Scaling Healthcare Apprenticeships in Los Angeles County

Youth economic advancement

City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit) County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

California’s healthcare workforce shortage has reached crisis levels, threatening access to timely and equitable care—particularly in Los Angeles. Allied health professionals, including medical assistants, make up 60% of the health workforce, yet there remains a projected shortfall of 500,000 workers by 2024, with 65,000 annual openings in high-demand roles alone (California Competes, 2021). At the same time, young adults in Los Angeles—especially from underrepresented and low-income communities—face limited, inequitable postsecondary options. Many are disconnected from both school and work or are in low-wage roles without viable career advancement (Brookings Institute). Propel America is uniquely positioned to address both challenges. In 2024, we received 327 applications in Los Angeles, established over 25 partnerships with local school districts and community-based organizations, and integrated with CCALAC, one of the largest associations of FQHCs in the region.

Propel seeks support to expand our Medical Assistant (MA) training and apprenticeship programs in 2026, building on our mission to connect underinvested young adults to career pathways in healthcare. Propel provides free, flexible technical training aligned with workforce demand, in partnership with training providers and healthcare employers. Each Fellow receives a laptop, stipend, access to emergency funds, technical instruction, and career coaching during training and six months post-placement to ensure long-term success.

With over 327 applications in LA in 2024 and partnerships with 25+ local organizations, the demand for accessible, job-linked training is clear. At the same time, employer demand for MAs far exceeds the capacity of local training providers. To meet this need, Propel will launch a registered MA apprenticeship in Fall 2025 in partnership with Loyola Marymount University and CCALAC and expand our more traditional train to earn MA training program with training partner Cengage and CCALAC. This earn-and-learn initiative allows fellows to earn wages as early as week three while receiving skills training and coaching. Supported by the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship grant, this model shows 90% retention rates—offers a sustainable workforce solution and creates economic mobility for young adults. Propel will also deliver employability skills instruction and continue building community partnerships to support recruitment and success.

If Propel’s work is successful, Los Angeles County will experience a stronger, more equitable healthcare workforce and expanded economic opportunity for underrepresented young adults. Dozens of clinics will have access to a reliable pipeline of trained, certified medical assistants, helping address the projected shortfall of allied health workers. Young adults—95% of whom identify as people of color based on those we’ve recruited in the past—will gain access to free, job-linked training, and become apprentices earning living wages almost immediately , Our dual solution model will help build community wealth, workforce stability for hundreds of young people, and more equitable healthcare. As more apprentices advance into meaningful full-time healthcare roles, more young people will gain awareness of their career and financial mobility potential.