Health Careers Registered Apprenticeship Program

Photo of a woman who is currently working in a health career.

Topics:

Apprenticeship
Grants and Scholarships

The Iowa Health Careers Registered Apprenticeship Program is a grant opportunity created to help address the workforce needs of the state's health care sector. Program funding helps jumpstart a high school-based Registered Apprenticeship program (either new or existing) that accelerates the pathway into a health care field.  

First introduced in 2022, Iowa’s Health Careers pilot supported RA programs that help students pursue nursing pathways. The program greatly expanded opportunities for health care apprenticeships in 2023 to include EMTs, RNs, Direct Support Professionals, Behavioral Health & Substance Abuse Specialists, and other critical areas. In 2023, a second round of funding targeted growing Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs across high-demand fields in health care. 

Grant Awards

2022

Governor Kim Reynolds first announced the 2022 awardees for the Iowa Health Careers Registered Apprenticeship Grant. Eight school districts have been awarded, with 22 total districts participating. In total, those receiving funding will support an estimated 450 apprentices in the health care sector.

2023

New grants announced in 2023 greatly expanded opportunities for health care apprenticeships to include EMTs, RNs, Direct Support Professionals, Behavioral Health & Substance Abuse Specialists, and other critical areas.  

Governor Kim Reynolds first announced the expansion during her Condition of the State address, to highlight the new $15 million round of funding targeted at growing Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs across high-demand fields in health care. The expanded Health Careers Registered Apprenticeship Program will support more programs that help Iowa meet the demand of its health care workforce.

Health Careers RA Resources

The following information covers the details on Iowa's RA grant program that is helping to create new careers in the health care sector. Click on the plus sign below to expand each section.