Leaving high school with a diploma is great, but departing with a state-approved certificate to jump start a career in healthcare is even better! Learn4Life, a network of 80+ free public high schools, has partnered with Dalrada Career Institute to offer its students an intense, month-long program to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

“It’s a rigorous program where clinical feels like an actual workday as a nurse assistant,” said Jamilyn Lopez, CTE coordinator for health science/medical technology pathways at Learn4Life. “There is such a need in healthcare that these students will have no trouble getting jobs and earning $20-30 per hour…some even with signing bonuses.”

Learn4Life student Nadiel N. just earned her certificate and recalls the days spent at a senior living facility while she was in the program. “All the residents would ask for our help, and we would give them lots of attention,” she said. “On our last day, many of the residents cried because we left. That was very heartwarming.”

For many, Lopez said, this is the first step in the career ladder of becoming a licensed vocational nurse (LVN), medical assistant, bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) or even a registered nurse.