WELLESLEY HILLS, MA – MassBay Community College is one of six Massachusetts community colleges launching apprenticeship degree programs that combine paid, onthejob training with academic coursework. The programs provide students with direct pathways into highdemand careers while helping employers address critical workforce shortages across the Commonwealth.

MassBay began enrolling students in its Behavioral Health apprenticeship degree program in fall 2025 with 33 currently enrolled students. The program will expand to include Medical Assisting in summer 2026 and Extended Certified Nursing Assistant in fall 2026.

While apprenticeship degrees are new in Massachusetts, the model builds on a proven approach long used in the skilled trades and adapts it for fields with urgent and sustained workforce needs. The six Massachusetts community colleges are receiving funding through multiyear grants as part of a statewide initiative backed by more than $6 million from the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation and Accelerate the Future. The funding is accelerating the launch of apprenticeship degree programs across the Commonwealth.

Participating institutions include MassBay Community College, Bunker Hill Community College, Quinsigamond Community College, Middlesex Community College, North Shore Community College, and Northern Essex Community College. MassBay is among the first institutions to enroll students, with additional colleges launching programs beginning in fall 2026.

For more information, email [email protected].