June 12, 2025
HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Nurse Aide Certificate Program at HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, along with community partners, will provide training to healthcare employees in the Lancaster area thanks to a $399,329 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
The grant, announced April 18, was awarded to ASHLIN Management Group after a competitive grant process. In cooperation with HACC, Lancaster Chamber’s Talent for Tomorrow healthcare employee collaborative, Lancaster-Lebanon IU13, and the Lancaster County Workforce Development Board, the grant will support a nursing assistant apprenticeship program in the region. The program creates a skilled nurse aide pipeline while addressing workforce shortages in South Central Pennsylvania.
“The grant will allow Lancaster area skilled nursing facilities to upskill current employees to become nurse aides – employees who have demonstrated a good work ethic, are dependable and wish to pursue a direct resident care role within the facility. These nursing facility employees become HACC students while completing the apprenticeship, and it is our hope that if they continue their healthcare education, they choose HACC as their education provider,” said Susan Biggs, executive director of healthcare education at HACC.
Through the nurse aide apprenticeship model, HACC provides classroom training and instruction early in the apprenticeship while students continue to work in a nursing facility as either a hospitality or dietary aide. The apprentice is fully trained and prepared to take the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Registry Exam once they complete the Nurse Aide Training Program.
Since 2021, HACC has worked with the Maryland-based ASHLIN Management Group to provide related training instruction for medical assistant apprenticeships.
HACC’s Nurse Aide Certificate Program is offered at multiple campuses, as well as on site at several healthcare facilities in the region. For more information on the Nurse Aide Certificate Program, visit our website.
About HACC
HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, is the first and largest of Pennsylvania’s 15 community colleges. HACC offers approximately 100 career and transfer associate degree, certificate and diploma programs to approximately 12,000 students. Also, the College serves students at its Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York campuses; through virtual learning; and via workforce development and continuing education training. For more information on how HACC is uniquely YOURS, visit hacc.edu. Also, follow us on X (@HACC_info), follow us on Instagram (@HACC_edu), like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HACC64) and use #HACCNews.
