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Career Pathways For Healthcare

Launch Your Career in Healthcare!

Become a Certified Medical Assistant with job opportunities at Penn Medicine. 

Career Pathways to Healthcare is a free training and job placement program designed to support immigrants in starting a healthcare career as a Medical Assistant. 

Starts: Fall 2026.

See below for more details: 

Applications for the current cohort are now closed.

Please submit an interest form to be considered for the next cohort in Fall 2026.

Interest Form
If you were born in the United States, you are not eligible for The Welcoming Center’s 6-week training. The program is designed for immigrants and foreign-born professionals to gain job readiness.
 
However, if you are still interested in becoming a Certified Medical Assistant, you can sign up for notifications from The Skills Initiative for when they next launch a recruitment for these roles by adding your email address to the mailing list form found at Job Seekers – The Skills Initiative. For more questions about their program, contact hello@philadelphiaskills.org

How it Works:

Stage 1: Build Your Foundation 
6-week free training with The Welcoming Center focused on English, digital skills, healthcare communication, and workplace readiness. 

Stage 2: Get Certified 
2 weeks of professional development and career coaching with The Skills Initiative, followed by 8 weeks of Medical Assistant training at American Training Center (ATC). 

Stage 3: Earn While You Learn 
Complete a 2-week paid externship with Penn Medicine at $14/hour, with a chance to interview for a full-time Medical Assistant role starting at $21.50/hour with benefits. 

What You Get:

  • No-cost Medical Assistant training and certification 
  • $150 weekly stipend while in training with ATC 
  • $450 weekly stipend during externship
  • The opportunity to earn $21.50/hour with benefits as a Medical Assistant with Penn Medicine after externship 
  • Job connection strategies resulting in 90% of graduates finding employment 
  • You must live in Philadelphia
  • You must have work authorization in the US for the next two years (minimum)
  • Have at minimum a high school diploma or GED
  • Speak intermediate English or above
  • Prior work experience in healthcare preferred but not required
  • Have health insurance prior to program start date
Interest Form
In partnership with the Skills Initiative and the American Training Center