“It has been a little over a year since I joined the team with APCA/SC AHEC and what a year it has been.  A global pandemic hit, and we were all sent to work from home March 16, 2020.  Thankfully, our Apprenticeship Programs were already set up to be distanced delivered.  Our apprentices are on the front line and still had to support their patients as well as members of their various communities while trying to stay safe and follow all guidelines.

We currently run apprenticeships in Clinical Medical Assistant, Medical Administrative Assisting, Electronic Health Records, Medical Billing and Coding, Community Health Worker, and starting in April 2021, we are adding our Direct Support Professional program. We are planning on starting a Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship in the Fall of 2021.”

Louise Crago, SC AHEC/APCA’s Health Professionals Training Program Manager, has grown the Apprenticeship Program considerably since her onboarding in February 2020.  Needless to say, we are excited for all that is in store for future apprentices and for the “growing of your own” in the Health Care workplace!

Now, let’s talk numbers. Since the Apprenticeship Program began in 2017, there have been a total of 300 registered apprentices. There are currently 62 apprentices enrolled throughout the five programs APCA offers, and 82 apprentices have completed Related Technical Instruction (RTI) and On the Job Learning Logs (OJLs) but are not necessarily certified. Four apprentice are eligibly to sit for their certification exams now. Three additional apprentices will be eligible to sit for exams by May 2021 or sooner! 

If you or someone you know may be interested in exploring and/or advancing their knowledge and career in the Health Care field, please contact Louise Crago ([email protected]) and visit our Apprenticeship Site here: https://www.scahecak.org/apca-apprenticeship/ for more information.