CHW Apprenticeship Opportunity
Overview
The Community Health Worker Collaborative of South Dakota (CHWSD) was approved by the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation (SD DLR) to sponsor a CHW Registered Apprenticeship Program for South Dakota.
Apprenticeship Requirements and Supervision
The apprenticeship is approximately 1 year(s) with an attainment of 2,000-2,200 hours supplemented by the minimum required 240 hours of related instruction (200 hours of training and 40 hours of job shadowing) through an approved CHW training program in South Dakota.
The journey worker must be at the CHW-level or above, meaning that in addition to a CHW being a journey worker, a nurse or social worker may also be able to be a journey worker (depending on specific credentials).
Scope of Work for CHWs
- Health system navigation and resource coordination
- Health promotion and coaching
- Health education
Covered Costs of the Apprenticeship Program
The SD DLR CHW Apprenticeship Program will reimburse CHW training tuition paid upon apprenticeship completion of an approved CHW training program. Additionally, the business sponsor will receive approximately $5,000 total wage reimbursement throughout the year for the journey worker and the CHW apprentice. An apprenticeship completion incentive may also be available depending on funding.
Apprenticeship Enrollment Steps and Documents for Review
1. Review Registered Apprenticeship Standards – Review the apprenticeship standards to ensure that the CHW Apprenticeship developed by the CHWSD and the Department of Labor aligns with your organization’s goals for developing and/or expanding a CHW program.
2. Review Appendix A: Work Process Schedule and Related Instruction Outline – Review the terms of the apprenticeship, the wage schedule, and the required competencies. When reviewing, please note the following:
-
- The wage schedule. Apprentices MUST start at $16 or more at the beginning of the apprenticeship and MUST be at $18 or more at the end of the apprenticeship program.
- All competencies must be met throughout the 2,000-2,200 hour apprenticeship program.
- Throughout the apprenticeship program, the journey worker (mentor) and CHW apprentice will track hours completed within Appendix A. The business sponsor will then notify the CHWSD upon completion of all hours.
- Related instruction – if an individual CHW has recently completed CHW training, a copy of the training certificate will need to be uploaded upon apprenticeship enrollment and the 240 hours of training will be considered completed.
3. Appendix D – Employer Acceptance Agreement – If your organization, as a business sponsor, agrees to the terms of the apprenticeship program, please complete Appendix D and send the completed file to ben@chwsd.org, with the subject line: “New Apprenticeship Business Sponsor”. Upon receipt of the signed Appendix D, the CHWSD team will then reach out to share next steps regarding enrolling and apprentice with the Department of Labor, registering for a training program (if needed), and setting up reimbursement logistics.
Visit the CHWSD Apprenticeship Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page for more information. Upon review of this page, if you still have questions, please contact Ben May at ben@chwsd.org
Click below to view and download the CHW Registered Apprenticeship Opportunity one-pager.
