Legislature considers AB413 to fund Southern Nevada health‑care apprenticeship pilot for medical assistants, pharmacy technicians

The Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee heard Assembly Bill 413, which would create the Southern Nevada Health Care Workforce Apprenticeship Pilot Program to train medical assistants and pharmacy technicians through registered apprenticeships.

Sponsor Assemblymember Yuvin Wing said the program would be administered by the Southern Nevada Local Workforce Development Board (Workforce Connection) and focus on Southern Nevada because the region is projected to need a large share of the state’s future medical assistants and pharmacy technicians. The conceptual amendment presented to the committee designates Workforce Connection as the administering body and makes a $300,000 appropriation to the agency to support up to 100 apprentices, including funds for certification and registration fees.

Speakers described apprenticeship as an employer‑driven, earn‑and‑learn model that combines paid on‑the‑job training with related classroom instruction. Jake McClelland, CEO of Innovative Workforce Projects, said apprenticeships reduce the cost and time needed to gain post‑secondary credentials and align training with employer needs. “It makes it really easy for them to participate and get that skill acquisition they need for a long‑term career,” McClelland said.

Dr. Ricardo Villalobos, chief programs officer at Workforce Connection, discussed statewide projections and said the pilot would aim to train approximately 75 medical assistants and 25 pharmacy technicians. The Nevada Hospital Association, Nevada Primary Care Association and other health‑system groups testified in support.

Committee members asked about employer buy‑in and program timing. McClelland said outreach to regional employers had begun and that the pilot model is already operating in multiple other states; the sponsors described a two‑year pilot beginning July 1 that would register apprenticeships with the State Apprenticeship Council and the U.S. Department of Labor as appropriate.

No opposition testimony was recorded in the hearing and stakeholders encouraged partnership on employer recruitment, curriculum alignment and wraparound supports for apprentices. The committee did not record a final vote on the bill at the hearing; sponsors asked for committee support and said they would continue outreach to employers and training providers.

The amendment on the desk would appropriate $300,000 to Workforce Connection and set up the program’s administration and enrollment cap for up to 100 apprentices in Southern Nevada.