Programs address healthcare workforce needs in Concord and the Lakes Region
Concord, N.H. (July 20, 2022) – Healthcare is one of New Hampshire’s largest and fastest growing industries, and a sector that has had a surge in open positions over the past two years. To help meet these needs across the state, ApprenticeshipNH, a workforce program of the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH), has expanded its partnership with Concord Hospital to offer two medical assistant (MA) Registered Apprenticeship programs. Using ApprenticeshipNH’s “earn while you learn” model, this program will be offered at Concord Hospital’s facilities in Concord and Laconia, with related classroom instruction at NHTI-Concord’s Community College and Lakes Region Community College (LRCC). The programs will prepare students to become Certified Clinical Medical Assistants and help to fill in-demand positions.
“We are excited to expand our partnership with Concord Hospital and add two new medical assistant Registered Apprenticeship programs,” said Tracey Jackson, CCSNH ApprenticeshipNH grant manager. “This program offers students a well-supported pathway to enter the healthcare profession and to position themselves for further career advancement while building a pipeline of skilled workers to fill critical positions. This is a great opportunity for apprentices to receive paid tuition, develop new skills, earn a wage and start a new career.”
The Medical Assistant Registered Apprenticeship Programs include 480 hours of instruction at LRCC or NHTI, along with 3,600 hours of on-the-job training at Concord Hospital medical offices where apprentices will practice clinical and administrative skills working under the supervision of a mentor. The program will prepare students to sit for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) national exam. Following successful completion of the program, apprentices are eligible for continued employment with Concord Hospital’s Primary Care or specialty practices.
Medical assistants play a key role in patient care. Their role includes preparing patients for examination, treatment, diagnostic testing and conducting routine laboratory procedures. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for medical assistants to grow 18 percent overall through 2030, signaling opportunities for students.
“Having highly skilled medical assistants in our organization allows us to provide excellent care to the patients and families in our community,” said Jennifer Leonard, MSN, RN Clinical Process and Education Manager at Concord Hospital. “Medical assistants are a valued member of our healthcare team at Concord Hospital, and the collaboration with ApprenticeshipNH has helped us recruit talented medical assistants into our medical group.”
This program expands the partnership between ApprenticeshipNH and Concord Hospital that started in 2020 with a licensed nursing assistant (LNA) Registered Apprenticeship program that included on-the-job training alongside coursework at NHTI and Manchester Community College. To date, 29 apprentices have completed the LNA and MA programs and have been hired by Concord Hospital.
As a Registered Apprenticeship Program with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Office of Apprenticeship, Concord Hospital’s apprentices participate in an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential.
The program is supported by WorkNowNH and Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA). The application is available here.
ApprenticeshipNH was established in 2017 as a workforce initiative of the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) and is funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Labor to assist employers building registered apprenticeships, pre-apprentice and high school programs in high-demand sectors including advanced manufacturing, automotive technology, biomedical technology, business and finance construction and infrastructure, healthcare, hospitality and information technology. ApprenticeshipNH assists companies with recruiting, screening and hiring potential apprentices, as well as accessing resources in the state that help to fund apprentice training and education. Visit ApprenticeshipNH.com for more information.
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