How a flexible medical assistant apprenticeship helped Joe grow his career while continuing to care for patients.

“I’m learning something new every day, and I’m enjoying my job more than I have in years.”

From Patient Access to Patient Care

Before starting the program, Joe worked as a Patient Access Representative with Essentia Health for 15 years. He loved helping patients and building relationships—and over time, he came to know many people by name.

After a while, he began thinking about moving into a role with more one-on-one patient care, but returning to school while continuing to work felt like a challenge.

A Program That Fit Real Life

When the medical assistant apprenticeship became available, it felt like the right opportunity at the right time.

• A one-year program designed to be manageable (Premium Plus)

• Books and supplies covered

• Training that allowed Joe to keep working while learning

For Joe, the decision was clear: he wanted to take the opportunity and move closer to the kind of patient care role he had been considering.

Flexible Learning with Strong Support

The coursework is manageable and flexible. Participants move at their own pace, with a goal of about three chapters per week. Some chapters take longer than others, but the structure is very doable—and being able to work ahead helps reduce pressure.

Joe also found the support to be one of the program’s greatest strengths. His instructor was responsive, approachable, and willing to help whenever questions came up.

Hands-On Experience from the Start

What really sets the program apart is the hands-on training. From the beginning, Joe worked with a preceptor in the clinic and learned how to room patients, take vitals, perform EKGs, give injections, and more. Within just a couple of weeks, he was already doing many of these tasks himself.

Today, Joe is learning something new every day and enjoying his work more than he has in years.

“I feel incredibly lucky

to have been part of this program,” Joe said.