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20 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • September 2026 Healthcare Careers That You Can Start Sooner Than You Think Healthcare offers another fulfilling field based on serving and helping others, and certified nurse aide (CNA) and registered medication aide (RMA) positions, in particular, are in high demand in Virginia and across the nation. To meet that demand and make healthcare training accessible and affordable to all, registered nurse and educator Dr. Zoila Ortega founded Career Nursing Academy, which offers CNA and RMA courses that are approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing. They also have a personal care aide (PCA) course and caregiver training, which is a workshop that provides basic training to caregivers who have often been thrust into the position when a loved one becomes ill or injured. "I realized that there were so many people who would be great CNAs, but for one reason or another had challenges that made it difficult for them," Dr. Ortega said. That's why Career Nursing Academy's doors are open to anyone who wants to pursue a career in health, whether they're a pre-med student who wants to stand out in their university application, someone struggling financially looking to gain economic stability, a non-English speaker who needs a bilingual program or someone who left school at a young age and wants to start a career. Career Nursing Academy's courses qualify students for a vast number of jobs. For example, the six-week CNA program prepares students for employment in hospitals, nursing homes, home healthcare, clinics and schools through a combi- nation of classroom instruction and extensive hands-on clinical experience. "Usually by the fourth week of a six-week course, our students are offered jobs," Dr. Ortega said. "Individuals, home care agencies, nursing homes and hospitals are knocking on the door asking to recruit and interview our students for jobs." There are no prerequisites, including no educational requirements, to begin a course, and previous courses have had students ranging in ages from 16 to 84. Career Nursing Academy also partners with various organiza- tions that sponsor course applicants who meet financial need requirements. In addition to regular course enroll- ment, the academy accepts one intern per course, who receives free training as part of their work study. "Nursing is a great career. It has changed lives," said Dr. Ortega. Those looking for additional healthcare training oppor- tunities can also explore options like the Wellness Nursing Institute, which offers state-approved CNA and certified medical assistant (CMA) courses. Whether interested in trade skills, emergency medicine or nursing, one thing is clear: Today's workforce has many fulfilling, in-demand, well-paying jobs that don't require traditional collegiate pathways, and there are plenty of training and apprenticeship opportunities in Virginia to help get students started. con nued from pg 19