Caitlin Huynh decided to take a different path to reach her career goal of becoming a registered nurse, thanks to Northern Virginia Community Colleges’s (NOVA) workforce program. She decided to stack her credentials, starting with a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification, while enrolling in healthcare courses at NOVA. And, she hasn’t looked back since.
Many medical careers require costly degrees, long clinical hours, trainings and much more. It can be intimidating. But Huynh saw this long journey to become a registered nurse and recalculated. Thanks to her advisors at NOVA, she learned about the CCMA course and its benefits.
The CCMA certification:
- Was a stackable credential
- Provided her with hands-on clinical experience
- Helped her achieve career goals quickly, including landing a job in her field
Supportive instructors every step of the way
Huynh was very grateful for her instructors and advisors in the CCMA program. Her instructors were all healthcare professionals who gave her excellent guidance towards passing the National Healthcareer Association’s CCMA exam.
“Having my skills evaluated by an experienced professional added more legitimacy to my CCMA certification,” Huynh said.
Their dedication to the field created a nurturing and encouraging environment, pushing Huynh to become more motivated and passionate about her studies.
Affordable training
With help from FastForward and G3 funding and guidance from her career coach, Huynh was able to earn her CCMA certification without accruing large amounts of debt.
“Without a doubt, if there was no G3 funding available, I would not be a certified clinical medical assistant today,” Huyhn added.
With G3 and FastForward funding, she was able to reduce her work hours at her full-time job so she could dedicate more time and attention to her courses and not worry about finances.
The start of a new career
After successfully earning her CCMA certification, Huynh now has a position as a full-time certified clinical medical assistant at a dermatology clinic. And, she doesn’t plan on stopping there. Northern Virginia Community College and FastForward helped her realize her full potential. She plans to return to Northern Virginia Community College to start pre-requisites as she begins to apply for registered nursing programs.
“There is no right or wrong way to enter any career,” Huyhn said. As more job opportunities become available for students without four-year degrees, she hopes more students will take advantage of the FastForward training programs offered at all 23 of Virginia’s Community Colleges and realize their full career potential, too.
Ready to make a change in your career journey? The best place to find what’s right for you is by connecting with a career coach at your local community college. Get started today by clicking here.