EAST GREENWICH – New England Institute of Technology and Brown University Health, in partnership with Building Futures, on Thursday celebrated the signing day for the state’s first Registered Apprenticeship Program for surgical technologists.
The workforce initiative, funded by R.I. Department of Labor and Training’s Real Jobs RI program, the Rhode Island Foundation, the Papitto Opportunity Connection and Brown University Health, creates a structured pathway for selected participants to earn associate degrees and pursue national certification as surgical technologists through paid clinical and employment opportunities.
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“We applaud Brown University Health for its diligent partnership with Building Futures in developing this degree-aligned registered apprenticeship program,” said Andrew Cortés, CEO and president of Building Futures. “As the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training anticipates more than 66,000 healthcare-related job openings over the next decade, Registered Apprenticeship is the most important strategy to meet Rhode Island’s healthcare workforce needs.”
The Surgical Technology Registered Apprenticeship combines classroom instruction at NEIT with paid, experiential, work-based learning training and clinical placements at Rhode Island Hospital and the Miriam Hospital.
The program is anchored by NEIT’s Surgical Technology associate degree program, Rhode Island’s only program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
Students began their coursework in March and will continue through the fall of 2027. Students also began working in apprenticeship roles this month as part of an “Earn-While-You-Learn” model.
Full clinical rotations will begin in the fourth term, with placements at Brown University Health operating rooms.
NEIT “has been a leader in training the skilled professionals Rhode Island depends on for over 80 years,” said Amy Grzybowksi, NEIT vice president of workforce development and community relations. “This program works – 100% of participants in our first cohort passed the national certification exam and were hired into surgical technologist roles.”
