Bunker Hill Community College Offers Free Career Training

BOSTON, June 9, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) announced today the TRAIN program, sponsored by a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, which will provide free career training to 36 long-term unemployed Massachusetts residents.

Participants will enroll in one of three health professional training programs at BHCC: the Pharmacy Technician Certification Program, the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Program, or the Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Program. Each of the three credit-bearing programs offers industry-recognized credentials and prepares students for certification and employment in their respective fields. A $181,006 grant from the Department of Higher Education Training Resources and Internship Networks (TRAIN) Program supports the training program. "Unemployment is a challenge that affects many students," says BHCC President Pam Eddinger. "This program provides a life-changing opportunity for students to start a new career without having to worry about how to pay for their education."

The TRAIN program includes a workforce readiness course and an internship program at Boston-area industry partners CVS (Pharmacy Technician); Cataldo Ambulance Service, Inc. (EMT); and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (CNA). Students will receive hands-on experience in actual work settings and will be well-connected for employment in the workforce upon completion of their certifications.

In addition to the training received in and outside of the classroom, students enrolled in the TRAIN program will receive a $200/month stipend to cover transportation and other expenses.

Participants must have been unemployed for 26 or more continuous weeks, and must have a high school diploma or GED and a clean CORI to qualify for the program. Applicants must also possess a Green Card if they are not U.S. citizens.

The Training Resources and Internship Networks (TRAIN) Grant Program, overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, was created in response to the reported 34.6 percent long-term unemployment rate from the Current Population Survey in 2014. Grants are issued to community colleges in Massachusetts for the purpose of implementing training programs for the long-term unemployed. For more information on the TRAIN program at Bunker Hill Community College, visit bhcc.edu/TRAIN.

Media Contact:
Karen M. Norton, Executive Director of Integrated Marketing and Communications
Bunker Hill Community College, Boston, MA 02129
Phone: 617-228-2177; Email: [email protected]

Bunker Hill Community College is the largest community college in Massachusetts. The College enrolls more than 14,000 students on two campuses and at three satellite locations. BHCC is one of the most diverse institutions of higher education in Massachusetts. Sixty-four percent of the students are people of color and more than half of BHCC's students are women. The College also enrolls more than 850 international students who come from approximately 100 countries and speak more than 75 languages.

SOURCE Bunker Hill Community College

Related Links

http://www.bhcc.mass.edu