Entering the workforce doesn't mean the end of your formal education. Healthcare organizations eager for employees to improve their knowledge and skills offer a helping hand through tuition reimbursement.

Making the most of tuition reimbursement means knowing how to navigate the system a bit. Each employer has different rules regarding eligibility. A HealthPartners employee must have worked there for at least a year in a benefits-eligible position (half-time or more) to qualify. At Fairview Health Systems, employees need only have worked in such a position for six months.

How it works

The course of study must relate to a career in that particular health system, or be part of a program leading to a relevant degree. For example, HealthPartners will reimburse a student for taking an art history course if it's part of a bachelor's degree program in management, explains Liz Swanson, vice president of human resources.

Interested employees must submit an application to their manager, who decides if the course is relevant. Once the student successfully completes the course, HealthPartners reimburses up to $2,000 a year for tuition, textbooks and other course materials. Although most employees enroll in local colleges, others take online courses from distant institutions, according to Swanson.

Knowledge improves workplace

"We really want to be more inclusive than exclusive, so we're always looking at these applications with an open mind," she says. "We're a diverse organization in that we have a wide array of job titles, so we're thrilled that our employees are making it more diverse by accessing a range of classes."

Fairview reimburses 75 percent of the cost of tuition and books up to the maximum allowed for the employee each calendar year. This amount could be $2,000 or $3,000, depending on the employee's position on contract, according to Laura Beeth, director of talent acquisition. "You can request those funds annually. A lot of organizations may be able to steer them to college loans," from programs such as Sallie Mae, Beeth adds.

Scholarships available

Employers looking to fill positions in critical shortage areas such as nursing may also offer scholarships, according to Beeth. Large organizations may even have agreements with colleges for reduced tuition or other support.

She advises employees to look at their employer's website for information on how and when to apply for tuition reimbursement as well as for information on loan programs and foundation funds. "Every organization may be a little bit different," Beeth says, "but there are many ways to add to that tuition pot."