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HASC, SBWIB, JobForward & Propel America Host Regional Employer Briefing on Healthcare Apprenticeships — November 18, 2025
The Hospital Association of Southern California (HASC), the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB), JobForward, and Propel America came together on November 18 to brief healthcare employers on how Registered Apprenticeships are transforming talent pipelines in allied health. The session responded to a challenge shared across the region: hospitals, clinics, and community health centers continue to face severe staffing shortages in roles such as Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), Medical Assistants (MAs), pharmacy techs, and other frontline positions essential to patient care.
JobForward opened the presentation by outlining the scope of the workforce crisis and making a compelling case for apprenticeship as a proven, nationally validated model for building internal career pipelines. Their examples demonstrated how employers are reducing turnover, improving productivity, and creating more stable teams by developing talent from within rather than competing in an increasingly scarce labor market.
SBWIB followed with an overview of how regional apprenticeship sponsorship works and the support available to employers. As a long-standing workforce intermediary, SBWIB helps partners design apprenticeship roles, navigate state and federal registration, recruit candidates, and access funding streams such as Health-Flex HRTP, ACE, COYA, and federal apprenticeship grants. SBWIB also walked employers through the structure of its CNA apprenticeship pathway—from state-approved pre-apprenticeship training to a year of competency-based on-the-job learning and advancement.
Propel America expanded the conversation by showcasing its Medical Assistant apprenticeship model, which blends accredited technical training with individualized coaching and mentor support throughout the first year of employment. Employers heard directly how Propel recruits and prepares candidates, partners with training providers, and works with clinical teams to integrate MA apprentices safely and effectively into real-world care settings. Several examples illustrated how MA apprenticeships are already strengthening staff stability and patient experience in Los Angeles and other cities across the country.
Throughout the session, the four partners emphasized a shared message: apprenticeship is not just a training strategy—it is a durable workforce strategy. By hiring earlier, developing talent internally, and leveraging available funding, healthcare employers can stabilize critical roles, reduce hiring costs, and expand access to high-quality care in their communities.
Healthcare organizations interested in exploring CNA, MA, or other allied health apprenticeship pathways can contact SBWIB’s apprenticeship team:
Alex Cabalu · acabalu@sbwib.org · 310-970-7747
Dr. Dylan Farris · dfarris@sbwib.org · 310-970-7729
Q1 Partner Convening - November 5, 2025
The South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB) brought together regional healthcare employers, community colleges, universities, and training providers for our Q1 Healthcare Workforce Partner Convening, launching a year of coordinated work across our Health-Flex High Road Training Partnership (HRTP) and ACE Allied Health initiatives. The convening focused on strengthening partnerships, expanding training pathways, and aligning resources to grow a diverse, job-ready healthcare workforce for the South Bay and greater Los Angeles region.
West Los Angeles College (WLAC) highlighted its strong portfolio of Health Sciences programs, including Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), Medical Assistant, and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training. These programs continue to serve as high-demand, high-entry-point pipelines for residents entering healthcare careers.
Cal State Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) presented two standout offerings through its workforce development division:
Orthotic Fitter Pre-Certification Program, which prepares participants with 70 hours of instruction plus 1,000 hours of clinical training—leading to well-paying roles in orthotics and prosthetics.
EMT Program, which boasts a 98% National Registry pass rate and includes immersive ride-along experiences with ambulance partners.
Pro Career Academy and Prestige continue to support medical assistant and allied health entry-level pathways, contributing critical capacity to meet employer demand across the region.
Healthcare employers, including Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, shared updates on their nursing residency pathways and opportunities for new graduates or experienced nurses returning to practice. These insights help shape the training-to-employment pipelines SBWIB is building across its allied health grants.
Unite LA also highlighted opportunities for collaboration on apprenticeship and tech-adjacent healthcare pathways, supporting participants seeking long-term career advancement.
During the convening, SBWIB outlined how braided funding—through HRTP, ACE, and WIOA—can be used to support both jobseekers and employers. Partners learned how participants can access tuition assistance, paid work experience, and supportive services, while employers benefit from on-the-job training (OJT) reimbursements and recruitment support.
This convening reinforced our shared commitment to building a cohesive, high-road healthcare workforce pipeline. SBWIB will continue hosting bi-monthly meetings to coordinate upcoming cohorts, align employer hiring needs, and ensure that regional training programs lead directly into quality healthcare careers.
More updates, partner spotlights, and program announcements will be shared here throughout the year as we continue to expand access to high-quality healthcare training and employment opportunities.
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