Healthcare 

Windward Community College’s Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) program prepares students to provide quality care in long-term and clinical care settings. Over 14 weeks, students complete 106 hours of classroom instruction and 39 hours of supervised clinical training in a skilled nursing facility. Our program emphasizes professionalism, compassion, and cultural awareness rooted in Hawaiian values. Upon successful completion of the course and clinical hours, students will be awarded a certificate of professional development that will provide eligibility to apply for the Hawai’i State CNA Certification Exam.

Upon successful completion of the course and clinical hours, students will be awarded a certificate of professional development that will provide eligibility to apply for the Hawai’i State CNA Certification Exam. You are required to sit for the exam at the end of the course.

Annual Schedule
Fall Cohort: Orientation - August, Classes Begin - August, Program Completion - November
Spring Cohort: Orientation - late January, Classes Begin - February, Program Completion - May

Program Total Hours:  150 hours (14 wks)

Program Structure
The Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) Program is offered twice each year and takes approximately 14 weeks to complete. Each cohort includes classroom instruction, laboratory and skills practice, CPR/BLS training, clinical experience at an approved healthcare facility, and preparation for the Hawaiʻi Nurse Aide Competency Examination.

Fall Cohort
Orientation is held in August, followed by the start of classes later that month. Students complete classroom, laboratory, and clinical training from August through November.

Spring Cohort
Orientation is held in late January, and classes begin in February. Students complete classroom, laboratory, and clinical training from February through May.

The program generally follows this sequence:

1. Program orientation
2. Classroom and laboratory instruction
3. CPR/BLS training
4. Nursing assistant skills assessment
5. Supervised clinical immersion
6. Certification examination review and preparation

Students should plan to participate in weekday and Saturday activities. Some Sunday sessions may also be required for CPR/BLS training. Specific dates and times are provided before each cohort begins.

Program Schedule
The CNA Program is approximately 14 weeks long.

• Orientation: One Saturday before classes begin 10AM-12PM
• Classroom and laboratory instruction: Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:00–11:00 AM
• Skills practice: Saturdays, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM
• CPR/BLS training: One Sunday during the program
• Clinical immersion: Four Saturdays, generally 7:30 AM–2:00 PM
• Exam review: Scheduled before the Hawaiʻi Nurse Aide Competency Examination

Students should plan to attend all scheduled weekday and weekend sessions. Exact dates, clinical locations, and exam information are provided before each cohort begins.

Applying
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Interested applicants may apply at any time using the WCC CNA Program Application.

Applicants do not need to have every prerequisite document ready before beginning the application. The most important first step is to submit the application with your basic contact and program-interest information. After applying, you may return to the same application to upload additional prerequisite documents as you complete them.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early because enrollment is limited and completing the health, background, and clinical requirements can take several weeks.

Admission and Clinical Requirements
Students must complete all required admission and clinical-site requirements before participating in clinical training.
Requirements may include:

• Physical examination and medical clearance
• Tuberculosis clearance
• Required immunization records or laboratory titers
• Criminal background check
• Fieldprint fingerprinting
• Clinical partner onboarding requirements
• Additional documentation required by the college or clinical facility

Submitting an application does not guarantee enrollment. Applicants will receive additional instructions regarding prerequisites, registration, funding opportunities, and placement in an upcoming cohort.

Program dates, clinical locations, and certification examination dates are subject to change based on instructor, facility, and testing-provider availability.

Program Contact
London Thompson, Ed.D.
Instructor,  Workforce Programs Coordinator
Windward Community College
Email: london.thompson@hawaii.edu
Phone: (808) 235-7363
Office hours: By appointment

TUITION & FEES: $3,000*
(Includes: Tuition, text book, uniform,  First Aid certification card (non-refundable and CNA exam fee.)
*Scholarships are available through American Job Center.  See Onboarding document for more information.

Prepare for an entry-level career in pharmacy.
Gain practical knowledge, certification preparation, and real-world experience through a flexible hybrid program.

• Flexible online learning with instructor support
• Applied pharmacy laboratory experiences
• Preparation for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam
• 120-hour supervised pharmacy externship

This two-semester, noncredit workforce program prepares adult learners for entry-level pharmacy technician roles across community and clinical settings. Students build foundational skills in four core areas: Medications, Federal and Hawai‘i Requirements, Patient Safety and Quality Assurance, and Order Entry and Processing.

COURSE SCHEDULE
Dates: September 26–June 17, 2027
Program Total Hours: 240
Tuition: $2,222 (tuition scholarship available)

Program Orientation
Saturday, September 26, 2026

• Two-hour synchronous online orientation
• Introduction to course expectations, technology, instructors, assessments, and externship requirements

Didactic Instruction
September 28, 2026–January 21, 2027  (120 hours)
The first semester includes 120 hours of structured pharmacy technician instruction. Most weekly learning is completed asynchronously through Lamakū, the University of Hawaiʻi learning management system.

Primarily asynchronous online coursework covering:

• Academic Success and Pharmacy Calculations
• Introduction to Pharmacy Practice
• Medications and Pharmacy Science
• Pharmacy Operations
• PTCE Preparation

Students should plan to devote approximately eight hours each week to the program, with additional study time when needed.

Optional Weekly Zoom Sessions
Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. Hawaiʻi time

Final Didactic Instruction
Thursday, January 21, 2027

Supervised Experiential Externship
February 14–June 17, 2027 —(120 hours)
Students complete 120 hours of supervised workplace experience at an assigned CVS Health/Longs Drugs pharmacy or another approved partner site.

• Supervised experiential training at an approved pharmacy practice site
• Application of pharmacy knowledge and technical skills
• Workplace communication and professionalism
• Senior project and oral presentation
• Continued PTCE preparation

Externship hours may include weekdays, evenings, weekends, or holidays. Placement is conditional upon successful completion of all required onboarding and site-clearance requirements.

Program Completion: June 17, 2027

Who Should Apply
This program is designed for motivated adult learners who:

• Are interested in beginning a career in pharmacy
• Can manage a structured online course with weekly deadlines
• Are comfortable using computers and online learning systems
• Can attend required laboratory and applied learning sessions
• Can complete a 120-hour supervised externship
• Are committed to patient safety, confidentiality, professionalism, and continuous learning

No previous pharmacy experience is required.

Eligibility and Externship Requirements
Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a high school diploma or recognized high school equivalency
• Applicants must demonstrate readiness in both English and mathematics by submitting one of the following:
  • EdReady assessment results showing a score of 50 or higher in both English and mathematics; or
  • A college transcript showing current enrollment in, or successful completion of, 100-level or higher English and mathematics courses.Earn an EdReady English score of 50 or higher
• Complete an eCrim criminal-history record check with results acceptable to the externship site
• Complete a drug screening with results acceptable to the externship site
• Complete the CVS Health/Longs Drugs externship packet and employer onboarding process
• Submit any additional identification, health, safety, confidentiality, immunization, background, or site-specific documentation
• Be able to perform essential workplace functions with or without an approved reasonable accommodation

Students who do not satisfy externship-site requirements will not be able to begin the externship or complete the full program.

Technology Requirements
Students need:

• A reliable computer with a current web browser
• Reliable high-speed internet
• A functioning webcam and microphone
• Regular access to UH email and Lamakū
• The ability to create, save, upload, and download common files
• The ability to participate in online discussions, quizzes, and Zoom sessions
• A basic calculator

A phone or tablet alone may not be sufficient for all required course activities.

Certification and Employment
The program prepares students for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination and entry-level pharmacy technician responsibilities.
Course completion, PTCB certification, Hawaiʻi pharmacy technician registration, externship placement, and employment are separate milestones. Completion of the program does not guarantee certification, registration, placement at a particular pharmacy, or employment.
Program staff will help students understand the applicable certification, registration, and workforce requirements.

How to Apply
Applications are now being accepted for the 2026–2027 cohort.
Complete the online application to begin the enrollment process. Program staff will contact applicants with information about placement assessments, documentation, registration, onboarding, and next steps.

https://go.hawaii.edu/RJp

Questions?
London Thompson, Ed.D.
Instructor and Workforce Programs Coordinator
Windward Community College
Email: london.thompson@hawaii.edu
Phone: (808) 235-7363
Office hours: By appointment

Adventist Health Castle offers hands-on training to successfully transition applicants into a Nurse Aide role. The program includes classroom curriculum, simulation for skills practice and testing, and on-the-job training in clinical units. Students learn essential skills such as obtaining vital signs, bathing, grooming, positioning, toileting, ambulating, and other aide duties. The program also covers legal rights, communication, safety, observation, reporting, and assisting individuals in maintaining basic comfort, independence, and safety. After completing the course and clinical hours, participants will receive a certificate of professional development from Windward Community College and transition into an acute care nurse aide role at Adventist Health Castle.

PREREQUISITE
Participants must pass AHCS' screening requirements, including an interview.

Cohort  #11- Summer 2026
Dates: June 15  - July 25, 2026
Days: M, Tu, W, Th, F (Sa)
Time: 8:30am–4:30pm
Class Location: Adventist Health Castle
Classroom/labs: 3 weeks, Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Clinical: 3 weeks, three 1 2-hour shifts and one 4-hour classroom review
Total: 6 weeks, 240 hours

Mandatory Orientation
Enrolled students are required to attend the virtual orientation session for their cohort.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please contact Michele Brigino BSN, RN, Director of Workforce Development  Education at BriginME@ah.org or 808-263-5189.

The Medical Assistant (MA) Program is a paid training program located at Adventist Health Castle and offers hands-on training to successfully transition applicants into a Medical Assistant role. The program includes classroom and online curriculum, simulation for skills practice, testing, and on-the-job training at our clinic sites. Students learn essentials skills including introduction to healthcare, front office skills, medical terminology, medical records, medical equipment, interpersonal skills, anatomy and disease process, anatomy, vital signs, medical insurance, patient exam, medical ethics, legal responsibilities, laboratory testing, pharmacology, and surgical procedures. This 10-week, intensive, Medical Assistant Training Program will prepare individuals to take the Medical Assistant Certification test upon completion of the curriculum, precepted hours and one year of experience. Participants will receive a certificate of professional development from Windward Community College and transition into a Medical Assistant role at Adventist Health Castle after completing the online course, classroom didactic, skills testing, and preceptorship hours.

SCHEDULE
Dates:  August 18–October 11, 2025
Days: M, Tu, W, Th, F (Sa)
Time: 8:00am–4:30pm
Class Location: Adventist Health Castle
Classroom/labs: 3 weeks, Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Total: 8 weeks, 400 hours

Limited enrollment.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please contact Michele Brigino BSN, RN, Director of Workforce Development  Education at BriginME@ah.org or 808-263-5189.