Clasp and Skilltrade Announce Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Hiring for Critical Allied Health Roles
Boston, MA – April 14, 2025 — Clasp, the retention-driven recruitment platform tackling clinical talent shortages through innovative education financing, and Skilltrade, a next-generation allied health training provider founded by the former CEO of MedCerts, have announced a new strategic partnership aimed at transforming how health systems hire and retain entry-level clinical talent.
Together, Clasp and Skilltrade are launching a faster, more affordable education-to-employment model for in-demand allied health roles such as medical assisting and surgical technology. The integrated model bridges the gap between education and workforce needs by combining Skilltrade’s short-term, hybrid training programs with Clasp’s scalable employer-sponsored loan repayment platform and job placement support. The result is a new kind of pipeline: one that trains, funds, and connects learners to health systems actively seeking loyal, job-ready talent.
"Entry-level allied health roles are some of the hardest to fill—and fastest to train," said David Kafafian, COO of Clasp. "Through this partnership, we’re helping our existing network of the nation’s leading health systems to expand their employer-sponsored loan programs and hire job-ready talent faster, at a lower cost, and with long-term retention built in from day one."
This announcement comes at a pivotal time for the healthcare industry, as systems face rising labor shortages, surging student debt, and increasing pressure to find diverse, loyal talent pipelines.
The collaboration gives Skilltrade learners access to upfront tuition financing with no cosigner required, employer-sponsored student loan repayment (up to the full cost of tuition), and job placement prior to graduation. For employers, it offers a smarter, more sustainable alternative to traditional incentives like sign-on bonuses or staffing agencies—one where payment is only triggered when talent stays.
“Partnering with Clasp allows us to offer our learners more than just job training—we’re offering them real access to opportunity,” said Jason Aubrey, CEO of Skilltrade. “Their model is deeply aligned with our mission, and their scaled network of health system partners gives our graduates a direct path into roles that are stable, meaningful, and urgently needed across the country.”
Highlights of the model include:
- Accelerated, hybrid training for key allied health roles
- Employer-sponsored loan repayment with no clawbacks
- Start-to-hire timeline as fast as 4–5 months
- Average tuition cost: ~$4,000
- Full loan management and ROI tracking through Clasp
Employers only pay when talent stays—making this a smarter, more sustainable alternative to traditional hiring incentives like sign-on bonuses or staffing agencies.
Clasp and Skilltrade are currently onboarding employers and welcoming a new cohort of learners. Employers looking to join this movement and build stronger, more sustainable talent pipelines through education-to-career pathways can reach out directly at partnerships@clasp.com.
Together, we’re making student debt less of a barrier—and long-term retention less of a challenge.◼
About Clasp:
Clasp is a retention-driven recruitment platform and education financing provider tackling critical talent shortages by bridging the gap between education and employment. By partnering with leading employers, Clasp creates long-lasting bonds by investing in students where it matters most—reducing their financial burden and creating career opportunities. Learn more at clasp.com.
About Skilltrade:
Skilltrade is an allied-health focused training provider founded by the former CEO of MedCerts. The company delivers short-term, high-impact programs designed to create job-ready talent in less than five months.