On April 30, the Full Employment Council is proud to participate in National Apprenticeship Day 2025, celebrating apprenticeship successes, and highlighting the benefits of apprenticeships to employers and employees.
FEC CEO Clyde McQueen issued a proclamation for National Apprenticeship Day, 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.
Success Story: First Registered Nurse (RN) Apprenticeship
Children’s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics providing pediatric medicine in Kansas City and the surrounding area, providing comprehensive care from birth to 18 years of age.
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.
In October 2024 the Full Employment Council, as an intermediary for United States Department of Labor, initiated 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 by the staff at Children’s Mercy Hospital to further develop their skills.
The new apprentices also received supportive services through FEC to help them launch their career in nursing.
Success Story: Carlton Walker Jr., Missouri Apprenticeship
Carlton Walker Jr. is a Youth participant who found success with an apprenticeship program at University Health. Carlton just completed his six-month Medical Assistant training and certification at Metropolitan Community College (MCC).
The Full Employment Council, in partnership with University Health and MCC, developed a Medical Assistant course to train individuals to work in the Hospital and their Long-Term Care Center. The training and curriculum that is specific to the employer’s needs.
Carlton was one of a handful of trainees selected for the program. During the one-year on-the-job learning period, he has been mentored by hospital directors to develop him for his role at the hospital.
The paid learning model is set up through the partnership to help trainees manage their everyday life with income, and helps them to learn from the experts as they head to become certified. The students are also complete their clinical at University Health’s various facilities. University Health includes two acute care hospitals (one in the UMKC Health Sciences District just south of Downtown and a second location in Southeast Kansas City near Lee's Summit), Kansas City's largest behavioral health program, University Health, a specialist and surgery center, and a Women's and Primary Health location under construction.
LISC Honors FEC as Financial Empowerment Champion, Highlights Childhood Development Associate Registered Apprenticeship
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) of Greater Kansas City has honored FEC as their Financial Empowerment Champion at their recent Thrive annual community development celebration, recognizing the work of the Full Employment Council and in particular the CDA Apprenticeship.
LISC’s Financial Empowerment Champion award honors an outstanding individual, organization, or initiative that supports individuals and/or families experiencing lower incomes as they strive to improve their long-term financial stability and create generational wealth.
CDA Apprenticeship Pilot Program Improving Retention, Raising Wages in Two Missouri Metro Areas
The Childhood Development Associate Registered Apprenticeship Training Program was conceptualized and managed by FEC in both the Kansas City and St. Louis regions, representing a large and geographically diverse area. This was the first workforce partnership to involve St. Louis and Kansas City regions. The program was funded by a $2.7 million grant from the Office of Higher Education and Workforce Development, utilizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
FEC supported 298 apprentices in the program in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas, with 11 participating employers.
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 Day
National Apprenticeship Day 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 Day 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!
