Introduction to Registered Apprenticeship (RA):

A Workforce Strategy for Health Care

For the Healthcare Career Advancement Program (H-CAP) Feb 14, 2011

President Obama, State of the Union message, “Registered Apprenticeship as means to attain a post-secondary certificate”

US DOL Secretary Solis vision, “Good Jobs for Everyone”

Registered Apprenticeship and Workforce One-Stop integration

Inclusion in the Affordable Care Act

◦ RA sponsors are eligible for grants

◦ RA sponsors are eligible to sit on the National Commission

Healthcare Energy Transportation Information Technology Public Sector Education Manufactoring Construction

INCREMENTAL

WAGE INCREASES:

Registered Apprentices receive incremental wage increases based on skills attainment and job proficiency

MENTORING Apprentices

work and learn under qualified personnel

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RELATED INSTRUCTION

Apprentices receive technical training through a variety of methods

Subject content and time requirements depend on occupation

Responsibilities ensure increased job competency over time

ON-THE-JOB LEARNING:

At least 2,000 hours of supervised and structured on-the-job learning in an occupation

Minimum of 144 hours of related instruction in technical subjects related to the occupation, may be college credit

Registered with US Dept of Labor Office of Apprenticeship

or state registering agency

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Registered Apprenticeship

SponsorsLabor/Management

Workforce System/Education/Government/Community Organizations

other partners6

Apprentices/

Job Seekers

Incumbent

Workers

Need to strengthen entry- and mid-level Workforce skills

Insuffient training for most entry-level professions and no career pathway

Individuals are not recognized as professionals Consistency and culture of workplace High turnover; burnout Diversity or lack of in higher skilled

occupations

Offers advancement into nursing, pharmacy, dental, Health IT and other growing occupations

Creates a pipeline of skilled workers

Increases retention

Decreases recruitment costs

Improves employee skills, confidence and quality of patient care

Increases diversity

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“Grow Your Own Workforce” Highly skilled employees Recruitment Strategy Consistent and Systematic Training Relevant classroom instruction linked to actual work

experience Recognition for long-term employees Employees increasingly capable of advancement Creation of career pathways for more employees

Registered Apprenticeship Benefits:

Job Seekers, Incumbent Workers and

Apprentices

“Earn While You Learn”

Wages increase as skills increase

Hands-on career training

Education while working

Career with multiple pathways

National Certification

Certified Nursing Assistant

with Specialties

Community Health Worker

EMT and Paramedic

Dental Assistant Home Care/Health Aide Medical Assistant

Medical Transcriptionist Medical Coder

Pharmacy Tech

Surgical Technologist

Laboratory Technician

Health Unit Coordinator

Direct Support Professional

MRI Tech Mammography Tech

Licensed Practical Nurse (military)

Medical Secretary

More to come depending on need

CVS Pharmacy◦ Pharmacy Tech Career Ladder◦ Competency-based model 3 tiers

Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society◦ CNA competency-based model-4 tiers: Level 1, Advanced, and

at least 2 specialties◦ Integrated into career lattice◦ On-the-job skills developed through a mentoring structure

East Texas AHEC/Texas Workforce Commission◦ Community Health Worker—just beginning◦ OA and AHEC are promoting the program to hospitals and

clinics◦ AHEC will provide the instruction◦ Texas Workforce Commission supports

Health Unit Coordinator, Multicare Health System, Tacoma, WA ◦ Partnership Labor, Management, Education, Government◦ Based on Job Description, College Curriculum, National

Standards for HUC, Apprenticeship requirements◦ Need for consistency in skill levels of college educated workers◦ Offered twice year, incumbent workers/volunteers, free

tuition and books◦ 15 programs completed, 109 apprentices ◦ ROI by Multicare shows value, developing additional

occupations

Sunbridge Skilled Nursing Facilities-Restorative Aide Apprenticeship with pre-requisites for LPN

Dispensing Opticians-Apprenticeship completers pass State licensing tests at higher rate than all others

Dental Assistant- multiple locations

Multi-care Health System - CT and MRI Technicians

Alaska- Surgical Technician

HOME CARE AIDE APPRENTICESHIP◦ Basic Home Care Aide Training 75 Hours-Certificate from WA

State Department of Health, Certified Home Care Aide

◦ Advanced Home Care Aide Training 70 Hours-Certificate from U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship upon completion of all classroom training and on-the-job learning

◦ Peer Mentorship

◦ Career pathway to other medical, social service or special education careers.

◦ Pilot begins 2011 approx 330 apprentices around the state

◦ Workforce training and quality of care increase together

Joint evaluation Currently 40 employers in 20 states with RA programs

covering 4 occupations (CNA, DSS, HSS, HHA) Examine recruitment & retention, wage gains and possibly

other quality of care issues Phase 1: Feasibility Study—this year

Phase 2: Evaluation Design to be determined by Feasibility Study

In Health Information Technology, RA can be an effective training modelColleges with health informatics departments can make good partners

Blue Cross/Blue Shield—South Carolina

Partnership with Midlands Technical College and Alpha Training Services

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Health Unit Coordinator Medical Coder Medical Transcriptionist Information Assurance Specialist Information Management IT Project Manager IT Generalist Programmer Analyst Web Systems Support Programmer Network Support Technician

Contact your State Director and/or Apprenticeship Training Representative

You can locate the appropriate contact for your state here: http://21stcenturyapprenticeship.workforce3one.org/page/contacts

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Serve as a partner agency

Provide technical assistance to develop the program

Help your organization identify occupations with training needs that could be apprenticeable

Work with you to determine the on-the-job learning work processes, related classroom instruction needed

Register programs

Provide technical assistance on training protocols and implementation practices and other issues

Anne Wetmore, MPA

Washington and Oregon State Director

U.S. Dept of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship

1111 3rd Ave, Suite 850

Seattle, WA 98101

(206)553-0076

Wetmore.anne@dol.gov