MUSC Health Florence PCT apprenticeship offers paid pathway to health care careers

MUSC Health Florence Medical Center’s Patient Care Technician (PCT) training apprenticeship is providing aspiring health care professionals a direct pathway to employment, all while being paid to learn. MUSC Health Florence has its own independent CNA training program for PCT apprenticeships while other divisions currently partner with local technical colleges. A PCT is essentially an elevated version of a certified nursing assistant (CNA), or as the program’s Workforce Development instructor Nikki Powell likes to call it, a "fancier CNA." 

 PCTs first obtain their CNA certification, and when they begin working in a hospital setting, they take on the title of patient care technician. While they meet South Carolina's certification requirements, hospitals allow them to perform more advanced duties than they typically would in a doctor's office or long-term care facility.

Launched in May of 2023, this program has given multiple graduating cohorts of young adults and adults a way to learn and earn. For some, it’s not just a training program, but a life-changing opportunity to build a fulfilling career in health care with the support of dedicated mentors.

“The second or third week of the program, I found out I was pregnant. It was a shock,” said Ally Holder, a CNA and nurse extern. “LeeAnn and Nikki did not judge me at all. They were very supportive and understanding throughout the program.” 

Powell has a story similar to Holder’s, creating a unique bond and a determination to push her student to achieve her goals. 

“Honestly, my favorite part of doing this is seeing the ‘Allys.’ I get emotional a little bit because I was there once,” said Powell. 

Workforce Development coordinator for the MUSC Health-Pee Dee Division LeeAnn Weaver-Hayes emphasized how much the success of students in this program means. After Powell completed her CNA training through Florence-Darlington Technical College several years ago, she helped Weaver-Hayes develop this successful program. Seeing former trainees like Nikki Powell and Ally Holder go through a program like this and turn their experiences into success is her mission.  

“They are the perfect example of what we want success to look like. We want to be able to help them through their goals. That's what we hope to see,” said Weaver-Hayes. “Nikki is the perfect example of how this is successful. When she was working as a CNA, she was the CNA of the year on her floor the first year.”

This apprenticeship program is made possible through partnerships with organizations like Apprenticeship Carolina, which helps to provide the resources and structure needed to train the next generation of health care professionals. 

By combining hands-on experience with classroom instruction, these collaborations ensure that students like Holder receive the skills and mentorship they need to succeed. With continued support from these partners, MUSC Health’s PCT training apprenticeship remains a vital pathway for individuals looking to build lasting careers in health care.