Wellness Coach Level 1 Apprenticeship Program scheduled to be launched in SPRING 2026!
Program Description
Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction to prepare workers for highly-skilled careers. Workers benefit from apprenticeships by receiving a skills-based education that prepares them for good-paying jobs.
The Mental & Behavioral Health and Apprenticeships branch of the Educator Preparation Programs is in
the development stages of planning and implementing three apprenticeship opportunities that will be made available to individuals interested in pursuing a career in school-based mental health and wellness. These opportunities will allow individuals to
obtain certification and degrees while working in the field of school-based mental health and wellness.
Wellness Coach Level 1 Apprenticeship Program
The current entry point in development is the
Wellness Coach Level 1 Apprenticeship Program.
The Wellness Coach I Apprenticeship Program will be made available for
individuals pursuing an Associate's Degree in Social Work at Foothill College while working as Wellness Coach Level 1 Apprentice.
Apprenticeship opportunities provide individuals with a
salary, free tuition, textbook, materials, and mentorship while earning the
required Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) Wellness Coach I Certification. To learn more about the Wellness Coach I role, please visit
California Department of Health Care Access and Information.
Apprentices
will be registered to receive an apprenticeship certification along with the opportunity to earn an Associate's
Degree in Social Work through a partnership with Foothill College.
Financial Support
Various financial support opportunities are available for apprentices that can cover schooling, on-the-job training and materials and a salary while earning credit hours. This program is set to launch in
Spring 2026.
More information will be provided as this apprenticeship program is developed and launched.
Program Benefits
The benefits of the program are the following:
- Apprentices are placed in school-based mental health settings to obtain on-the-job training while earning a degree in a related field. These opportunities afford mentorship and real-life experience that will promote opportunities for entering into school-based mental health and wellness workforce.
- Apprentices have access to various learning opportunities afforded by partnerships between Santa Clara County Office of Education and participating school districts and institutions of higher education. These partnerships open opportunities for apprentices as they enter the workforce.
Who Are the Best Candidates for this Program?
The best candidates for this program are individuals interested in pursuing an
Associate’s Degree in Social Work at Foothill College and working as an apprentice in a school-based mental health and wellness program.
If you have a Bachelor's Degree and are interested in becoming a Certified Wellness Coach, you may be able to start at the Wellness Coach Level 2 certification. Visit the
School Wellness Coach Career Pathway page for more information.
What Type of Jobs You Can Get after Finishing this Program?
When finishing this program, individuals will have an
Associate’s Degree in Social Work and the HCAI Wellness Coach Certification. School districts are growing school-based mental health and wellness programs that require individuals that can support students and families with non-clinical mental health and wellness services.
How Does SCCOE/EPP Support Candidates to Apply and Complete the Program?
SCCOE/EPP supports apprentices through its partnership with Foothill College and school districts to ensure placement and employment while completing apprenticeships. In addition, apprentices may be eligible for various stipends and scholarship opportunities, along with mentorship opportunities and professional development activities and events.
Resources For Candidates
Interested individuals can access information regarding the Foothill College Associate’s Degree in Social Work and the
HCAI Wellness Coach Certification. Individuals interested in an associate’s degree as an entry-point into the field of school-based mental health can enroll in Foothill College and apply to be part of the Wellness Coach Apprenticeship Program.
Grant Funding
The school-based mental health and wellness apprenticeships are funded through the
California Community Colleges.
As part of the California Community Colleges ongoing efforts to meet the state’s need for an educated and skilled workforce and the Governor’s goal of serving 500,000 earn-and-learn apprenticeships by 2029, the Chancellor’s Office is pleased to announce the availability of
Proposition 98 funds for the California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) New & Innovative Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Grant Programs (N&I).
Apprenticeship is the model of the future as a mechanism to eliminate the barrier between education, training, and employment to create a seamless pathway. While the goal is to serve 500,000 apprentices, California has currently served roughly 100,000, and the state has a need to create innovative ways to scale the growth of registered apprenticeships. The CAI N&I seeks to create new and innovative apprenticeship opportunities in priority and emerging industry sectors or areas in which apprenticeship training is not fully established or does not exist. Read more about the
Vision 2030 Roadmap.
Contact Us
For further information, please contact:
Director, Mental & Behavioral Health and Apprenticeships