Passport Program
The MAHEC Passport Program is a regional healthcare pathway program designed to support middle and high school students across Western North Carolina with structured, self-paced, high-quality access to healthcare education, career exploration, and professional development.
Funded by the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation, the Passport Program was developed to strengthen local healthcare pathways by aligning student experiences with the academic, experiential, and professional competencies expected by colleges, training programs, and employers.
The Passport Program provides a framework for students to build knowledge, skills, and confidence through three core areas: Educate, Explore, and Engage. Together, these experiences reflect a comprehensive approach to introducing students to real-world healthcare careers while supporting leadership, professional readiness, and practical understanding of the field.
Educate |
Explore |
Engage |
| Focuses on academic learning and foundational knowledge | Emphasizes hands-on exposure to healthcare environments and careers | Supports leadership, mentoring, and professional skills development |
To complete the Passport Program, students must earn a minimum of:
Students earn credit through a wide range of verified activities, including health-related coursework, simulations, site visits, job shadowing, regional conferences, mentoring programs, leadership roles, and professional certificate/development experiences.
All participation is tracked through the Passport Portal, a centralized online platform designed to document, organize, and validate student learning. The portal allows students to log activities, reflect on experiences, and build a comprehensive record of engagement that can be used for college applications, scholarships, resumes, and interviews. Each entry is reviewed and organized into a personal transcript that grows through middle and high school.
The MAHEC Passport Program supports students in building not just interest in healthcare, but a documented record of readiness that shows colleges and employers they have taken initiative, sought out real-world experiences, and invested in their professional development. Participating students move from curiosity to capability, so when they apply for their next step, they bring more than aspirations—they bring real world experience.
Students who meet the program credit requirements receive a MAHEC Passport Program Completion Certificate and are eligible for the MAHEC Health Careers Scholarship in their senior year.
