“I’ve spent my entire career working in customer service, but when COVID-19 hit in March, I lost my job. It wasn't easy, but I chose to see it as an opportunity to try something different and pursue a career in the medical field as a certified nursing assistant. I enrolled in a one-month program in Massachusetts and immediately started looking for jobs. Unfortunately, every open position required a one-hour commute from Rhode Island, which wasn't sustainable for me. I applied to various facilities across Rhode Island, but nobody could hire me with a Massachusetts license. It was frustrating, and I couldn’t imagine my hard work going to waste.
As the days went by, I continued my search for a solution and came across Skills for Rhode Island’s Future’s accelerated training program for CNAs. It felt like the perfect program to get me back on my feet quickly. In just two weeks, I was able to get a valid temporary license in Rhode Island and was finally able to start working again. The SkillsRI staff guided me through every step of the process, and they truly cared about seeing me succeed. With the help of the SkillsRI team, I’m now on a path to a better future in the career path of my dreams, and I get to make a difference in my home state.”

Oricel M.
Accelerated CNA Training Program