The New York State Department of Health is dedicated to strengthening the state’s healthcare workforce. To achieve this, they are actively supporting individuals entering the healthcare field and current professionals aiming to advance their careers through comprehensive education, training, and job placement programs.
Understanding Career Path Programs: Your Route to Healthcare Advancement
The Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program stands as a pivotal education and training initiative, authorized under New York’s 1115 Demonstration Waiver. This program is a vital component of the New York Health Equity Reform (NYHER) waiver amendment, detailed within New York’s Special Terms and Conditions. Addressing critical workforce shortages, the CPT Program strategically funds education and training opportunities for health, behavioral health, and social care workers across New York State, building a robust and reliable workforce pipeline.
Explore Diverse Healthcare Career Paths Available Through CPT Programs
The CPT program encompasses a wide array of professional titles across three core categories, allowing participants to pursue various fulfilling career paths: nursing, professional technical, and frontline public health worker roles.
For those interested in applying, connecting with the Workforce Investment Organization (WIO) in your respective region is the first crucial step.
Professional Technical Career Paths
This category offers diverse and essential roles within the healthcare ecosystem:
- Physician Assistant
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- Master of Social Work
- Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor
- Certified Pharmacy Technician
- Certified Medical Assistant
- Respiratory Therapist
Nursing Career Paths
CPT programs provide pathways to advance in the nursing field, from entry-level to advanced practice:
- Licensed Practical Nurse
- Associate Registered Nurse
- Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Nurse Practitioner
Frontline Public Health Worker Career Paths
These roles are crucial for community health and patient care coordination:
- Community Health Worker
- Patient Care Manager/Coordinator
Two Pathways to Success: Career Advancement & New Careers
The CPT program is thoughtfully structured into two distinct career pipelines, catering to different stages of professional development: Career Advancement and New Careers.
Career Advancement Pipeline
Designed for individuals currently employed in the health, behavioral health, or social care sectors, the Career Advancement Pipeline facilitates access to education and training, empowering them to climb the career ladder. Eligibility for this pipeline requires current employment at a New York State health, behavioral health, or social care provider and acceptance into an approved professional training and education program.
New Careers Pipeline
The New Careers Pipeline opens doors for individuals who are unemployed or not currently working within the New York State health, behavioral health, or social care system. This initiative aims to attract fresh talent to the healthcare field, ultimately expanding access to essential care for Medicaid members and the broader community.
Participants in the Career Pathway Training Program are expected to commit to a three-year employment period at a NYS Medicaid-enrolled provider. These providers must serve a patient base comprising at least 30 percent Medicaid members and/or uninsured individuals, ensuring care reaches underserved populations.
Find Your Region’s Workforce Investment Organization (WIO) to Get Started
The administration of the Career Pathways Training program is strategically managed through three WIO Regions, each assigned to a specific organization. These WIOs serve as your primary point of contact for application and program information.
| Map Color | Regions Covered | WIO Name | Counties Served |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange circle | Region 1: Hudson Valley, New York City, Long Island | 1199 SEIU Training and Employment Funds (TEF) | Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulter, Westchester |
| Dark blue circle | Region 2: Capital Region, Central New York, North Country, Southern Tier | Caring Gene Healthcare Career Pathways | Albany, Broome, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schedectady, Schoharie, St. Lawrence, Tioga, Tompkins, Warren, Washington |
| Light blue circle | Region 3: Finger Lakes, Western New York | Finger Lakes Performing Provider System (FLPPS) | Allegany, Cayuga, Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara |
Are You Eligible for Career Path Programs?
To be eligible for the CPT Program, prospective participants must satisfy the following essential criteria:
- Be a United States Citizen or an eligible noncitizen.
- Fulfill all educational or training program prerequisites specific to the chosen CPT title and course of study. This may include:
- Prior completion of relevant educational programs, licenses, and/or certifications.
- Successful completion of required academic or training pre-requisites, or passing entrance exams.
- Fulfillment of any mandatory training, volunteer, or experiential hours.
- Be a resident of New York State or a bordering state (New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Vermont). Important Note: Participants residing outside of New York State must be employed by a NYS provider to qualify for the CPT program.
- Demonstrate a commitment to securing employment at a New York State Medicaid-enrolled provider that serves a minimum of 30 percent Medicaid members and/or uninsured individuals. These providers may encompass organizations within the health, behavioral health, and/or established Social Care Networks.
Take the next step in your healthcare career journey today by exploring the Career Path Programs available in New York State. Contact your regional WIO to discover how you can benefit from this transformative initiative.
