Our Students say it best!
Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center
Healthcare employers, workforce organizations, and education partners in Yakima are working to improve and expand Medical Assistant pathways.
As part of our work to develop opportunities in healthcare for youth, the Training Fund is partnering with Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center to run a College in the High School Medical Assistant Apprenticeship program.
The first year of the program consists of courses taught at the skills center with the opportunity for students to earn college credit. Students can then start earning on the job training hours from employment opportunities. Training takes place outside of regular high school hours and may vary based on employer and school schedules. Training focuses on building and demonstrating key workplace competencies. Once 500 hours are earned from externship and apprenticeship, students may take the NHA exam and apply for National & State certification. They can continue to work as a Medical Assistant-R for an additional 1,500 hours to complete the full 2,000-hour apprenticeship.
On March 19th, we visited the classroom to hear from students about their career goals and how programs like this can make a difference in their education. Students were excited to be there and it was clear to see how the learning environment supported their ambitions. Two students shared their experience with the class and their motivation for pursuing a career in healthcare.
Bethzaida Vasquez, a 12th grade student at Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center, is taking classes to become a Medical Assistant (MA). Her goal is to work as an MA while furthering her education to become a Registered Nurse.
She wants to be the person who helps brighten other peoples’ days when they are going through challenges because caretakers helped make a difference for her as she manages an autoimmune disease. She also stepped up and received her dialysis technician certification to help her grandmother when she was sick.
“My grandmother opened many opportunities in healthcare for me. She was ill and eventually passed away. I helped her live longer than the doctors expected. As a certified dialysistechnician,I was able to help with her dialysis treatments and live healthier and longer. I helped her navigate the healthcare field, as it can be confusing for some people.”
Her sister has also motivated and supported her. After being kicked out of her home when she was younger, her sister took her in and continues to support her goals. Now Bethzaida is able to focus on her schooling and career ambitions. The Medical Assistant program at Yakima Valley Skills Center is setting her up for continued success.
“The challenges I have experienced so far in life have helped fuel me to do better. I am thankful for this opportunity. The apprenticeship program gives people who may not have the practical experience the opportunity for more learning. It allows us to not waste lots of money on tuition and helps reduce educational debt. It also helps us find out if this profession is a good professional fit.”
Kian Vicente, an 11th grade student at Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center, shared how the medical assisting classes are challenging him and setting him up for success in the medical field.
“This class has been amazing for teaching me how the body works. This class teaches you a wide variety of healthcare skills. This is one of the most challenging classes I have had. This helps me grow better study habits, perseverance,beon time, and professionalism. Students arecareer focused. Everyonehas the opportunity to learn.”
Kian has always enjoyed helping people and has been inspired by his dad who instilled in him a love of learning, his mom who taught him creative problem solving, and his own personal experience receiving care through stomach health concerns and vertigo challenges. His long-term career goal is to become a doctor or a gastroenterologist. For now, he is learning all he can through the skills center and exploring his options.
“I think itis an awesome opportunity. You go to class and learn skills, you can get into the apprenticeship opportunity and continue learning more. It is super easy to join a career program, compared to other barriers experienced, to be able to apply. It shortens the time you need to be in school for certifications. Because it is a dual creditprogramit makes it easier to take CTE courses while in high school.”
College in the High School Apprenticeship Programs remove barriers to education and are able to provide paid on the job experience to students and meet workforce needs. We are continuing to grow these programs and expand partnerships across Washington.