Access to healthcare education is growing in Valley County thanks to new partnerships between College of Western Idaho (CWI), McCall Rehabilitation and Care Center, and McCall-Donnelly High School. Together, these collaborations are creating new pathways for current and future healthcare professionals to earn Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training without leaving their community.
For years, students interested in completing CWI's Certified Nursing Assistant Preparation course in the McCall-Donnelly area faced a significant hurdle. The students often had to travel to the Treasure Valley to complete the classroom instruction and required clinical externship. Through these new partnerships, CWI is bringing instruction, skills testing, and clinical assessments directly to McCall, making healthcare education more accessible for students while helping address workforce needs in rural Idaho.
One of the recent partnerships launched with McCall Rehabilitation and Care Center, where employees completed a customized version of CWI's Certified Nursing Assistant Preparation course. To meet the facility's staffing and scheduling needs, CWI accelerated the traditional 12-week course into an intensive six-week format while maintaining the same educational outcomes.
The program combines classroom instruction with hands-on clinical training, giving students the knowledge and practical experience needed to provide quality patient care. Throughout the course, students learned foundational nursing skills, patient care techniques, and infection control while completing clinical experiences under the supervision of qualified nursing professionals.
An important component of the partnership allows students to complete their hands-on instruction, clinical assessments, and skills evaluations at McCall Rehabilitation and Care Center rather than traveling to areas like Boise. Through the program, CWI works with nursing staff at McCall Rehabilitation and Care Center to evaluate students at their facility, allowing participants to complete the program where they live and work.
After completing clinicals, students will be then eligible to take the Certified Nursing Assistant certification exam.
McCall Rehabilitation and Care Center helped cover a portion of the program costs, and employees continued earning wages while completing their training.
“The rural partnership with McCall Rehab is providing vital training to students who are caring for vulnerable members of our community,” said Workforce Development Nursing Assistant Program Coordinator, Kristin Vessel. “Without this training there would be additional barriers to caregivers obtaining their CNA certification and the ability to be employed in the workforce. It is very rewarding to be a part of this and knowing that I can help to train caregivers who will provide exceptional care for our community, including our own families and friends.”
Building on the success of the employer partnership, CWI is also expanding CNA education opportunities for local high school students through a new partnership with McCall-Donnelly High School.
Beginning in Fall 2026, eligible students ages 16 and older will have the opportunity to enroll in the traditional 12-week Certified Nursing Assistant Preparation course each semester. CWI has hired a Registered Nurse from St. Luke's to teach the course while providing clinical assessments locally.
The expansion creates an early pathway into healthcare careers, allowing students to begin developing workforce-ready skills before graduation while helping meet the growing demand for healthcare professionals across rural Idaho.
These partnerships highlight the College’s commitment to working alongside employers, schools, and community partners to remove barriers to education and strengthen Idaho's workforce. By delivering high-quality healthcare training closer to home, students can pursue careers in healthcare without leaving their communities, while local providers gain access to a stronger pipeline of skilled professionals.
For more information about CWI's Workforce Development and Training programs, visit the program page or contact wd@cwi.edu.
