April 26-May 2, the Full Employment Council is proud to participate in National Apprenticeship Week 2026, celebrating apprenticeship successes, and highlighting the benefits of apprenticeships to employers and employees.
FEC CEO Clyde McQueen issued a proclamation for National Apprenticeship Week, which can be viewed here.
What is a Registered Apprenticeship Program?
Registered Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience with a mentor, receive progressive wage increases, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential. Registered Apprenticeships are industry-vetted and approved and validated by the U.S. Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency.
You can view a Fact Sheet about Apprenticeship here.
Registered Apprenticeship Programs enable and energize more employers to participate and provide them access to larger talent pools that have been trained for entry-level to management positions, thereby meeting industry demands and reducing unemployment rates across the country. Key elements of all Registered Apprenticeship programs include the following: - Industry Led - Programs are industry-vetted and approved to ensure alignment with industry standards and that apprentices are trained for highly skilled, high-demand occupations. - Paid Job - Apprenticeships are jobs! Apprentices earn progressive wage as their skills and productivity increase. - Structured On-the-Job Learning/Mentorship - Programs provide structured on-the-job training to prepare for a successful career, which includes instruction from an experienced mentor. - Supplemental Education - Apprentices are provided supplemental classroom education based on the employers unique training needs to ensure quality and success. - Diversity - Programs are designed to reflect the communities in which they operate through strong non-discrimination, anti-harassment, and recruitment practices to ensure access, equity, and inclusion. - Quality & Safety - Apprentices are afforded worker protections while receiving rigorous training to equip them with the skills they need to succeed and the proper training and supervision they need to be safe. - Credentials - Apprentices earn a portable, nationally-recognized credential within their industry.
Building the Path to RN - And Delivering New Nurses to the Workforce
FEC is producing new Registered Nurses (RNs) for Kansas City’s healthcare system through employer-driven pathways.
FEC is proud to announce the first RN Apprenticeship now includes 13 participants in the RN (Registered Nurse) Apprenticeship at Children’s Mercy. The program began in October 2024, when the Full Employment Council, as an intermediary for the United States Department of Labor, established the first RN Apprenticeship standards and registered three newly hired Staff Nurses who became the first apprentices to receive 4,000 hours of on-the-job learning. Children’s Mercy and FEC continue to utilize apprenticeships to effectively train staff nurses.
Children’s Mercy Hospital & Clinics is consistently ranked among the leading children's hospitals in the nation and was the first hospital in Missouri and Kansas to earn the prestigious Magnet designation for excellence in patient care from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. In addition to the clinical expertise provided to pediatric specialists, Children's Mercy is also a leader in educating the pediatricians and nurses of the future and conducting cutting-edge pediatric medical research to discover the treatments and cures of tomorrow. They are recognized for their innovative, family-centered environment that is focused on the unique needs of hospitalized children and their families.
The new apprentices also received supportive services through FEC to help them launch their career in nursing.
Creating Kansas City's Next Generation of Nurses
Building the Pipeline for new Clinical Talent with CNA
Starting with the region's first CNA apprenticeship, we are now extending that pathway to produce licensed professionals--creating a true entry-to-RN continuum.
FEC works with University Health, a Level 1 trauma center hospital, and Swope Health Services, the region’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center, to establish apprenticeships for Certified Medical Assistants. University Health initiated an apprenticeship program and 39 people have been trained.
Swope Health Services started a CMA program in 2025 with a cohort of seven apprentices. The 2026 cohort apprentices will soon start at Swope Health, following FEC’s recruitment efforts. Read more about the partnership.
“We built Kansas City’s first healthcare apprenticeship and are now delivering results across the full continuum, supporting new Registered Nurses with Children’s Mercy while establishing employer-driven pathways with Swope Health and University Health,” said Full Employment Council CEO Clyde McQueen. “We are not just training talent. We are producing the region’s future clinical workforce.”
FEC President and CEO Clyde McQueen, Swope Health President and CEO Jeron L. Ravin, J.D., and MCC Chancellor Dr. Kimberly Beatty sign the MOU to establish a high-quality, six-month program to train certified medical assistants.
Get Involved With Apprenticeship
Employers interested in learning more about apprenticeships, or who would like to participate, can email Rohina Behrmann.
FEC Clients who would like to learn more about apprenticeships can connect here.
About National Apprenticeship Week
National Apprenticeship Week is a nationwide celebration where industry, labor, equity, workforce, education, and government leaders host events to showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeship for re-building our economy. National Apprenticeship Week is an opportunity to highlight how Registered Apprenticeship, a proven and industry-driven training model, provides a critical talent pipeline that can help to address some of our nation’s pressing workforce challenges such as responding to critical supply chain demands and supporting a clean energy workforce, modernizing our cybersecurity response, addressing public health issues, and rebuilding our country’s infrastructure.
Ready to get involved? Contact us today!
