Madison College and partners launch first-of-its-kind surgical technology apprenticeship

Madison College, UW Health, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin, and UW Health have partnered to create a surgical technology associate's degree registered apprenticeship.

The program is the first in the United States to offer all the coursework leading to an associate degree and credential eligibility to take a board examination for surgical technologists.

By combining academic credit with hands-on apprenticeship training, the program aims to address the health care workforce shortage, meet patient needs, and reduce educational and professional barriers to attaining a surgical technologist career.

Surgical technologists play a critical role in the operating room by preparing it before surgery, promoting patient safety, assisting surgeons, and caring for surgical instruments and supplies.

The three-year program is currently open to UW Health staff, with six students in the first class. Graduates will earn an associate degree and can become licensed registered surgical technologists after passing board examinations.

Madison College faculty will provide all the classroom instruction in state-of-the-art facilities, including prerequisite coursework and core surgical technologist-specific courses, with students starting this fall.

The initiative reinforced Madison College's commitment to workforce development through innovative partnerships with industry leaders, according to Marissa Tokarczyk, dean of the School of Health Education. 

"Our dedication to apprenticeship partnerships continues to grow, and the launch of the surgical technologist registered apprenticeship is a clear example of that progress," Tokarczyk said. 

With the demand for health care professionals outpacing the number of graduates, Tokarczyk emphasized the importance of academic and clinical collaborations that support incumbent workers – especially those who might not otherwise have access to higher education. 

The program encompasses the entire associate degree from prerequisites to degree completion and corresponding credentialing, according to Bridgett Willey, director, allied health education and career pathways, UW Health. 

“Like many health care roles, surgical technologists are in high demand and critical to health care systems' abilities to provide surgical procedures,” she said. “Surgical technologists provide care for patients and are an essential part of surgical care.” 

Apprenticeship programs on the rise 

Health care apprenticeship programs in Wisconsin have grown rapidly as the need for skilled workers across the sector, according to the DWD Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards, which oversees apprenticeships in Wisconsin.  

Since the launch of Wisconsin’s first health care registered apprenticeship pathway in 2018, UW Health has worked with the Wisconsin DWD to add eight additional registered apprenticeship pathways, including registered nursing, respiratory therapist, ophthalmic assistant and pharmacy technician. The registered nursing and respiratory therapist apprenticeships are first-of-their-kind, degree-granting programs. 

As registered apprenticeship programs in health care have grown, the demand for health care youth apprenticeship positions is also on the rise.

More than 2,089 students participated in Health Sciences Youth Apprenticeship pathways during the 2023-24 school year, including 50 students at UW Health, making health care the industry employing the largest percentage of youth apprentices in Wisconsin. 

 Vital part of the workforce 

Registered and youth apprenticeships continue to play a pivotal role in addressing the essential needs of the state’s health care workforce, according to Amy Pechacek, secretary, DWD. 

"Closing workforce gaps in health care is vital to both the well-being of our communities and the sustainability of our health care systems,” she said. "This apprenticeship program opens doors for more individuals to enter high-demand health care fields. The DWD remains committed to collaborating with partners to build and sustain a strong health care workforce for the future." 

“Like our other apprenticeships, this innovative program will support our existing employees in their career growth and path to higher-paying positions in health care,” Willey said. “It benefits our larger community by ensuring that our workforce reflects and better serves the growing needs of our patients.” 

All tuition, books and supplies will be covered for the first two years of the program under an apprenticeship expansion grant, secured by the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin. UW Health will support full-time salaries, benefits and tuition beyond the grant period.    

Apprentices will work in surgical services-adjacent roles, in materials management, central supply for the first year, and then transition to sterile process for the final two years to enhance their training while attending the program in surgical technology.  

After graduating and passing the board examination, the apprentices will transition into surgical technologist positions at UW Health.