Training Fund members can apply for Tuition Assistance (TA) to cover school-related costs like tuition, books, and other fees for approved programs at accredited and approved schools.

The deadline to apply for Tuition Assistance for courses beginning January 2025 or later is October 15, 2024.

Apply early to receive expert guidance and support from our education Navigators! You do not have to be admitted into a program or know the details before applying for Tuition Assistance – our Navigators are available to work with you and create a plan to succeed.   

Note: If you’re currently an active TA user, you do not need to re-apply for this benefit.

The TA benefit is based on your Bargaining Unit and FTE:

• Service members maximum Tuition Assistance has increased for limited time from $3,500 to $5,250/year. Learn More
• Pro/Tech members maximum Tuition Assistance is $5,250/year
• RN members maximum Tuition Assistance is $5,250/year. Additional $3,000/year RN Scholarship is available while funding lasts. Learn More

Happy Environmental Services Week!

Benefits for Training Fund Service Members

Congratulations, Graduates!

Kudos and congratulations to all our graduating members and apprentices!

We celebrated several program graduations over the summer, including: Bellevue College’s RN to BSN pinning ceremony, Introduction to Healthcare employment & Apprenticeship Program (with Seattle Jobs Initiative), Behavioral Health Apprenticeship graduation, and our first Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship with Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center.

We are so proud of all these new graduates: Nursing Assistant-Certified participants who completed their training; and the Medical Assistant apprentices, Behavioral Health, and Pharmacy Technician apprentices who have completed their apprenticeships.

Behavioral Health Apprenticeship Graduation

The Training Fund hosted our first Behavioral Health Apprenticeship graduation on July 18th, 2024. We celebrated graduates from our Behavioral Health Technician Apprenticeship, Peer Counselor Apprenticeship, and Substance Use Disorder Professional Apprenticeship programs. It has been our honor to support these apprentices on their journey and celebrate this huge accomplishment. 

“I currently work with residents with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or schizophrenia. It was different to me and I wanted to learn more about these health issues that constantly develop with our elderly population. The more the class progressed, the more I learned on how these health issues can be caused or how we can assist these residents as well.

The Training Fund constantly checks up on me and sees how I am doing with work as well as any needs I may have. I always had a fear of speaking publicly but with Jessica as our instructor for BHT she brought me out of my shell, and I completely lost that fear.”

Karla Martinez-Zuniga, Behavioral Health Technician Apprentice, Cascade Senior Living Services

RN to BSN Pinning Ceremony

Congratulations to the members who graduated from the RN-to-BSN program at Bellevue College this year. The program is part-time or full-time, low-residency, and has a flexible hybrid model. Training Fund members have priority acceptance into this program.

“Going to school while working full time and balancing a family can be really challenging. The Training Fund helped by covering tuition, fees, and books for my last 2 quarters of the BSN program. I have always wanted to work in healthcare and although my role has changed over time, the passion and reward I feel in taking care of others endures. I’m so fortunate to have had the opportunity to do a residency in the NICU and I love my patients and being able to help families through what can be a really challenging time. “

Meeral Khatri, RN, Valley Medical Center 

Introduction to Healthcare employment and Apprenticeship Programs (IHAP)

Fifteen participants graduated from the Spring 2024 IHAP cohort with Seattle Jobs Initiative. Our first IHAP cohort in Pierce County in partnership with Arivva also completed their training.

“I want to start off with saying that my passion is caregiving. Unfortunately, I struggled with addiction issues. My addiction ended up taking me away from my family, my friends, my passion. I had to change the people and places around me. I’m actually gaining two years of sobriety this month. I decided to work in the IHAP program, after I saw others complete the IHAP program and the NA-C program. This is an opportunity to get back into my passion.”

Kianna Hill

Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship in High School

The pilot Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center (Snohomish County) apprenticeship program for Pharmacy Technicians is a first-of-its-kind apprenticeship opportunity for high school students in WA state. Apprentices also earn college credit in partnership with North Seattle College. We are thrilled to celebrate the first graduates of this program!

“This program is geared toward the industry. We are developing students so that they are industry ready when they complete the program. They got their high school credits, college credits, and got paid while they were doing it. It’s a win win win!”

Shelly Griner, Instructor

“This apprenticeship program has impacted my life by creating the opportunity for me to apply my love for healthcare, and also help others in the real world,”

Arizona, first apprentice of the Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship class

The Pro/Tech Conference Travel Funding Award application deadline is right around the corner!

Did you know that we provide our Professional and Technical members with up to $1,500 once per year (in reimbursements) to attend local and national conferences?*

Apply before September 1st for any conference that you plan to attend during the rest of the year.

We encourage you to apply early!

Professional and Technical workers also have professional development money available to them.

These benefits enable you to attend conferences, advance your career, and minimize personal out-of-pocket costs.

Here’s how it works:

• Pro/Tech Conference funding can cover the cost of travel (hotel, transportation expenses, etc.) and registration fees.
• Pro/Tech Professional Development benefits can cover the cost of attending a conference, e.g., registration fees.
• Both benefits require members to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

The deadline to apply for a Pro/Tech Conference Travel Funding Award is September 1**

*Applications must be submitted before the conference.

** for any conference that you plan to attend during the rest of the year or the first quarter of the following year

Introduction to Healthcare employment and Apprenticeship Program (IHAP)

First Pierce County Cohort with Arivva

The Training Fund’s Introduction to Healthcare employment and Apprenticeship Program (IHAP) trains entry-level job seekers for healthcare careers. IHAP was developed by the Training Fund’s Health Care Apprenticeship Consortium (HCAC) and is implemented in partnership with Seattle Jobs Initiative (King County) and, more recently, Arivva (Pierce County). Diversifying the healthcare workforce and generating opportunities for under-represented and currently unemployed individuals is a key focus of this program.

Dan Bissonnette, Executive Director, explains why Arivva opted to partner with the Training Fund: “Our organizational missions matched. Arivva seeks to serve unemployed and underemployed individuals living in Parkland and throughout Pierce County through no-cost job training programs that result in living-wage jobs on a sustainable career path. The Training Fund opportunity was a perfect match for us to bring IHAP to Pierce County.” Arivva’s first IHAP cohort demonstrates this program’s positive impact on the local community.

IHAP consists of two Phases: Phase 1 is a free 3-week training program that provides introductory overviews of healthcare career opportunities, professional development, and wraparound support services for participants. Phase 2 is an 8-week Certified Nursing Assistant (NA-C) training program for those who want to pursue the introductory phase and obtain NA-C certification. The focus is on teaching practical skills and medical terminology while providing structure and a positive environment to foster growth and achieve success. In this manner, IHAP generates entry pathways while also removing barriers to education.

Ben Gonzalez, Instructor

Guilain, who immigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been in the US for four months and is pursuing his dreams. He shares, “Back in Africa, I was born and grew up in a war zone. I saw a lot of people dying from gunshots or bombs; that is where my passion started. You feel like you can’t help. Since childhood, I wanted to one day become a doctor. When I came to America, I got the opportunity to join this program.” Guilain plans to pursue the NA-C training program and says, “I feel so happy, and I can achieve my dream. I want to eventually become a surgeon.”

Denise Moisescu 

IHAP is an important entry for those wanting to build a healthcare career. But more significantly, it simultaneously strengthens and diversifies our healthcare workforce.  “Many, many jobs for the Certified Nurse Assistant in Pierce County have gone chronically unfilled for a long time,” says Dan Bissonnette. “IHAP provides an introduction to healthcare careers and, specifically, no-cost NA-C job training. This opens avenues for individuals who previously could not access such training.”

Perhaps what is most amazing about IHAP is the sheer diversity of career goals and opportunities within the healthcare industry. Just within this pilot cohort, IHAP participants expressed a range of interests and aspirations:

Jaisona’s goal is to be a radiology technician. She chose IHAP because she wants career stability for herself and her two-year-old daughter.

Jon, inspired by his mom, who was an RN for 60 years, is entering the medical field after an 18-year military career and a long history of manual labor. He wants to work in telemedicine and is interested in potentially becoming a cardiac monitor technician.

Kenah, who recently immigrated from Cameroon, plans to complete the NA-C program and become a medic or a nurse.

Diamond is starting a new career in the medical field while also encouraging her grown daughter to pursue a degree or work in healthcare.

Noelani was inspired by multiple family members who are all nurses. Due to her own medical issues, she was also frequently in hospitals as a young girl and wants to eventually work in Pediatrics.

IHAP offers participants multiple opportunities through a single entry point—and provides them with structure, support, and encouragement along the way. The opportunities are endless, and no matter where you start, the Training Fund can help you finish!

Introduction to Healthcare employment and Apprenticeship Program (IHAP)

Steve’s Success Story

After completing the Introduction to Healthcare employment and Apprenticeship Program (IHAP) program and Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) training in about three months, Steve Nicholson is now an NA-C/Patient Safety Assistant at Providence Swedish.  

Steve’s personal experience and his own healthcare challenges played a defining role in his decision to pursue a career in healthcare. He learned about and enrolled in our IHAP program after searching for an entry-point into the healthcare field. 

“The compassionate nurses and staff who cared for me during those difficult times left an indelible mark. Their unwavering support, empathy, and dedication motivated me to pursue a career in healthcare. Now, I strive to make a difference for others, just as they did for me,” he shares.  

IHAP students learn medical terminology and prepare for a career in healthcare. The program also teaches life skills like time management, interview skills, cultural awareness, and more. Acknowledging the difficulties of pursuing a new career path, Steve says, “balancing academic commitments and career exploration can be challenging. However, I was able to successfully prioritize tasks and learn better time management skills.”  

The Training Fund is committed to creating viable entry-level pathway programs into the healthcare sector for people like Steve. But more importantly, we also focus on providing them with the wraparound support to overcome barriers and achieve their goals.  Steve’s example illustrates this:

“The Training fund provided support in all facets of my journey. It is as if they anticipated all my needs and challenges that I may encounter. This included financial support, studying and exam preparation, career options and mentorship.”

The mix of classroom and hands-on experience is also very useful for these entry-level students. “The team helps you transition from structured classroom learning to unstructured clinical environments. They guide you through the nuances of medicine and provide insights into patient-provider relationships,“ says Steve. 

He specifically credits Benjamin (at our IHAP partner Seattle Jobs Initiative) for his help during Phase 1 of IHAP, and his NA-C instructor Tabitha for her support preparing students for the state exam and clinicals. Our team is your community, and we are behind you every step of the way.  

Steve is now planning to pursue a career as a Medical Assistant and eventually a CT Technologist.  This is just the beginning, and he is already inspiring and encouraging family members and others to follow his steps through the IHAP program and dream big.  

“I’ve already started championing the program’s benefits among my colleagues and family. To those seeking a transformative and positive shift in their lives—and the lives of others—I wholeheartedly recommend enrolling in this program. Don’t hesitate; take the leap and experience the profound, life-changing benefits firsthand!”