Copyright Baton Rouge Advocate
Educational opportunities sometimes don't align with our nation's workforce needs — especially in health care. In addition to a shortage of nurses and doctors, there are also gaps in the allied health workforce that are essential to high-quality patient care and system efficiency. That's why I'm encouraged by Congress' recent expansion of Pell Grant eligibility to include skills-based credentialing programs, which include certification programs for patient care technicians, EKG technicians, phlebotomy technicians and more. The traditional federal Pell Grant helps low-income students afford tuition at colleges and universities, but this expanded workforce program would extend eligibility to people with a high school diploma or a GED to enroll in high-quality, short-term training certification programs. These grants help learners from all walks of life gain critical skills for starting a career in these desperately needed roles, without incurring debt.
