Community Health Worker Apprentice Certificate of Achievement

The Community Health Worker (CHW) Apprentice Certificate of Achievement prepares students for careers in health education. This certificate combines academic coursework with on-the-job experience, promoting essential skills such as client advocacy and referral, community outreach and engagement, and cultural competence with diverse clients. Students will also strengthen their professional conduct, interpersonal communication, and practical experience in preparation for entry-level roles like Community Health Outreach Worker or Health Navigator. The combination of classroom learning and work-based experience opens doors to further certifications, career advancement, and pathways into degree programs in health science and public health. Upon completion of this apprenticeship certificate, students will receive a nationally recognized credential and a state credential through the California Department of Apprenticeship Standards.

This certificate is intended for students formally registered as apprentices in the Community Health Worker Apprenticeship program. Interested students should contact the School of Career Education and Workforce Development for additional information and enrollment guidance.

A total of 20 apprentices over three years are expected to enroll with potential for annual growth. Completion rates of the certificate of achievement are expected to be five to ten per year with a potential for annual growth.

Community Health Workers (CHWs) promote health in our community by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors, serve as advocates for the health needs of individuals, and implement programs that promote, maintain, and improve individual and overall community health. Based on labor market data from January 2025, there appears to be an “undersupply” of Community Health Workers compared to the demand for this cluster of occupations in the Bay Region and in the SC-Monterey Sub-Region (Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz Counties). There is a projected annual gap of about 488 students in the Bay Region and 23 students in the SC-Monterey Sub-Region.

The required coursework enables students to complete the related community health work required by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) and the United States Department of Labor (DOL) to award a certificate with an apprenticeship. The apprenticeship program provides students a portable credential, as defined by the DAS and DOL, which is nationally recognized by employers. By being nationally recognized, the apprenticeship adheres to national standards.

At Cabrillo College, CHW Apprentice students are taught in existing classes alongside non-apprenticeship students in the Health Science/Community Health (HS) department. CHW apprentices are additionally supported with existing staff in the HS and Career Education departments. The California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) grants have provided resources to develop adequate infrastructure for the sustainability of the CHW Apprentice Certificate. The CHW Advisory Committee is in support of the apprenticeship certificate to provide opportunities for students to earn while they learn and to meet the need of local health and social services employers for well-trained CHWs.

The certificate requires 11 units ore required coursework in the health sciences, 2.5-3.5 units of work experience for this apprentice certificate, and 3 units of electives. 

The Community Health Worker Apprentice Certificate of Achievement is an interdisciplinary certificate housed in the Health Science/Community Health Department at Cabrillo College. The majority of required course and elective classes are in the Health Science/Community Health and Human Services Departments. Staff from those departments are also working with Allied Health faculty for referrals and collaboration. For instance, students who are not successfully completing the academic rigor and pace of Allied Health programs (e.g., Radiologic Technology, Nursing) are referred to the CHW program. Likewise, the CHW Apprentice certificate can be a stepping stone for non-traditional students to pursue other community college degrees in other health professions or in health education. The Health Science/Community Health Department collaborated with Strong Workforce Development and Adult Education to launch in spring 2019. Recently, a noncredit Community Health Worker certificate has been developed as well as this apprenticeship certificate.

There are no other Community Health Worker programs under this TOP Code in Cabrillo College’s service area.