The American healthcare industry faces complex workforce challenges, including staffing shortages and increasing demand for services. To meet these demands, employers are increasingly turning towards Registered Apprenticeship as a proven solution for recruiting, training, and retaining world-class healthcare talent in good, quality jobs. In 2023, there were 24,492 registered apprentices served in the healthcare industry, a 169 percent increase over the past 5 years.
“Registered apprenticeship is an effective blend of job-related instruction and on-the-job learning that is designed to equip apprentices with the required skills and competencies for their occupation. Registered apprenticeship requires the participation of a team of mentors and supervisors guiding apprentices through structured on-the job-learning experiences. Mentors support competency development through coaching, assessment, and reflection. The holistic team-based training approach builds moral and a collaborative work environment. Mentors are critical players in the success of any healthcare apprenticeship program.”
Danielle Copeland, Executive Director, H-CAP
Registered Apprenticeship Healthcare Community of Practice
The Office of Apprenticeship (OA) offers a collaboration network for healthcare industry stakeholders called the Registered Apprenticeship Healthcare Community of Practice (CoP). We engage community practitioners to share stories, resources, best practices, data, research, and other information about healthcare Registered Apprenticeships (RA).
To join us, email healthcareapprenticeships@dol.gov and include Healthcare CoP in the subject line.
CoP Activities
High-Demand Apprenticeship Occupations
Competency-Based Occupational Frameworks
In collaboration with the Urban Institute, we offer national frameworks—the course work and on-the-job learning required for occupations in this industry. They are consensus based, meaning they are drafted in cooperation with employers, educators, and other workforce and training experts. Employers and businesses can use these frameworks to fast-track the development of their registered apprenticeships. The frameworks are competency based rather than time based, meaning that abilities are emphasized over memorized knowledge or skills. The result is high-quality, competency-based occupational frameworks (CBOFs) that are freely available for all to use.
Healthcare Registered Apprenticeship Resources
Disclaimer Statement: Healthcare resources and speaker presentation content in slide decks and recordings do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Training Administration, Office of Apprenticeship, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the federal government.