ECC Offering Program to Earn CNA Certificate at No Cost

ECC Offering Program to Earn CNA Certificate at No Cost

November 19, 2021 |

East Central College’s Center for Workforce Development (CWD) is offering a unique opportunity to earn certification to begin a career in health care.

The CWD is rolling out a new, free pre-apprenticeship program for anyone interested in obtaining Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) certification. The health care “boot camp” begins Dec. 2 and will run through March 24.

In addition to the CNA certificate, students will gain skills that area health facilities need for their employees, such as customer service, behavioral health review and CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation), according to Terri Warmack, health care coordinator for the CWD.

“The curriculum is specifically designed with our area health care facilities in mind,” she said.

A key to the program’s success is the engagement and involvement of local employers, such as Sunset Health Care Center, in Union.

Once the pre-apprentices finish the program, they will have the opportunity to continue their education into a registered Certified Medication Technician (CMT) apprenticeship program at ECC.

“At a time when facilities are in desperate need of workers, our program provides the entry-level skills and certifications for the pre-apprentice to be successful, as well as helping the area’s facilities start workers at a higher level of competency,” Warmack said.

She added that the curriculum will prepare people to care for clients in long-term care facilities, hospitals and home health agencies.

Pre-apprenticeship program classes will be in the held in the ECC Training Center (ECTC) on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Participants must be 18 years or older at the start of the program. For more information or to sign up, email Gretchen Pettet at Gretchen.Pettet@eastcentral.edu or call 636-266-2181.

The program is funded as part of a $75,000 MO Apprenticeship Ready Program grant from the Missouri Office of Workforce Development.