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CareerNOW
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CareerNOW is a free, hands-on, short-term career training program for individuals interested in obtaining an industry recognized credential. As a career pathway modeled program, CareerNOW helps individuals not only get certified and employed, but also to develop a plan to continue climbing their career ladder in industries with in-demand and well-paying occupations by providing the following services:
- Career exploration and pathway planning
- Full or partial tuition payment
- Supply of required training materials/supplies/textbooks
- Support services (i.e. transportation assistance)
- Mentoring
- Barrier navigation and resolution
- Certification exam fee stipend
- Paid summer internships
- Job placement assistance and employment retention
Available Training Programs
The certification programs through CareerNOW are all state- and nationally- recognized certifications/credentials. Training programs are selected based on participant interest and industry demand. Examples of short-term training programs include:
- Early Childhood Education
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Culinary Arts Pre-Apprenticeship
- Phlebotomy
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Patient Care Aide (PCA)
- Apprenticeship opportunities in Manufacturing/ Skilled Trades
- Other opportunities in development
Training courses are held at training facilities throughout Branch, Calhoun, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page to learn more about the various training programs in detail, including start date, training location, length of training, and more.
Eligibility
- Pre-Apprenticeship
- In school/ CTE students - ages 16-18 years old
- Out of school - ages 18-24 years old
- Apprenticeships
- Ages 18-24 years old
- Some programs require a high school diploma or equivalent
How to Apply
Training programs are offered on a year-round basis. Interested individuals can apply at any point during the year and Erin Bargo, CareerNOW Career Coach, will connect with you to prepare you for the next available training program in your field of interest. To get in touch with Erin, you can reach her by emailing Careernow@kresa.org
The application for CareerNOW is live! Please click here to submit a CareerNOW Training Application.
More Information
Contact program coordinator Lisa Smith at lisa.smith@kresa.org or 269-775-1660.
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Contact Us
Have any questions about the CareerNOW Training Programs? Email us at careernow@kresa.org
Training Program Information
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Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
Description: Our licensed nurse aide training program is an 81 hour course meeting all the requirements of the State of Michigan Nurse Aide Training. The class is a combination of classroom, laboratory and clinical training. The course content of state curricula includes long-term care facilities, physical and emotional needs of residents, resident rights, communication skills, death and dying, special needs of residents, vital signs, infection control principles and isolation techniques, observation, medical terminology, body mechanics, transfers, walkers, canes, positioning in bed, nutrition, intake and output, elimination needs, skin care, foot care, dressing, bathing, bed making, oral care, and first aid. Taken from https://healthcareerpathways.weebly.com/program-information.html.
Location: 3010 Gull Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49048
Training Provider: Health Career Pathways, LLC
Length of Training: Monthly – 2 ½ Week Training
Class: Monday – Friday from 7:45 am to 2:30 pm
Clinicals: Last 3 days of class from 6:30 am to 2:00 pm
Start Date 2022-2023: February 27th, April 10th, May 1st, June 5th, July 10th, August 7th, September 11th, October 9th, November 27th
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Early Childhood Education
Early Childhood Education:
This is a training program for individuals working with children birth to five years old, which combines classroom instruction with on-the-job-training and support. This training is a career pathway program leading to early childhood related fields. Upon completion of the Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship (ECE) participants will have gained knowledge & skills in the following content areas: Planning a safe and healthy learning environment; Advancing children’s physical and intellectual development; Supporting children’s social and emotional development; Building productive relationships with families; Managing an effective program; Maintaining a commitment to professionalism; Observing and recording children’s behavior; and Understanding principles of child development and learning. Successful program completers will also be awarded the nationally recognized Child Development Associate (CDA) Certificate and a US Department of Labor Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Certificate. More information at: https://www.ccr4kids.org/apprenticeship-information
Location: On-line and On the Job Training
Training Provider: Southwest Child Care Resources
Length of Training: 8 months
Class: Virtually once a month
On the Job Learning: Paid internship or direct employment throughout training
Start Date: Summer 2023
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Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT):
Description: CareerNOW is proud to partner with Life EMS in Kalamazoo to offer EMT training. Life EMS Ambulance Education Centre is state-licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) training facility. As an EMT student, you will learn how to assess medical and trauma patients, manually ventilate, place supraglottic airways, control bleeding, splint and much more. We will assist you in developing skills and compassion for people in their time of need. You will utilize your critical thinking skills, learning to act quickly and decisively, and enjoy a work environment where no two days are the same.
A clinical experience is a mandatory component of this course with a minimum number of hours required on an ambulance. Life EMS students complete their courses prepared to pass all appropriate National Registry licensure and certification exams.
Taken from https://www.lifeems.com/education/ems-training/emergency-medical-technician/
Location: The accelerated EMT Summer Academy is a blended schedule with a significant portion done online with some in-person classes as well to be held at 517 E North St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007.
Training Provider: Life EMS
Length of Training: Approximately 10 weeks
In-Person Class: Wednesdays from 8:00am-5:00pm
Final Week of Class: Completely in-person for reviews and exams
Start/End Date Summer 2022-2023: May 31 – August 4, 2023
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Patient Care Aide (PCA)
Patient Care Aide (PCA):
Description: Certified Nurse Assistants and Patient Care Assistants are in extremely high demand; so much so that "patient care" was the second skill in greatest demand* by Kalamazoo County Employers. Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Patient Care Academy prepares individuals for these in demand healthcare positions. Students who successfully complete the academy are eligible to take the State of Michigan examination to become a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA). CNAs are qualified for multiple job opportunities with good starting salaries. CNAs are employed by nursing homes, home healthcare agencies, hospitals, retirement communities, hospice and private homes. This fast-paced, 7-week program, provides classroom instruction, hands on practice in a lab, real world clinical experience and acute care observation experience at a local hospital. Taken fromhttps://www.kvcc.edu/academics/patientcare/.
Location: Kalamazoo Valley Community College Groves Campus
Training Provider: Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Length of Training: 7 weeks
Class: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 9:00-1:00
Clinicals: Clinical/observation times will vary.
Start Date: May 30th 2023
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Phlebotomy
Description: Classes are held at Kalamazoo Valley's Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 4:30-8:30 p.m. Clinical times vary at a Bronson laboratory during the last three weeks of the class.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Phlebotomy Technician Academy is a ten-week course. The academy is in partnership with Bronson Hospital. Students in the academy will receive training to work as phlebotomy technicians and they will work to become prepared to gain national certification through the American Society for Clinical Pathology. The average annual salary for phlebotomists in Kalamazoo is $30,313. Phlebotomists are crucial members of many clinical teams. Students will learn to draw blood from patients and prepare it for diagnostic testing. Phlebotomists work in labs, hospitals, doctor's offices, medical surgery centers, nursing homes, and in many other settings.
Taken from https://www.kvcc.edu/academics/phlebotomy/.
Location: 418 E. Walnut Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Training Provider: Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Length of Training: 10-Week Training
Class: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Clinicals: Locations throughout Southwest Michigan, last 3 weeks of class, full-time
Start Date: Summer 2023
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Welding/ Skilled Trades
Welding/Skilled Trades
Description: Kellogg Community College’s manufacturing, skilled trades, and applied technology training primarily takes place at the Regional Manufacturing Technology Center or RMTC. The RMTC is an innovative, community-driven training facility in the Fort Custer Industrial Park in Battle Creek, with dedicated and helpful faculty and staff. Summer 2023 training programs available include Industrial Trades and Industrial Welding. PLEASE NOTE: Depending on enrollment, participants may be responsible for transportation to and from in-person coursework. Taken from https://kellogg.edu/academics/areas-of-study/manufacturing-skilled-trades-applied-technology/
Location: Kellogg Community College - RMTC Campus at 405 Hill Brady Road, Battle Creek, MI 49037
Training Provider: Kellogg Community College
Length of Training: 8 - 10 weeks
Class: Hybrid of online and in-person learning and in-person labs
Start Date: Summer 2023