Bucks County Community College. (Credit: BCCC)
Officials at Bucks County Community College are proud to announce that the College has been awarded $400,000 through the PA Department of Labor and Industry to develop and implement a new Healthcare Pre-Apprenticeship Program.
Bucks will partner with Drexel University, District 1199C, Bucks County Workforce and Economic Development Board, regional hospitals, and local medical practices to create a career-aligned registered pre-apprenticeship program. Bucks will provide free training and job placement services for two inaugural cohorts, graduating 24 pre-apprentices over the next year and a half. Graduates of the 12-week pre-apprenticeship program will receive recognized certifications in EKG tech, certified phlebotomy technician, CPR for healthcare providers, mental health first aid for fire/EMS, and child abuse recognition and reporting training, as well as a college certificate of completion and a pre-apprenticeship certificate.
“We have received overwhelming support from the healthcare industry for this pre-apprenticeship program,” said Bucks President & CEO Patrick M. Jones. “Given the success of our pre-apprenticeships in other sectors, we are thrilled to be able to offer the education and training necessary for area residents to launch their allied health careers with jobs that are in high demand and pay family-sustaining wages.”
The PA Department of Labor and Industry grant will afford Bucks’ Center for Workforce Development the opportunity to venture further into the healthcare sector and build upon the success Bucks has had in building pre-apprenticeships in manufacturing and the building trades. The state funding will enable the College to have a greater reach in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region, resulting in providing increased enrollment and pathways to high-paying jobs and apprenticeships that are in high demand.
The free 12-week career training programs will likely begin in early 2026 and be held Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the College’s Center for Advanced Technologies (CAT) on the Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in Bristol. The CAT is a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility offering jobseekers access to high-quality career training programs. Students will also have the opportunity to work with Drexel University, District 1199C, regional hospitals, employers, and apprenticeship programs in the industry.
For more information about this program, contact Associate Vice President for Workforce Development Susan Herring at 267-685-4827 or [email protected].
