Colorado Welcome Back

Colorado Welcome Back by Spring Institute helps internationally trained healthcare professionals re-establish healthcare careers in Colorado and connects employers with multilingual, internationally trained professionals throughout the state.

Welcome back to your healthcare profession!

Colorado Welcome Back (CWB) has been working for over a decade to build bridges between the talented pool of internationally trained health professionals (ITPs) living in Colorado and the growing need for a diverse, linguistically inclusive, and culturally competent healthcare workforce. 

Services include: 

  • Individualized Career Coaching
  • Goal-Oriented Action Planning
  • Contextualized Employment Readiness Workshops for Newcomers
  • Professional Exam Preparation
  • Peer-to-Peer Support
  • Networks with Industry Professionals
  • Financial Assistance (for training and education materials costs, as well as wraparound services such as transportation, childcare, or digital tools)


Spring Institute Career Coaches utilize human-centered coaching methods to develop short- and long-term goals to guide participants. Coaches provide expert support in navigating licensure requirements and gaining appropriate U.S. experience in order to ultimately ensure newcomers become credentialed or re-licensed in Colorado. 

Colorado Welcome Back also leverages key partnerships with fellow service providers, training providers, employers, and program alumni. These partnerships provide additional expertise in navigating the U.S. healthcare system, lived experiences as professionally trained newcomers, networking opportunities, and more to coaching participants.

The Colorado Welcome Back model has proven to be highly effective, resulting in hundreds of healthcare job placements, including competitive matches to residency for internationally trained physicians.

Specific Programs

Nursing

Serves internationally trained nursing professionals (ITP nurses) as they establish licensure in the state of Colorado, as well as assists with job placement, prioritizing rural regions. Includes monthly group coaching and workshops contextualized for ITP nurses. This is a cohort-based program starting in October each year. If interested in applying, please complete this interest form: Colorado Welcome Back – Nursing Program Interest Form

Eligibility:

  • Must be 18 years or older 
  • Must currently live in Colorado 
  • High Intermediate to Advanced level of English proficiency required
  • Must hold an international nursing degree or equivalent certification
  • Not open to non-immigrant visa holders


Oral Health 

Serves internationally trained dental professionals to navigate licensure or alternative pathways in the oral health industry in Colorado. Includes monthly group coaching and workshops contextualized for ITP dental professionals. This is a cohort-based program starting in January each year. If interested in applying, please complete this interest form: Colorado Welcome Back – Oral Health Program Interest Form

Eligibility:

  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Must currently live in Colorado
  • Advanced level of English proficiency required
  • Priority given to individuals with international dental degrees or equivalent certifications
  • Not open to non-immigrant visa holders


Colorado Works for International Physicians (CO-WIP) 

Serves international medical graduates (IMGs) navigating MD re-licensure. Visit the CO-WIP webpage for additional details and eligibility requirements. This is a cohort-based program starting in December-January each year. If interested in applying, please complete this interest form: CO-WIP Program Interest Form

**Additional CWB Pathways: Pharmacists, Medical Laboratory Technicians, and limited support for entry-level healthcare careers**

For more information on Colorado Welcome Back, email careerpathways@springinstitute.org or fill out the form below.

Colorado Welcome Back is a member of the national Welcome Back Initiative.

Colorado Welcome Back services are supported by the Colorado Health Foundation, Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, the Delta Dental Colorado Foundation, Colorado Workforce Development Center, and the Office of New Americans