AAMI’s Danielle McGeary, vice president of HTM, was invited to present on the progress of the AAMI BMET Apprenticeship Program at the Industry Association Registered Apprenticeship Accelerator Event at the Department of Labor’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
This event, featuring DOL experts and representatives of various industry associations, was just one part of the countrywide celebration of apprenticeship and its benefits to workers and critical industries alike.
After opening remarks from Henry Mack, Ed.D., assistant secretary of the DOL’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA), attendees heard from Cierra Mitchell, acting deputy administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship within the ETA. What qualifies a program as a registered apprenticeship with DOL? Mitchell outlined several aspects that any program must have to be accepted to the DOL program. A registered apprenticeship program must:
• Be vetted and approved by industry to align with the right standards
• Be a paid job, with compensation increases that reflect the apprentice’s skills.
• Be structured as on-the-job learning and mentorship.
• Include supplemental classroom education
• Result in a portable, nationally recognized credential for apprentices.
Other panelists from industry included representatives from the Global Electronic Association, Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA), National Institute for Industry and Career Advancement (NIICA), and Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC)
AAMI’S BMET APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
According to McGeary, the HTM field faces steep challenges. Around the U.S., two-year BMET programs are closing their doors. With 23 programs lost since 2020, many states no longer have an educational institution offering a two-year degree in the HTM field. Hospitals are also under stress, as budgets and reimbursements shrink.
In response to this burgeoning crisis, AAMI spun up its BMET Apprenticeship Program. The immediate response from employers was often positive, with many industry members and healthcare delivery organizations signing up to participate. However, McGeary found that misconceptions persisted. Employers often believe they cannot afford an apprenticeship program. Spreading the word about the apprenticeship program has resulted in AAMI doing outreach to all parts of the health technology sector, and “providing a lot of education to the hospitals.”
Individuals who enroll in AAMI’s BMET Apprenticeship program have already achieved impressive results. All BMET apprentices must take AAMI’s certifying exam at the end of their program. For the industry at large, the pass rate averages just below 70%. For BMET apprentices, the pass rate is 93%, and the overwhelming majority remain in the HTM field after graduation.
AAMI’s program was founded largely in response to feedback from HTM professionals and industry, indicating that they needed “another pathway into the field.” AAMI then leveraged its status as a neutral convener to found a working group of “the best and brightest minds in our industry” to revamp and update an old DOL-registered apprenticeship program. The result? A 2-year, hybrid education program based on contemporary competencies needed in HTM that is already producing qualified graduates trained to the minimum competencies required to excel in their field and keep patients safe.
Want to get involved either as an apprentice or to shore up your talent pipeline?
Get in touch at htm@aami.org.
