November 1, 2025 – According to a 2024 report by the University at Albany’s School of Public Health, NYS continues to lose vital workers across all healthcare settings. Between the aging out of career professionals, massive turnover following the COVID-19 pandemic, and general recruitment challenges, the industry needs real solutions in education and staffing to get operations back on track.

Creating career pathways can provide these solutions. As a certified Workforce Investment Organization (WIO), Finger Lakes Performing Provider System (FLPPS) is uniquely qualified as a model for implementing and excelling in such career-focused education.

Since our establishment in 2014, we have had a successful track record of implementing career pathways training as a means of transformational workforce development in the Finger Lakes Region. Throughout this implementation, we have come to appreciate that a robust and sustainable workforce—one that is critical to improving population health—can only happen through collaboration with higher education institutions, healthcare employers, and community organizations.

And when this collaboration works well, it offers a modern-day answer to the needs of healthcare education and workforce development across our communities.

How the Career Pathways Model Works

Career pathways programs were designed to create a system of education and training to help individuals either enter into or advance in high-demand careers. They combine academic and occupational learning in a time- and cost-effective way, provide a clear and structured pathway to a waiting career, and offer plenty of basic and high-level support along the way.

These programs have been ideal for adult learners already in the workforce or seeking a transition onto a more stable and promising career trajectory. In healthcare—especially in NYS—these opportunities are in urgent demand.

But in many cases, some of these healthcare careers, whether in nursing, behavioral health, respiratory care, and other fields, can feel intimidating, sometimes requiring specialized degrees or complicated certifications. Career pathways can make these processes more accessible, and as a result, directly increase the number of employees who pursue education and careers in healthcare.

At a time when workforce shortages are straining the healthcare industry, any method that generates interest, enrollment, and expertise is invaluable.

The Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program

Funded by New York State Department of Health, the Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program is an education and training program designed to build up the health, behavioral health, and social care workforce across NYS. As the WIO for Region 3, we administer the program in Western New York, Finger Lakes, and parts of the Southern Tier. The program runs through spring 2027.

The CPT Program offers two career pathways: career advancement for individuals currently in health, behavioral health, and social care, and one for those looking to enter the health workforce. The program supports participants by covering tuition and most academic fees, while also providing academic and employment guidance, including tutoring, mentorship, and career placement assistance. Participants can pursue one of 13 eligible job titles across three categories: nursing, professional technical, and frontline public health worker.

In return, participants complete a three-year service agreement with a qualified, NYS-enrolled Medicaid provider that serves at least 30% Medicaid and/or uninsured individuals. This structure ensures that program participants gain meaningful careers while helping meet the needs of communities most reliant on Medicaid and other safety-net services.

Simply put, the CPT Program is a solution to a pressing need and an opportunity for those yearning for a career position that’s meaningful to so many, every day.

Through this program, we anticipate supporting more than 3,000 individuals on their CPT Program journey. By connecting talented students with meaningful careers and supporting providers who serve the most vulnerable populations, the CPT Program is helping to build a strong and reliable health, behavioral health, and social care workforce in our region and across NYS.

FLPPS is Uniquely Prepared to Enable Career Pathways

When we were first established, our mission focused on improving healthcare delivery for the Medicare population. Along the way, we encountered some of the most persistent barriers to better health outcomes—and we quickly realized that many of the challenges people face in accessing care are the same ones that can limit career opportunities.

We’ve learned that specialized support is essential for helping individuals overcome disadvantages or eager students interested in a career in healthcare. Temporary measures, like financial assistance, digital access, and leveraging community resources are just a few ways we make education and training programs accessible, helping individuals reach their educational and professional goals.

As a WIO, we have done just that. We collaborate closely with healthcare employers, higher education institutions, training organizations, and community-based partners to design programs that combine career pathways with social supports. This includes expanding curriculum offerings, providing tailored outreach and recruitment, and offering academic and career guidance throughout each participant’s journey.

In addition, we operate a Learning Management System (LMS) that provides customizable online training in health-related careers and tracking course completion, credentials, and other essential documentation for both participants and employers.

By combining these resources and partnerships, we’ve created a comprehensive approach to workforce development—one that ensures participants have the support they need to succeed and helps build a healthcare workforce that can meet the needs of communities across NYS.

The Future of Healthcare Education

Creating career pathways is more than a concept—it’s a proven model for healthcare education and workforce development. Through programs like the CPT Program, we are building a stronger, more resilient healthcare workforce, connecting participants with meaningful careers, and ensuring care reaches the communities that need it most. This is how we can meet NYS’ critical healthcare needs today and into the future. Learn more about our Career Pathways Training program at https://healthcareersnow.org/cpt.

###

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for the latest milestones, updates, and stories from the CPT Program. Like, share, and stay connected!