Apprenticeships

Grow Your Healthcare Workforce!

The Health Care Apprenticeship Consortium’s apprenticeship programs provide employers with:

a pathway of skilled workers
lower turnover for apprentices and mentors
skills that match your needs and culture
increased loyalty and higher productivity

Employers can choose their apprentices. Remote learning options near or at your location are available.

Benefits of Apprenticeship

Pay & benefits

Apprentices are full-time paid employees with benefits. Apprentices complete 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training and 288 – 362 hours of technical instruction within 12 – 24 months.

Certification

These programs prepare students to receive the MA-C, CRCST, CPhT, or other related certification and work as a Medical Assistant, Sterile Processing Technician, Pharmacy Technician, or Behavioral Health staff in Washington State.

Full-time healthcare workers at clinics and hospitals throughout WA

Apprentices work and learn in full-time positions (post-completion service commitment required).

Return on Investment

Data from the Seattle Jobs Initiative shows that in their first year, an academically trained Medical Assistant (MA) has the advantage over an apprentice. In the second year, the apprentice begins to pull ahead. By year three, an apprentice has a 57% ROI ($102,488 net-cost benefit) compared to 27% for the academically trained MA ($53,850 net-cost benefit).

Apprentices also provide value from the very beginning, because they see patients (i.e., generate revenue) as they progress through an apprenticeship.

How does it work? The Health Care Apprenticeship Consortium partners with you to create and implement an apprenticeship program. You only need an apprentice. Watch this implementation video to learn more.

Apprenticeship Eligibility

Applicants must be 18 years or older, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and be able to perform the physical duties associated with the role.
Prior to program entry, applicants must typically pass an assessment to enter upper pre-college Math (087/091) and English (094/098).
Applicants are selected by individual employers who participate in the Health Care Apprenticeship Consortium. Most cohorts are open to general applicants. Current SEIU Healthcare 1199NW members are encouraged to apply.

Program Standards

The Health Care Apprenticeship Consortium programs are all approved by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council and registered with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.

Read our HCAC apprenticeship program standards.

Are you a healthcare employer interested in creating an apprenticeship program?

We’ll help you create a new program—for one of the above occupations or something different. From hiring apprentices and identifying mentors to developing a job rotation plan and assessing apprentices, we’re with you every step of the way.

We’re happy to discuss how we can help you solve your workforce challenges through apprenticeships.

Read our Employer’s Guide to Apprenticeship.

General Inquiry: ,(425) 255-0315, OR fill out this form

Behavioral Health Apprenticeship: Contact Marijo Manaois, Strategic Partnerships Project Manager, , 425-547-6577

NA-C, MA, Pharm Tech, and CSP Apprenticeship: Contact Mary Ramolete, Strategic Partnerships Project Manager, , 425-473-9352