DENVER -- A new company coming to Colorado is promising to train people to become Certified Nursing Assistants and get them a job.
"We bridge the gap between supply and demand for entry-level health care workers," explained Chris Hedrick, the CEO of NextStep Interactive. "We reach out to people who are in minimum wage jobs or maybe working two part-time jobs, help them get skills they need to start new career in health care and then place them with employers."
NextStep offers an online learning platform. They also have a practice lab in Denver. Combining the online learning and practice lab helps people train for a new career.
"We think opportunity for people who have the right approach to life -- empathetic or want to help people -- but maybe haven't had academic opportunity to start a new career," Hedrick said.
The state of Colorado has a state certification test for CNA's. NextStep students who pass the test are guaranteed a job placement.
"If you pass the test, they're interested in hiring you," Hedrick said.
Hedrick said there are about 3,000 job opportunities going unfulfilled for CNA's in Colorado.
NextStep hopes to finish training people and place new workers by the end of the year.
The online learning class is free until the end of the year. It will cost about $500 after that, Hedrick said.
Learn more on NextStep's app for Apple and Google play.