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LBW Community College recently invited eligible students to an information session about the college’s nursing apprenticeship program.

The nursing apprenticeship currently includes five facilities serving as partners in the program, including Andalusia Health, Crenshaw Community Hospital, Opp Health and Rehabilitation, Georgiana Health and Rehabilitation, and Luverne Health and Rehabilitation.

The apprentice program is competency-based and includes 1,605 hours of related instruction for registered nursing (RN) and 1,065 for licensed practical nursing (LPN).

LBW’s Director of Workforce Development Chad Sutton said the program provided an opportunity for apprentice candidates to speak directly with those involved in nursing.

“This session was received extremely well; the students are very excited,” Sutton said. “They were able to meet our employer partners, ask lots of questions as well as fill out apprenticeship applications.”

The apprenticeship is a work-based learning program that allows students to gain experience and pay through on-the-job training, which is also a benefit to the program’s healthcare partners.

“This is a huge opportunity for students and employers. A student can become employed, get paid for clinicals and work at the hospital under a mentor through the entire apprenticeship. Employers get the opportunity to build their staff the way they want to do so. It is a win-win for both the student and employer,” Sutton said.

The apprenticeship information session was held Sept. 1 at the MacArthur campus.