HAMPTON ROADS, Va. - People who lost their job due to the pandemic have an opportunity to get free training in the healthcare field.
The training is made possible due to a partnership between the non-profit VA Ready and Sentara College of Health Sciences.
Through this program, people can get training at the college to become a Patient Care Technician.
The cost is being covered by the Hampton Roads Workforce Council with money they received from the CARES act.
With this credential, Patient Care Technicians can do things like draw blood, clean wounds and perform EKGS.
Dr. Angela Taylor, Executive Director and Dean of Sentara College of Health Sciences, says there is a huge need for people to fill these positions.
"This is the perfect opportunity to begin a career in healthcare. It's an opportunity to have a career or also to utilize this as a springboard to furthering your education," said Dr. Taylor, "If you decide that you really enjoy this and you want to further your education and perhaps become a nurse or surgical technician or any other opportunity in the healthcare field, it just opens up a lot of doors."
On top of the free training, VA Ready is also giving people a big incentive to participate.
"We're offering them a $1,000 credential achievement award for going through, completing the program, and earning their credential," said VA Ready CEO Caren Merrick, "We believe that's a really important win-win right now to help people who are underemployed get a really good job and trained for really good skill."
It's a 16-week course starting in January.
You can go to the VA Ready and Sentara College of Health Sciences websites to learn more.
