Health Career Education & Training

WCAHEC has developed a strong focus on health career recruitment and retention for both Certified Nurse (CNA) and Personal Care Aids (PCA). Our training and certification programs are highly valued by our agency partners across the Western Slope who assist in continuously improving our programs. Agency partners have committed to employing our CNA and PCA graduates though our National Registered Apprenticeship Programs.

Certified Nurse Aid Training:

WCAHEC has a long history of teaching Nurse Aid classes and our program has been instrumental in workforce development for the last 25+ years. The program is registered with and approved by The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. Our Nurse Aid graduates report high satisfaction with the course in preparing them for the  CO State Board Exam for CNA Certification.

Personal Care Aid Training:

Since 2018 WCAHEC has been the premier educator of Personal Care Aids in Western Colorado. The course was developed in response to industry need for trained care providers. The week-long curriculum includes Personal Care and Dementia training, QMAP education with testing and certification, American Red Cross of CPR/First Aid/AED/Bloodborne Pathogens training with certification, and job shadowing. ​The training is delivered by a Registered Nurse who also oversees the job shadowing portion of the program.  The curriculum provides a career pathway allowing inexperienced individuals to start a career in healthcare, and should they so choose, they may access other training through WCAHEC or our regional partners to advance their careers.