Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, on December 6 introduced the Fast Track Apprenticeship Act which aims to streamline the development of new apprenticeship programs in healthcare and update and accelerate federal and state labor agencies’ healthcare apprenticeship application processes to reduce delays and red tape for current and future programs.

To achieve these goals, the legislation would require federal and state labor agencies to make determinations on health care apprenticeship applications within 45 days of receipt. The Department of Labor (DOL) would be required to digitize apprenticeship agreement forms, modernize the application process, and enhance accessibility for applicants. The bill also would provide employers the opportunity to revise and resubmit applications after rejection without enduring prolonged delays.

By modernizing and expediting the review process, the bill facilitates easier pathways for employers to train aspiring health care professionals.

This legislation is important for LeadingAge members because it reduces barriers to entry for healthcare workforce training through the apprenticeship program which is a bipartisan workforce program that healthcare is often not well represented in.

We look forward to supporting this and other changes to the apprenticeship program that would allow more of our members to take advantage of this pathway for future staff recruitment.