ELL Healthcare Pathways Program at Saddleback College

The Program of Practice

Adult English Language Learners (ELLs), particularly those in noncredit AESL and High School Equivalency (HSE) programs, often face significant barriers transitioning into credit-bearing Career Education (CE) programs and high-demand fields like healthcare. These barriers include limited English proficiency, lack of familiarity with college systems, insufficient academic advising, unclear career pathways, and a lack of recognition for prior education from other countries. Many adult learners are immigrants or refugees who must navigate complex enrollment, financial aid, and credentialing systems in a second language while balancing work and family responsibilities.

Saddleback College identified the need for a structured, supportive, and culturally responsive transition model to address these barriers. The problem of practice was how to create a clear, accessible, and equitable pathway that empowers ELL and HSE students to enter and succeed in healthcare career programs, ultimately leading to improved workforce participation and economic mobility.

The Response

Saddleback College’s ELL Healthcare Pathways Program was developed as a comprehensive, equity-focused response to the barriers ELL and HSE students face in transitioning to healthcare careers. The program provides a structured pathway that begins in Advanced AESL or HSE and leads to credit-bearing Career Education (CE) courses in the School of Health & Wellness.

To support this transition, the program uses CASAS scores to identify students ready for career pathways and connects them with bilingual counselors who provide personalized educational planning, career exploration, and enrollment support. For students needing a high school diploma, Saddleback’s HSE program offers free GED/HiSET preparation, ensuring eligibility for healthcare programs and employment. Additionally, the program supports students with international education by offering workshops on foreign transcript evaluation and translation, allowing them to leverage previous learning and credentials.

A key innovation of the program is its use of Integrated Education and Training (IET) strategies. AESL and CE faculty received IET-focused professional development and implemented paired courses that combine language instruction with contextualized healthcare content. This dual instruction model accelerates student learning, reinforces technical vocabulary, and builds confidence.

To further ease the transition, joint orientations are co-hosted by Adult Education and the School of Health & Wellness. These sessions provide early exposure to healthcare careers, certificate options, and enrollment processes, helping students visualize a clear and attainable pathway to their goals.

This multi-pronged approach—academic, linguistic, cultural, and career support—offers a replicable and sustainable model for supporting ELLs into high-demand career pathways.

The Unique Features of the Program

The ELL Healthcare Pathways Program at Saddleback College is distinguished by several innovative and student-centered features designed to support equitable transitions from adult education to healthcare careers:

1. Data-Driven Placement: CASAS scores are used intentionally to identify Advanced AESL students ready to transition into Career Education programs, ensuring appropriate timing and readiness for success.

2. Bilingual Counseling and Wraparound Support: The program offers multilingual, culturally responsive counseling that includes academic planning, career advisement, and assistance with enrollment, creating a safe and supportive environment for ELL and HSE students.

3. High School Equivalency and Foreign Transcript Support: Recognizing the diversity of students' educational backgrounds, the program offers free HSE preparation (GED/HiSET) and hosts workshops on foreign transcript evaluation and translation—critical supports for students with international education who seek to re-enter the healthcare field.

4. Integrated Education and Training (IET): Faculty from AESL and CE received professional development in IET pedagogy and implemented paired courses that integrate English language development with healthcare content, promoting accelerated learning and contextualized instruction.
Collaborative Orientations: Co-hosted by Adult Education and the School of Health & Wellness, orientations provide early, structured exposure to healthcare programs, credentials, job roles, and the enrollment process, reducing anxiety and increasing student preparedness.

5. Cross-Departmental Collaboration: The program’s success is driven by strong collaboration between the Adult Education division, High School Equivalency program, bilingual counselors, and the School of Health & Wellness—ensuring a coordinated, holistic approach to student support.

The Outcome

The following outcomes reflect the program’s effectiveness in addressing barriers and creating equitable, structured pathways for adult learners into high-demand healthcare fields. Continued tracking and refinement of data are underway to sustain and scale the model.

1. Increased Transitions to Credit-Bearing Healthcare Programs: Since the program's launch, there has been a marked increase in the number of Advanced AESL and HSE students enrolling in credit Career Education (CE) courses within the School of Health & Wellness. Between 2022 and 2024, student transitions from AESL to CE healthcare programs increased by over 40%.

2. Enhanced Student Engagement and Persistence: Students who participated in the bilingual counseling sessions and joint orientations demonstrated higher persistence rates, with over 80% completing their AESL coursework and enrolling in subsequent CE classes. Exit surveys indicate that students feel more confident and supported in their educational journey.

3. Success with IET Paired Courses: Early implementation of IET strategies showed positive outcomes, with 75% of students in paired AESL/healthcare courses completing both components successfully. Faculty reported improved student performance in contextualized learning environments.

4. High Participation in HSE and Transcript Support: Over 50 adult learners participated in HSE preparation or foreign transcript evaluation workshops, helping them meet program eligibility requirements or re-enter the healthcare workforce with their international credentials recognized.

5. Improved Collaboration and Faculty Buy-In: The program has fostered stronger cross-departmental collaboration, with AESL and CE faculty co-developing contextualized curriculum. Surveys show increased faculty confidence in supporting multilingual learners through IET instruction.