Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) play a crucial role in providing quality care to patients in healthcare settings. In Alabama, aspiring CNAs can access valuable funding opportunities through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
To secure funding for your CNA students through the WIOA, the following steps must be met.
- The training program must meet eligibility requirements.
These requirements include being recognized as a post-secondary education institution, a registered apprenticeship program, or as a public/ private training program. Aside from that, it is necessary to have a private school license or an appropriate exemption from the Alabama Community College System.
The business must also have at least 18 months of business operation with successful service for at least 12 months. The training programs must also lead to recognized credentials and employment, be short-term (preferably 12 months or less), be reasonably priced (under $20,000), and align with in-demand occupations in Alabama.
- Application process
For current providers, they must reapply every year during the application period, which is from July 1 – October 31. Submit the following information when applying:
- Detailed program description: Make sure to give an outline of your CNA training program, including the learning outcomes and the curriculum
- Cost: All the costs, including books, supplies, tuition, etc must be itemized
- Business Documentation: Include all the business licenses and registration information.
- Accessibility and partnership: Give an explanation on how your program is accessible to all types of students and highlight partnerships (if any) with potential employers
- Performance data: It is important to provide statistics on the completion rates of your program. As well as your employment rates post training and the median earnings of your graduates. Take note that you will need at least a 40% completion and employment rate to be eligible.
Applications are accepted online at http://www.alabamaworks.alabama.gov. Once your program has been approved, make sure to comply with policies including updating information about your program, such as the cost and performance data.
As for the funding, after being approved, it is time to let your CNA students know that they can now apply for WIOA funding through their local Career Centers.
For training programs whose applications have been denied, they can submit a detailed appeal to the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Workforce Development Division.
Written by: Aubrey Bartolome a creative writer for The Secret Cocktail®
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