Vermont Employer-Sponsored Nursing Apprenticeship Pipeline

The Challenge:

Vermont faces a critical RN shortage: 1,200 needed annually. However, the state’s higher education institutions graduate only about 400 RNs per year, and some of those graduates seek employment outside Vermont, further exacerbating the local shortage.

Strategic Approach:

Vermont Talent Pipeline launched a pilot for the Nurse Apprenticeship Pipeline in 2021 with the University of Vermont (UVM) Medical Center. Our mission: to expand the RN workforce by creating accessible nursing career pathways for current healthcare workers.

Our Model: Employer-Sponsored Nursing Apprenticeship Pipeline

Employer-supported programs allow hospital employees to upskill and become registered nurses.
Participants follow a three-year stepped education plan where, in year two, they earn this LPN licensure before earning their RN licensure by year three.
Employer covers tuition for employees, so there are no up-front costs for participants.
Participants earn paid study hours to continue to earn a wage while in the program.
A work agreement secures a commitment between the participant and employer.
Participants have access to support services while in the program to ensure successful completion.

Specific program requirements are customized to align with each partner hospital's policies and differ.

Program Benefits:

Scalable Nursing Education Solution

Our nursing education framework adapts to hospitals of any size and location across the state. Today, eleven healthcare employers across the state are running Nursing apprenticeship pipeline programs.

Employers and program partners meet regularly to share best practices and continuous improvement methods. Each organization tailors their program policies based on hospital scale and support capacity, ensuring the framework works effectively for larger hospitals and smaller rural facilities alike.

The nursing pathways include all components required for Registered Apprenticeship certification, providing a comprehensive pathway to RN licensure regardless of hospital size.

Participating Apprenticeship Employers

Sustainable Funding

The majority of employers sponsoring a nursing apprenticeship pipeline are utilizing the VSAC Workforce Opportunity Loan (WOLP) to finance their employees' education.

The loan recycles by putting the student loan payments into the employer's loan fund that VSAC will hold for another round of loans for the employer.

Should the apprentice leave the employer prior to full debt repayment, the employer has no further obligation on the remaining debt. The model creates a shared risk situation, where the employee can obtain the education they desire with the possibility of no debt, and the employer has a benefit that encourages the employee to stay for at least 3 years following their education.

As an employer initiates a cohort, VSAC will work with the candidates to access as much free aid as feasible in an attempt to reduce as much potential debt as possible.