News Summary
The Beaufort County School District partners with Beaufort Memorial Hospital to launch a program that equips high school seniors for health care careers. Students can attain national certifications as Patient Care Technicians or Clinical Medical Assistants through the tuition-free PATH program. This initiative provides hands-on training, enhancing educational opportunities for future health care professionals. Additionally, a new Career Development Center has been opened to support further workforce training, alongside scholarships from the SECU Foundation for community college students. The program aims to significantly improve local workforce development in health care fields.
Beaufort County, SC – A new initiative aimed at equipping high school students for careers in health care has been launched by the Beaufort County School District in collaboration with Beaufort Memorial Hospital. The partnership, which began in January, provides seniors enrolled in the Health Sciences Career and Technical Education program with a unique opportunity to participate in the hospital’s tuition-free PATH (People Achieving Their Highest) Program.
The PATH Program offers students pathways to become Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) or Clinical Medical Assistants (CMAs). By participating in this program, students can graduate with a national certification in their chosen field, allowing them to enter direct patient care roles rather than merely entry-level positions. This initiative is part of a broader goal to enhance workforce development and provide students with essential skills needed in the health care sector.
The program not only enriches classroom instruction but also provides hands-on experience through the utilization of Beaufort Memorial’s nursing simulation lab, which plays a critical role in preparing students for the realities of health care work. Dr. Frank Rodriguez, the Superintendent of the Beaufort County School District, expressed excitement about how the partnership delivers valuable real-world experiences and skill-building opportunities for students.
Students who wish to take advantage of this workforce development opportunity for the 2025-26 school year are encouraged to reach out to their high school’s Career Development Facilitator for more information.
In a related effort, the Beaufort County Community College (BCCC) has received funding of $18,000 from the State Employees Credit Union (SECU) Foundation to support workforce training, with $15,000 directed towards scholarships for Continuing Education students. Since 2018, SECU Foundation has awarded 176 scholarships amounting to $88,000, aiding students in healthcare technician programs at BCCC.
Additionally, the Beaufort County School District and Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL) have announced the opening of applications for a free dual enrollment program for the 2025-26 academic year. The BCSD Tides program will allow rising ninth graders to enroll in a full-time dual enrollment cohort, giving them the potential to earn two associate degrees and up to three technical certificates before high school graduation. Students in this program can select an associate’s degree major and a technical program minor, thus providing a jumpstart on their higher education and future employment opportunities.
Eligibility for the BCSD Tides program requires that students be enrolled in BCSD, legal U.S. citizens or residents, and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, among other criteria. The program is also accessible to students from private, charter, and homeschool organizations within a 50-mile radius of Beaufort County.
Enhancing training opportunities further, Beaufort Memorial Hospital opened a new 6,340 square-foot Career Development Center on July 22, which supports education and hands-on training for aspiring health care professionals. The center features two classrooms and four clinical simulation labs. This facility is expected to nearly double the annual number of BSN graduates from the University of South Carolina Beaufort.
Funding for the Career Development Center was a collaborative effort, supported by Beaufort County, USC Beaufort, local government grants, and fundraising initiatives by the BMH Foundation, which has successfully raised $1 million for workforce development. The center includes immersive learning experiences utilizing interactive patient simulators in its clinical simulation labs, effectively preparing students for real-world patient care challenges.
The PATH program has demonstrated remarkable success, boasting a 97% national certification pass rate since its inception, significantly surpassing the national average for similar programs. Upcoming information sessions for the BCSD Tides program will be conducted both virtually and in person, providing crucial details for interested students and their families.
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Additional Resources
- Your Island News
- WITN
- Island Packet
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Health Care
- The State
- Google Search: Healthcare Career Development
