Hawaii Medical College, ALU LIKE launch supported nurse aide cohort

Hawaii Medical College and ALU LIKE are teaming up to offer a sponsored 10-week Advanced Nurse Aide cohort in Honolulu, with up to 12 participants and a reduced remaining balance of just over $400 for selected students. The program is aimed at helping Hawaiʻi residents qualify for entry-level healthcare jobs in a state with persistent demand for trained caregivers.

Why it matters: - Hawaiʻi’s healthcare system needs more trained workers across hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, home care agencies and skilled nursing facilities. - The supported cohort lowers the cost of entry for residents who want a short-term path into healthcare. - Graduates can pursue multiple credentials that may widen job options in patient-care settings.

What happened: - Hawaii Medical College is partnering with ALU LIKE to offer a specially supported cohort of its 10-week Advanced Nurse Aide program. - The cohort is designed for up to 12 participants. - Selected participants will have a remaining program balance of just over $400 because of ALU LIKE sponsorship. - The program is intended to help prepare Hawaiʻi residents for healthcare careers.

The details: - The program provides nurse aide and direct patient-care training over 10 weeks. - Students receive classroom instruction and hands-on training. - Qualified graduates may sit for the Hawaiʻi Certified Nurse Aide examination through Prometric. - Qualified graduates may also sit for the National Healthcareer Association Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant examination. - Hawaii Medical College says the program prepares graduates to work as part of healthcare teams in hospitals, long-term care facilities, skilled nursing centers, rehabilitation facilities, home healthcare organizations and other medical settings throughout Hawaiʻi. - Interested individuals can contact HMC at hmi.edu.

Between the lines: - The partnership combines tuition support with job-focused training, which can make short-term workforce programs more accessible to adult learners. - Both organizations are using the cohort to address a broader labor shortage while building a pipeline into essential care jobs. - The structure also suggests a focus on fast credentialing, not just general workforce education.

What's next: - HMC and ALU LIKE are encouraging prospective students to ask about program details and eligibility for the supported cohort. - Graduates who complete the program and pass the exams could move into entry-level healthcare roles across the islands. - The partnership may serve as a model for future short-term training support if demand remains high.

The bottom line: - The new cohort gives Hawaiʻi residents a lower-cost route into healthcare at a time when the state needs more frontline caregivers.