Health Career Opportunity Program (HCOP)

What is HCOP?

The North Central Massachusetts Health Career Opportunity Program (HCOP) is a selective program that prepares students for careers in the allied health fields. Our area of Massachusetts has a critical need for more allied health workers – health care professionals who provide direct and indirect patient care. Getting a job in one of these professions starts with a career-focused college education.

HCOP aims to expose participating students to a wide variety of allied health professions, which begins with in-depth career exploration and exposure to professionals with a broad range of healthcare experiences. With HCOP, you work toward an associate degree or a certificate in a non-nursing allied healthcare profession from Mount Wachusett Community College and/or transfer to a bachelor’s degree program.

Admission to each of the HCOP Catalyst programs is based on the student’s educational and/or economic need therefore only fully completed applications will be considered.

HCOP Policies and Procedures Manual 

Please Note: The 2022/23 academic year is the final year of the MWCC 5-year HCOP award from the Health Resources and Service Administration of the US Department of Health and Human Services. HCOP academic and financial support is not guaranteed beyond 8/31/2023. MWCC intends on re-applying for this grant should it be made available through HRSA.

HCOP Catalyst Immersion

Please note: The 2022/2023 academic year is the final year of the MWCC 5-year HCOP award from the Health Resources and Service Administration of the US Department of Health and Human Services. HCOP academic and financial support is not guaranteed beyond 8/31/2023. MWCC intends on re-applying for this grant should it be made available through HRSA.

The North Central Massachusetts Health Career Program (HCOP) is a selective program that prepares students for careers in allied health fields. HCOP Catalyst Immersion is a condensed summer program for incoming students enrolled at MWCC. Currently, Catalyst Immersion is the remaining option to enter our program.

Be one of 20 students who enroll in our condensed college summer program which allows students to explore various healthcare careers and receive various healthcare training. This is a free, 8-week program beginning the week of June 12, 2023, and is comprised of two parts. Participants in the Catalyst Immersion are required to commit to participating fully in the 8-week program.

1. HEA 106 Exploring Health Careers: Charting a Plan for Success, a hybrid class with asynchronous lectures and in-person lab, Wednesday’s, 9-1:30 pm (June 14, 21, 28, July 5, 12, 19, 26)
2. A one-week job shadowing program, Camp MED, and introduction to health research skills related to evidenced-based practice for health professionals. Ten students will participate the week of July 31, 2023 and the remaining ten will participate the week of August 7, 2023.  Participants are required to participate all five days, from 9 am to 4 pm

Click here for the updated Application 

The NCM HCOP is supported by the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $3,200,000.00 with zero percentage financed with non-governmental sources.  The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of nor an endorsement by HRSA, HHS, or the US Government.