Questar III BOCES has been awarded $99,426 through the state’s 2014 Regional Economic Development Council Awards, a statewide competition where various regions of the state compete for funding as a means to create jobs and jumpstart the economy. Starting next fall Questar III will use the funding to train 25 long-term unemployed individuals in Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN).
Questar III chose to include LPN in its consolidation funding application (CFA) with the New York State’s Capital District Regional Economic Development Council based on documented occupation demand. According to a 2012 report by the Center for Health and Workforce Studies, LPN openings are projected to increase by 13.3% and 17.9%, respectively, in the Capital District and Hudson Valley regions between 2010 and 2020. According to Department of Labor statistics, LPN is ranked as one of the fastest growing occupations in the Capital Region. It also received a rating of “favorable” for jobs in demand between 2010 and 2020.
The start date for the full-time, 10½-month program is September 2015. The hands-on program is comprised of 1,188 hours of classroom and clinical instruction. Upon successful completion of the LPN program, students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).
“This program is ideal for those who want a fast-track program that leads to gainful employment. While the program is rigorous, challenging, and requires focus and commitment, those who successfully complete it can start and finish school, and become licensed and gainfully employed within a year,” said Amina Drine, Questar III Workforce Development & Adult Education Recruiter.
To qualify for funding, students must be considered long-term unemployed, have a high school diploma, TASC or GED, and meet all criteria for acceptance into the LPN program.
This is the third successful CFA Questar III has submitted. In 2011, Questar III was awarded funding for training in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) manufacturing as well as the LPN program. In 2013, Questar III was awarded funding for training in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC/R), LPN and Welding.
For additional information, please contact Amina Drine at 518-479-6895.
