STC built the nation’s first nursing apprenticeship. Its first class just went 10-for-10.

All 10 graduates of South Texas College’s first registered nursing apprenticeship have passed their national licensing exam on their first attempt and are now working as registered nurses at DHR Health.

The graduates made up the inaugural class of what STC says is the nation’s first federally recognized registered nursing apprenticeship.

The program combines an STC nursing education with paid, hands-on hospital training. Over a year and a half, the students completed 2,000 hours of paid training at DHR Health while completing coursework and clinical requirements for their associate degrees in nursing.

“One of the metrics of success for this initiative was a 90% first-attempt NCLEX pass rate, and we achieved 100%,” said Jason Valerio, STC regional healthcare liaison. “It is an incredible result to see.”

The results provide an early test of a workforce model created partly in response to the Rio Grande Valley’s nursing shortage.

When the program was being developed, projections from the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies showed the Valley could face a shortage of more than 6,200 registered nurses by 2030, leaving more than 30% of demand unmet.

STC began developing the apprenticeship in 2022 with DHR Health, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas Board of Nursing and the U.S. Department of Labor. It was formally established in 2024.

The model was designed to tackle two problems at once: producing more nurses and helping students who need an income while completing their education.

“Many of our students are juggling a full-time education while also working because they are breadwinners for their families,” Valerio said. “The apprenticeship gives them an opportunity to earn while they learn and, at the same time, prepares more nurses to serve our community.”

Each apprentice was paired with a mentor at DHR Health, giving students regular experience in the hospital where they would eventually work.

Hailey Aul, one of the graduates and now a registered nurse at DHR Health, said that experience prepared her for the transition to bedside nursing.

“I feel like I would be drowning right now had I not done the apprenticeship,” Aul said.

She said working in the hospital also taught her how to prioritize patients and manage her time in situations that differ from what students encounter in textbooks.

“The book gives you a perfect situation, but in real life, things are constantly changing,” Aul said. “The apprenticeship helped prepare me for that reality.”

STC is now planning a second apprenticeship cohort.

Valerio said the program has also attracted interest from colleges and workforce organizations in other states seeking information about how STC developed the model.

“There was no blueprint in the nation for a program like this,” Valerio said. “Now we have our lessons learned and best practices, and those are the things that I am sharing with colleagues who want to emulate this project.”